Activity Introduction
Quick summary: In this lesson, students explore how to recycle eligible drink containers for a 10c refund through the ACT Container Deposit Scheme (ACT CDS). They consider ways to use this money to benefit the community. Finally, they practise map-reading skills by investigating the locations of ACT CDS return points around the ACT.
The ACT Container Deposit Scheme (ACT CDS) was introduced by the ACT Government in 2018 as a litter reduction initiative. Participants collect and return their eligible drink containers at an ACT CDS return point for a 10 cent refund on each. For further information about the ACT CDS, please visit actcds.com.au
This lesson plan has been developed by Cool Australia, in collaboration with Exchange for Change, the scheme coordinator for the ACT CDS, as part of a suite of curriculum-linked resources for teachers that support schools’ participation in the scheme and enable teachers to discuss the environmental benefits of the scheme as part of their sustainability lessons.
Learning intentions:
- Students will understand the monetary, social and environmental value of recycling drink containers through the ACT CDS
- Students will understand how to read a map
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 3 Mathematics:
- Recall multiplication facts of two, three, five and ten and related division facts (ACMNA056)
- Represent and solve problems involving multiplication using efficient mental and written strategies and appropriate digital technologies (ACMNA057)
- Represent money values in multiple ways and count the change required for simple transactions to the nearest five cents (ACMNA059)
- Create and interpret simple grid maps to show position and pathways (ACMMG065)
Year 4 Mathematics:
- Recall multiplication facts up to 10 × 10 and related division facts (ACMNA075)
- Develop efficient mental and written strategies and use appropriate digital technologies for multiplication and for division where there is no remainder (ACMNA076)
- Solve problems involving purchases and the calculation of change to the nearest five cents with and without digital technologies (ACMNA080)
- Use simple scales, legends and directions to interpret information contained in basic maps (ACMMG090)
Syllabus outcomes: MA2‑1WM, MA2‑2WM, MA2‑3WM, MA2‑6NA, MA2-17MG, MA2‑5NA, MA2-17MG
General capabilities: Numeracy, Personal and Social Capability, Ethical Understanding
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability.
Relevant parts of Year 3 Mathematics achievement standards: Students represent money values in various ways. They match positions on maps with given information.
Relevant parts of Year 4 Mathematics achievement standards: Students choose appropriate strategies for calculations involving multiplication and division. They solve simple purchasing problems. They interpret information contained in maps.
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work ACT CDS School Resources.
Time required: 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – Lead discussion and support students with understanding.
Resources required:
- Agree/Disagree signs
- Concrete Aids – 10 cent coins – Or cut out and use these images
- Device capable of presenting a website to the class.
- Individual devices capable of accessing the internet – one per student
- Student Worksheet – one copy per student
- Supermarket Catalogue – physical or digital – one copy per student.
Keywords: Waste, resources, reuse, recycle, recycling, materials, hands-on, investigative, ACT container deposit scheme.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.