Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students will learn about recycling, separating rubbish and how we can use re-use items rather than put them in the waste bin! Students will understand the importance of reducing landfill waste and explore ways in which we can be creative and re-use items. They create a new product out of some schoolyard waste and design a TV advert for their new product.
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 develop a sense of responsibility around the waste that they produce
- Students identify different ways that waste can be recycled and reused.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 3 English
- Listen to and contribute to conversations and discussions to share information and ideas and negotiate in collaborative situations (ACELY1676)
Year 3 Science
- Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE051)
- Represent and communicate ideas and findings in a variety of ways such as diagrams, physical representations and simple reports (ACSIS060)
Year 4 Science
- Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE062)
- Represent and communicate ideas and findings in a variety of ways such as diagrams, physical representations and simple reports (ACSIS071)
Year 4 Geography
- The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)
Syllabus Outcomes: GE2-3, ST2-11LW, ST2-4WS, EN2-6B.
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3, OI.8.
Topic: Clean Up, Waste.
Time required: 120 minutes, plus extra time for students to collaboratively create a TV advert.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium.
Resources required:
- A range of packaging items
- Device capable of filming if you want to record the student’s presentations
- Glue
- Paint
- Scissors
- String.
Keywords: Waste, recycling, resource, rubbish, landfill, contamination.
Safety: Ask students to create some rules for working with litter (e.g. Waste Safety Code). Students should wear rubber gloves and/or tongs when collecting and handling litter.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
Teacher Preparation
