Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this lesson students explore the concept of the 4Rs – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and how it applies to waste. Students begin by working as a class to define the 4Rs, and then work in teams to brainstorm examples of each of the 4Rs. Finally, students explore how they can apply the 4Rs to their own lives.

Learning intentions:

  • Students understand what is meant by the 4Rs.
  • Students understand the actions they can take to address the 4Rs.

21st century skills:

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Year 4 HASS 

  • The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)

Syllabus Outcomes: GE2-2, GE2-3.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.

Topic: Waste

Time required: 45 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – facilitate activity.

Resources required: Student Worksheet – one copy per student. Butchers’ paper, Blu Tac, felt markers. OPTIONAL – Device capable of presenting a video to the class. 

Keywords: 4Rs, refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle, waste.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation

Learning intentions:

  • Students understand what is meant by the 4Rs.
  • Students understand the actions they can take to address the 4Rs.

Success criteria: 

  • Students can work in groups.
  • Students can consider the ideas and opinions of others.
  • Students can communicate their ideas with the class.

Teacher content information: What are the 4Rs?

  • Refuse – means to not do something in order to cut the waste you will produce. A simple example of this is to not accept a plastic shopping bag from the shop assistant when you have bought only one small item. Another example is to not use aluminium foil to roast potatoes in their jackets in the oven.
  • Reduce – buying and using things more carefully so that you produce less waste overall. For example, if you buy one large box of cereal instead of two small ones, that means you will have less cardboard packaging overall. Packing the right amount of food for your school lunch means that you will have less unea
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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Are any of the 4Rs more important than the others?

What do you know about the 4Rs? 

1. In your own words, write a definition for REFUSE and one example: 

 

 

2. In your own words, write a definition for REDUCE and one example: 

 

 

3. In your own words, write a definition for REUSE and one example: 

 

 

4. In your own words, write a definition for RECYCLE and one example: 

 

 

5. What did you use to think about the 4Rs?

 

 

6. What do you now think about the 4Rs?

 

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