Activity Introduction

Quick summary: In this activity students map the distribution and composition of litter in the school courtyards and grounds. Students work in groups to count the number of litter items across the school. Groups then come together to compile their information to create a complete picture of litter at your school.

Completing this litter audit gathers the baseline litter data for the school. This audit activity should be conducted again after some litter reduction activities have been put in place in the school, so that changes in the amount and location of litter can be measured and reported on.

This lesson can be used when working on the Waste Module of ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic Certification. By completing this lesson you will have completed the following actions:

Waste Checklist Compulsory Actions:

  • A1 – Have you undertaken litter assessments at your school?
  • A1 – Has this data been entered as your baseline, and any anomalies explained?

Checklist data goals:

  • No official data goal.

Australian Curriculum Links:

Cross curriculum priorities

Sustainability – OI.5 – World views are formed by experiences at personal, local, national and global levels, and are linked to individual and community actions for sustainability.

General capabilities

Numeracy, Critical and creative thinking

Explicit content description

Science Year 7

  • Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
 

Geography Year 7

  • Collect, select and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS048)
  • Reflect on their learning to propose individual and collective action in response to a contemporary geographical challenge, taking account of environmental, economic and social considerations, and predict the expected outcomes of their proposal (ACHGS054)
 

Mathematics Year 7

  • Find percentages of quantities and express one quantity as a percentage of another, with and without digital technologies. (ACMNA158)
 

Science Year 8

  • Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (ACSHE135)
 

Geography Year 8

  • Collect, select and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS056)
  • Reflect on their learning to propose individual and collective action in response to a contemporary geographical challenge, taking account of environmental, economic and social considerations, and predict the expected outcomes of their proposal (ACHGS062)
 

Mathematics Year 8

  • Solve problems involving the use of percentages, including percentage increases and decreases, with and without digital technologies (ACMNA187)
 

Geography Year 9

  • Collect, select, record and organise relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from a range of appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS064)
 

Geography Year 10

  • Collect, select, record and organise relevant data and geographical information, using ethical protocols, from a range of appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS073)

Syllabus Outcomes: GE4-7, GE4-8, GE5-7, SC4-11PW, SC4-12ES. 

Connecting lessons: Waste audit – must be completed as a compulsory action.

Resources required: Map of the school grounds, student worksheet, clip board (if using printed copies of worksheet), camera/smart phone or iPad for photographing litter.

Optional: bag or bin for collecting the litter items to put into a rubbish or recycling bin.

Digital technology opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Keywords: Litter, school, waste, rubbish, organic waste, recyclable waste.

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Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation:

Overarching learning goals:

  • Students recognise that litter can be found to varying degrees in schools and the environment in general.
  • Students recognise that litter has many negative impacts for people and animals in the environment, and can have impacts far away from the school site.
  • Students understand that reducing litter can have many benefits for the school community and the environment in general.

Teacher content information:

Cool Australia Presents Waste https://vimeo.com/77933477#

Hot tips: Prior to the activity obtain map of the school that includes the buildings, courtyards, gardens and sports grounds. If you don't have a copy of the plan, print a map of the school from Google Maps.

Student and Classroom organisation:

Step 1. Introduce the activity with a discussion about what litter is, what items often become litter and what students think about the amount of litter in their school and how it gets there. Where do students think the mai

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: What is the most common type of litter in Australia? What type of litter is common at your school?

Litter Identification key - Use this key to identify the types of litter you find in your allocated area. If you are working from a printed copy of the worksheet you can also add the actual symbol you will use to the relevant column.

Type of litter Colour Shape Actual symbol
Newspaper Red Dot
Magazine Red Square
Book Red Triangle
Sheets of paper Red Tick
Small pieces of paper Red Star
Paper bag Red Cross
Cardboard box Red Dollar
Paper sandwich wrap Blue Dot
Plastic drink bottle Blue Square
Plastic drink bottle lid Blue Triangle
Paper tissue Blue Tick
Plastic straw Blue Star
Plastic lolly wrapper Blue Cross
Plastic chip packet Green Dollar
Plastic wrap Green Dot
Small plastic item Green Square
Whole or partly eat
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