Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students will learn about the concept of closing the loop and investigate the environmental savings their school can make by using recycled paper. They will conduct an investigation regarding paper usage in their school and use rate, conversion and percentages to calculate and comprehend findings.
This activity has been developed in partnership with Visy. For over 70 years Visy has been committed to finding sustainable solutions for Australia’s recyclables and helping to reduce local landfills. Visy collects, receives and sorts paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, steel and aluminium from households, businesses and schools with the purpose of reusing these products in the re-manufacture of new packaging products.
Learning intentions:
- Students will understand the concept of closing the loop
- Students will know how the use of recycled products reduces our impact on the environment
- Students will be able to use rate, conversion and percentage to solve problems related to paper usage.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 7 Maths
- Find percentages of quantities and express one quantity as a percentage of another, with and without digital technologies (ACMNA158).
- Connect fractions, decimals and percentages and carry out simple conversions (ACMNA157).
- Recognise and solve problems involving simple ratios (ACMNA173).
Year 8 Maths
- Solve problems involving the use of percentages, including percentage increases and decreases, with and without digital technologies (ACMNA187).
- Solve a range of problems involving rates and ratios, with and without digital technologies (ACMNA188).
General capabilities: Numeracy, Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.
Relevant parts of Year 7 Mathematics achievement standards: Students express one quantity as a fraction or percentage of another, and solve problems involving percentages and all four operations with fractions and decimals.
Relevant parts of Year 8 Mathematics achievement standards: Students solve everyday problems involving rates, ratios and percentages.
Topic: Recycling, Sustainability.
Unit of work: Visy Education – Secondary Mathematics.
Time required: 75 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – teacher will be required to facilitate an investigation as well as classroom discussion.
Resources required:
- Student Worksheets (one per student)
- Device capable of presenting a video and projecting images to the class.
Keywords: Recycling, closing the loop, making projections, percentage, conversion, rate.
The information and statistics included in this document are approximate and have been simplified for educational/illustrative purposes. They should not be relied upon for any other purpose.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.