What happens when unidentified, hazardous wastes are left abandoned? This module focuses on the physical and chemical properties of substances. Students explore the contents of a barrel of simulated hazardous waste as they learn to physically separate, test, and identify substances in a mixture. They investigate different types of chemical hazards and describe hazardous substances in the home. Students evaluate the trade-offs involved in the transportation of hazardous materials as they create a plan for transporting large amounts of hazardous waste from one area to another. Students are assessed on their ability to analyze data.

Each module includes a Teacher’s Guide containing reproducible student pages and a kit containing the equipment required to conduct the activities with five classes of 32 students. The Teacher’s Guide provides specific strategies to facilitate and assess student learning.