Activity Introduction
Quick summary: Students explore some of the numbers around waste, particularly plastic waste, in Australia and how this information is communicated. They begin by reflecting on an image of waste in nature before looking at a chart, comparing the information about waste that these two images convey. They then focus on plastic waste, looking at some of the problems associated with plastic waste before watching and reflecting on a clip from War On Waste that describes some of the numbers around plastic waste in Australia. Students then select a numbers-based fact around plastic waste and work in pairs to create their own communication piece to share this fact with an audience.
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 Years 4 to 6, click here.
Learning intentions:
- Students understand different types of waste produced in Australia
- Students understand some of the impacts of plastic waste on our environment
- Students understand how fractions and/or percentages can be used to communicate ideas about waste.
21st century skills:
Australian Curriculum Mapping
Content descriptions:
Year 4 Mathematics
- Investigate equivalent fractions used in contexts (ACMNA077)
Year 4 HASS (Geography)
- The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)
- Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (ACHASSI074)
- Interact with others with respect to share points of view (ACHASSI080)
- Present ideas, findings and conclusions in texts and modes that incorporate digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms (ACHASSI082)
Year 5 Mathematics
- Compare and order common unit fractions and locate and represent them on a number line (ACMNA102)
- Compare, order and represent decimals (ACMNA105)
Year 5 HASS
- Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary sources and secondary sources (ACHASSI095)
- Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI102)
- Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions (ACHASSI105)
Year 6 Mathematics
- Make connections between equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages (ACMNA131)
- Interpret secondary data presented in digital media and elsewhere (ACMSP148)
Year 6 HASS
- Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary sources and secondary sources (ACHASSI123)
- Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI130)
- Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions (ACHASSI133)
Syllabus outcomes: MA2‑1WM, MA2‑3WM, MA2‑7NA, MA3‑1WM, MA3‑2WM, MA3‑3WM, MA3‑7NA, GE2-2, GE2-3, GE2-4, GE3-4.
General capabilities: Numeracy, Critical and Creative Thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8.
Relevant parts of Year 4 Mathematics achievement standards: Students recognise common equivalent fractions in familiar contexts and make connections between fraction and decimal notations up to two decimal places.
Relevant parts of Year 4 HASS achievement standards: Students identify the interconnections between components of the environment and between people and the environment. They locate, collect and sort information and data from different sources, and propose individual action in response to a local geographical challenge and identify some possible effects of their proposed action.
Relevant parts of Year 5 Mathematics achievement standards: Students order decimals and unit fractions.
Relevant parts of Year 5 HASS achievement standards: Students locate and collect data and information from a range of sources to answer inquiry questions. They work with others to present their ideas, findings and conclusions in a range of communication forms using discipline-specific terms and appropriate conventions.
Relevant parts of Year 6 Mathematics achievement standards: Students connect fractions, decimals and percentages as different representations of the same number.
Relevant parts of Year 6 HASS achievement standards: Students identify the purpose of business and recognise the different ways that businesses choose to provide goods and services. They locate and collect useful data and information from primary and secondary sources, and present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of communication forms.
Topic: Waste, sustainability.
This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: War On Waste – Years 4-6.
Time required: 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate guided discussion and lead students in activities.
Resources required:
- Device capable of presenting a video to the class
- Waste Chart Fractions (years 4 & 5 only)
- Waste Chart Percentages (year 6 only)
- Waste Facts
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student.
Keywords: War On Waste, plastic, waste, Australia, fractions, percentages, decimals.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.
