Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students develop a social action project to address a waste problem they have noticed at their school. Students begin by identifying waste problems at their school, why these have occurred and what actions they could take to address these problems. They then select one action and develop and implement a social action project around this action.
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. To access the full War On Waste unit for Foundation to Year 3, click here.
Learning intentions:
- Students recognise a waste problem at their own school
- Students understand some of the processes required for planning and executing a social action project.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Foundation HASS
- Reflect on learning to propose how to care for places and sites that are important or significant (ACHASSI009)
Year 1 HASS
- Reflect on learning to propose how to care for places and sites that are important or significant (ACHASSI026)
Year 2 HASS
- Reflect on learning to propose how to care for places and sites that are important or significant (ACHASSI042)
Year 3 HASS
- Reflect on learning to propose actions in response to an issue or challenge and consider possible effects of proposed actions (ACHASSI060)
Syllabus outcomes: GEe-2, GE1-3, GE2-4.
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.9.
Relevant parts of Foundation HASS achievement standards: Students reflect on their learning to suggest ways they can care for a familiar place.
Relevant parts of Year 1 HASS achievement standards: Students reflect on their learning to suggest ways they can care for places.
Relevant parts of Year 2 HASS achievement standards: Students reflect on their learning to suggest ways to care for places and sites of significance.
Relevant parts of Year 3 HASS achievement standards: Students reflect on their learning to suggest individual action in response to an issue or challenge.
Topic: Waste, sustainability.
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: War On Waste – Foundation to Year 3.
Time required: 140+ mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: High – lead students in developing ideas for action, plan details of action for students, oversee implementation of action.
Resources required:
- Device capable of presenting an online clip to the class
- Device capable of taking photos, such as an iPad or camera
- Other materials will depend on individual project needs
- Project Planning Guide
- Project Checklist
Keywords: War On Waste, plastic, school, social action.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
