Activity Introduction

Quick summary: Students are asked to research what happens to the waste that is produced from schools and homes in their local area. They then produce a chart showing the pathway of the different types of waste.

Learning goals:

  • Students understand that waste is everybody’s responsibility.
  • Students recognise that different forms of waste are disposed of in different ways.

Australian Curriculum content description:

Year 5 English:

  • Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations for defined audiences and purposes incorporating accurate and sequenced content and multimodal elements (ACELY1700)
  • Use comprehension strategies to analyse information, integrating and linking ideas from a variety of print and digital sources (ACELY1703)

Year 5 Science:

  • Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE083)
  • Communicate ideas, explanations and processes in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts (ACSIS093)

Year 6 English:

  • Plan, rehearse and deliver presentations, selecting and sequencing appropriate content and multimodal elements for defined audiences and purposes, making appropriate choices for modality and emphasis (ACELY1710)
  • Use comprehension strategies to interpret and analyse information and ideas, comparing content from a variety of textual sources including media and digital texts (ACELY1713)
  • Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, choosing and experimenting with text structures, language features, images and digital resources appropriate to purpose and audience (ACELY1714)

Year 6 Science

  • Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE100)
  • Communicate ideas, explanations and processes in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts (ACSIS110)

Syllabus Outcome: ST3-6PW, ST3-4WS, EN3-1A, EN3-2A, EN3-3A. 

Topic: Solid waste

Time required: several 60 min sessions

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate activity and guide students where required.

Resources required: Writing materials, computer with internet access.

Digital learning opportunities: Digital sharing capabilities.

Homework and extension opportunities: This activity includes opportunities for extension.

Keywords: Waste, disposal, recycling, school, community, council.

 

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

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher preparation:

Overarching learning goal: Students are asked to research what happens to the waste that is produced from schools and homes in their local area. They then produce a chart showing the pathway of the different types of waste.

Hot tips: Invite a waste management officer from your local council to speak to the students about waste disposal in your area. They may also be able to answer some of the questions students have about the waste they are researching.

Student and classroom organisation:

Step 1. Begin this activity by asking your students to share with you what they think happens to the waste that is collected from their school. Start with each of the different types of waste that is collected from your school: rubbish, paper and cardboard for recycling, bottles and cans, green waste, food waste and other items (corks, clothing and household goods). Write these ideas on a blackboard or whiteboard.  

Step 2. Continue the discussion to include the different t

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Student Worksheet

What type of waste are we investigating?

 

What do we want to know about our type of waste?

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How can we find out the answers to these questions?

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Who in our group will find out the answers to each of the questions?

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If you're planning on contacting someone at the Council or waste contracting company, write down a list of the questions that you will ask:

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Tips for preparing your presentation

When you've found the answers to the questions you asked about your type of waste, it's time to create a PowerPoint presentation to share with the class. Your presentation should include:

  • The things you wanted to know about your type of waste;
  • What the answers to your questions were;
  • How you answered these questions, including if you contacted someone at the Council or at a waste contracting company; and
  • Any other interesting or important things you found out thro
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