Clean Up Australia - Cut The Waste Project

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students plan and complete a project that will reduce waste in either their school or the local community. This activity is an opportunity for students to identify and work with local community groups who are also interested in waste reduction programs.

Following this lesson plan is an ideal way for your school to take part in Schools Clean Up Day or a Clean Up on any day of the year. You’ll be joining thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference and creating positive environmental change.

Learning intentions:

Students understand that everyone in a school produces solid waste
Students recognise that the school is already taking steps to reduce the amount of solid waste, but there are steps that can be taken to cut this waste even further
Students working in groups can initiate and complete projects that will help cut the waste in either the school or local community.

21st century skills:

Communicating Community Engagement Creative Thinking Global Citizenship Team Work

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 7 Geography

Present findings, arguments and ideas in a range of communication forms selected to suit a particular audience and purpose; using geographical terminology and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS053)
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)

Year 8 Geography

Present findings, arguments and ideas in a range of communication forms selected to suit a particular audience and purpose; using geographical terminology and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS061)
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)

Year 9 Geography

The effects of the production and consumption of goods on places and environments throughout the world and including a country from North-East Asia (ACHGK068)
Present findings, arguments and explanations in a range of appropriate communication forms, selected for their effectiveness and to suit audience and purpose; using relevant geographical terminology, and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS070)
Reflect on and evaluate findings of an inquiry to propose individual and collective action in response to a contemporary geographical challenge, taking account of environmental, economic, political and social considerations; and explain the predicted outcomes and consequences of their proposal (ACHGS071)

Year 10 Geography

Human-induced environmental changes that challenge sustainability (ACHGK070)
Present findings, arguments and explanations in a range of appropriate communication forms, selected for their effectiveness and to suit audience and purpose; using relevant geographical terminology, and digital technologies as appropriate (ACHGS079)
Reflect on and evaluate findings of an inquiry to propose individual and collective action in response to a contemporary geographical challenge, taking account of environmental, economic, political and social considerations; and explain the predicted outcomes and consequences of their proposal (ACHGS080)

Syllabus outcomes: GE4-8, GE4-2, GE4-3, GE4-4, GE4-5, GE5-8, GE5-2.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3, OI.8.

Topic: Waste, Clean Up.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – advisory.

Resources required:

Art materials
Devices with internet access
Other materials as required
Student Worksheet.

Safety: Students review the Waste Safety Code. The teacher checks the students’ plans for safety considerations before students commence their projects. The teacher supervises the projects.

Keywords: School, 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

Teaching Sequence

Learning intentions: Students will...

... understand that everyone in a school produces solid waste
... recognise that the school is already taking steps to reduce the amount of solid waste, but there are steps that can be taken to cut this waste even further
... working in groups can initiate and complete projects that will help cut the waste in either the school or local community.

Success criteria: Students can...

... design and plan a project for cutting waste in their community
... deliver the project and reflect on the success of their project.

Teacher content information: In this activity students will be looking at ways to reduce waste in their community. A useful tool for students to use in understanding waste and developing solutions could be the following waste hierarchy (also available here):

Avoid - This means not doing or buying something in order to cut the waste you will produce.
Reduce - This means buying and using thin

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Student Worksheet

Our project proposal

Key question	Examples of answers
1. What is the name of your project	Building a three-bay compost bin for the school’s garden waste.
2. What is the purpose of your project?	To treat the school’s garden waste on-site, rather than have it sent off-site.
3. What are some details of the project?	The bays will be built from timber. The three-bay compost bin is a very versatile system that allows garden waste to be broken down and then used on the school gardens. The first bay holds fresh garden waste, the second holds decomposing waste and the third fully mature compost. Hinged lids prevent the material from drying out in hot weather and from getting too wet during rain.
4. What research have you done so far?	We have found the website of a composting association that gives useful advice about designs of these bins and how to manage them. A parent who has one of these bins at home has also offered

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Activity: Clean Up Australia – Cut The Waste Project