War On Waste - Questioning Consumption

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 7 Economics and Business:

• The ways consumers and producers interact and respond to each other in the market (ACHEK017)
• Gather relevant data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES022)
• Generate a range of alternatives in response to an observed economic or business issue or event, and evaluate the potential costs and benefits of each alternative (ACHES024)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar and new situations (ACHES025)
• Present evidence-based conclusions using economics and business language and concepts in a range of appropriate formats, and reflect on the consequences of alternative actions (ACHES026)

Year 8 Economics and Business:

• Types of businesses and the ways that businesses respond to opportunities in Australia (ACHEK030)
• Gather relevant data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES033)
• Generate a range of alternatives in response to an observed economic or business issue or event, and evaluate the potential costs and benefits of each alternative (ACHES035)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar and new situations (ACHES036)
• Present evidence-based conclusions using economics and business language and concepts in a range of appropriate formats, and reflect on the consequences of alternative actions (ACHES037)

Year 9 Economics and Business:

• The nature of innovation and how and why businesses seek to create and maintain a competitive advantage in the market, including the global market (ACHEK041)
• Gather relevant and reliable data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES044)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar, new and hypothetical situations (ACHES047)
• Present reasoned arguments and evidence-based conclusions in a range of appropriate formats using economics and business conventions, language and concepts (ACHES048)
• Reflect on the intended and unintended consequences of economic and business decisions (ACHES049)

Year 10 Economics and Business:

• Factors that influence major consumer and financial decisions and the short- and long-term consequences of these decisions (ACHEK053)
• Gather relevant and reliable data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES056)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar, new and hypothetical situations (ACHES059)
• Present reasoned arguments and evidence-based conclusions in a range of appropriate formats using economics and business conventions, language and concepts (ACHES060)
• Reflect on the intended and unintended consequences of economic and business decisions (ACHES061)

Syllabus outcomes: C4.1, C4.2, C4.3, C4.4, C4.5, C4.6, C4.7, C4.8, C5.1, C5.2, C5.3, C5.4, C5.5, C5.7, C5.8

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8

Relevant parts of Year 7 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students describe the interdependence of consumers and producers in the market. They gather data and information from different sources to investigate an economic or business issue. Students develop and present conclusions using appropriate texts, terms and concepts. They identify the effects of their decisions and the possible effects of alternative actions.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students describe the different ways businesses can respond to opportunities in the market. They gather relevant data and information from different sources to investigate an economic or business issue. They apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar and unfamiliar problems. Students develop and present evidence-based conclusions using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts. They identify the effects of an economic or business decision and the potential consequences of alternative actions.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students explain why businesses seek to create a competitive advantage. They gather and analyse relevant data and information from different sources to answer questions, identify trends and explain relationships. Students generate alternative responses to an issue and apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar, unfamiliar and hypothetical problems. Students develop and present evidence-based conclusions and reasoned arguments using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts.

Relevant parts of Year 10 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students analyse factors that influence major consumer and financial decisions. They gather and analyse reliable data and information from different sources to identify trends, explain relationships and make predictions. Students generate alternative responses to an issue and apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar, unfamiliar and complex hypothetical problems. Students develop and present evidence-based conclusions and reasoned arguments incorporating different points of view.

Unit of work: War On Waste – Years 7-10

Time required: 100 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and lead students in class discussions

• Coffee Cup Images
• Decision Tree Diagram
• Device with internet and presenting capability
• Student Worksheet – one copy per student
• Sustainability Factsheet (optional)

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Communication
• Critical thinking

Cool Australia’s War On Waste lessons have been developed in partnership with Lune Media and with support from the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network. These lessons have been designed to lead students through a deeper understanding of some of the big issues relating to waste in Australia and to support them to take action to reduce the impact of waste on our environment.