Lesson Synopsis:
Students explore how garbage trucks have evolved from simple waste-collection carts to today’s high-tech, energy-smart machines. They examine past, present, and emerging innovations—from hydraulic arms to electric engines and even air-cleaning filters—while considering how cities manage waste sustainably.
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Learning Objectives:

• Understand the journey of waste and the role sanitation systems play in healthy communities.
• Compare how garbage collection has changed over time, identifying key technologies.
• Explore future-focused innovations that could make garbage trucks cleaner, quieter, and more community-friendly.
• Practice Futures Thinking by imagining multiple possible sanitation futures.‍

Build Challenge:
Students design and construct their own next-generation garbage truck model. Their build should improve environmental impact, reduce bad smells, and showcase a fun, community-inspiring design.