Activity: MobileMuster – Resource Extraction Game – Years 3 & 4

Quick summary: This lesson is part of a unit that explores the life-cycle of mobile phone materials through game-based learning. By playing a game in this lesson, students will understand the process of mining. This game is a hands-on experience that shows students the impacts of finding, extracting and transporting raw materials. At the end of the lesson, students will reflect specifically on how the mining process impacts the environment. Finally, students will explore how important it is to minimise the impacts of resource handling by recycling materials that are already extracted. 

Learning intentions:

• Students will understand resource scarcity, mining, and its environmental impacts.
• Students will understand the value of rare, non-renewable materials, and the importance of respecting them.
• Students will engage in game-based learning activities.
• Students will model the mining process, from exploration and surveying to transportation.

21st century skills:

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions: 

Year 4 – Humanities and Social Sciences:

• The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)

Years 3&4 – Design and Technologies:

• Investigate the suitability of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment for a range of purposes (ACTDEK013)

Year 4 – Science:

• Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use (ACSSU074)
• Earth’s surface changes over time as a result of natural processes and human activity (ACSSU075)

Syllabus outcomes: GE2-2, GE2-3, ST2-13MW, 

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability. 

Relevant parts of Years 3 & 4 achievement standards: 

Year 4 – Humanities and Social Sciences
Students examine the concept of sustainability, and its application to resource use and waste management, past and present, by different groups.

Years 3 & 4 – Design and Technologies
Students examine social and environmental sustainability implications of existing products and processes to raise awareness of their place in the world.

Year 4 – Science
Students broaden their understanding of classification and form and function through an exploration of the properties of natural and processed materials.

Topic: Sustainability, Consumption, STEM.

Unit of work: MobileMuster – Hands-on Mobile Phone Recycling – Years 3-6.

Time required: 90+ mins.

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – Teacher will need to explain new concepts, set up and oversee complex activities.

Resources required:

• Student worksheets – one per student
• One copy of the ‘Mobile Phone Worksheet’ per two students
• One printed copy of the ‘Mobile Phone Worksheet Answers’ a downloaded copy ready to project for the class
• A device capable of presenting videos and this MobileMuster Flipbook to the class
• A class set of devices with internet access for paired research
• Scorecard (one per group of approx. 4 students) Note – this one scorecard can be used across all lessons in this unit of work. 
• Materials to make model mines:
  • Either a sandpit that can fit the whole class OR 1 sand-filled tray per 4 students
    A range of ‘mining tools’ for each group, which will vary depending on the ‘mine’ you are using. Sandpit could be toy diggers, plastic spades, wooden poles as drills, etc. Whereas clay/plasticine might require toothpicks, tweezers, skewers, forks, spoons and straws or pipes as drills
  • Toy trucks or buckets for transporting materials for processing
  • 2x Bucket/container
  • 5x dollar coins
  • 5x ten cent pieces
  • 5x 20 cent pieces
  • 5x 50 cent pieces
  • 5x one or two cent pieces or scoria rocks
  • 5x grey rocks
  • 5x small magnets
  • 5x five cent pieces
  • 5x aluminum Foil
  • 5x marbles

Note: The above materials to make model mines are only suggestions. You could substitute these items with any other safe items such as different coloured pieces of plastic, cut up metal strips from a science supply company, marbles, or chocolate money!

Keywords: Mobile Muster, Mobile phones, natural resources, raw materials, processed materials, waste, materials, mining, exploration, surveying, extraction, sustainability, environment, STEM, environment, recycling.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.