Students will launch the waste investigation by experiencing a hands-on trash mystery, practicing first sorting ideas, and recording early observations and questions that will guide later evidence collection.

Students will investigate local waste through hands-on sorting, observation, and question-building so they can form an evidence-based class of investigable questions about sorting, reducing, reusing, and how trash reaches the ocean.

Students will document sorting evidence with real classroom and lunch items, use picture-based records and simple charts to track patterns, gather ideas from a community partner, and revise their notes and sorting decisions after feedback so their investigation records are accurate and useful for the next phase.

Students will analyze their waste investigation evidence, turn findings into simple charts and claims, revise their Trash to Treasure display through peer feedback, and prepare clear explanations of how sorting, reducing, and reusing help keep trash out of the ocean.

Students will present their Trash to Treasure display and small-group sorting demonstration to families, classmates, and community partners, then reflect on how their evidence, art, and revision choices show ways to reduce waste and keep trash out of the ocean.