Teaching Sequence

Work through this activity in the following sequence:

Tune In:

What is waste?

Find Out:

Cleaning litter song!

Take Action:

Take it further

Tune In: What is waste?

Step 1

Begin by inviting children to sit in a discussion circle and discuss the following statements:

I wonder what waste is?
I wonder where it comes from?
I wonder what it looks like?
I wonder if waste belongs in nature.

Through discussion, lead children to the idea that when we are talking about waste, we are talking about the rubbish or litter that we throw away. Hopefully, we can find a good bin for it (like recycling, repairing, or reusing bin) or just a rubbish bin, and, hopefully, it doesn’t end up being littered. In addition to looking horrible, waste left in our environment can harm the plants and animals that live there.

Step 2

Display the following images depicting different forms of waste in nature using the attached visual explainer. Take some time to look at the images and discuss the following statements with your group

I wonder what this is a picture of?
I wonder if you can see any waste in this picture?
I wonder what this picture makes you think about?
I wonder how this picture makes you feel?
I wonder what you would do with this waste if you saw it in nature?

Find Out: Cleaning litter song!

Step 1

Take another look at the images on the visual explainer and talk to children about which bin you would put the different types of waste in (e.g. compost, recycling, reuse, repair or rubbish bin).

You could use the information below to guide children if they aren’t sure what items go in which bin.

Rubbish/General	• Styrofoam cups and containers • Pens and pencils • Tissues, napkins and paper towels • Food waste • Disposable utensils and straws • Plastic bags, packaging and wrappers • Disposable coffee cups
Recycling	• Plastic bottles and containers (including yoghurt and takeaway containers) • Glass bottles and jars • Milk and juice cartons • Disposable coffee cup lids • Paper and cardboard (these should preferably be placed into the paper and cardboard stream, where available).
Compost	• Food scraps (fruit, vegetables and meat) • Coffee grounds and tea bags • Flowers and plants • Tissues/paper towels • Compostable packaging

Source: What goes in each bin? - The University of Queensland

You might like to share this clip with children to show how rubbish can take on a new life after it's recycled!

When I Grow Up- A recycling film by Unilever (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze3ltNmcDw0)

Step 2

You might like to watch this video with your group, which shows what happens to the items you put in your recycling bin after it is taken by the truck!

Cleanaway Material Recovery Facility - Cleanaway (youtube.com/watch?v=4JBWVSSYmvU)

Ask the children - Why is it important to put our waste in the correct bin?

Step 3

You can then work with children to sing a clean up the litter song. If you already have one of your own, you could use that, or you could sing the one below to the tune of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star.

Put the litter in the bin

Which bin will I put it in?

Composting or rubbish bin,

Reusable or recycling

Put the litter in the bin

Which bin will I put it in?

You can adapt the bin types in the song to suit those used at your building.

Take Action: Take it further

Step 1

Practice sorting waste into different bins using this fun on li ne sorting game.

Play as a group with students working as a team to decide what should go into which bin! In Easy Mode, you sort trash into one category of litter at a time. In Hard Mode, you sort trash into all four categories at once!

Step 2

Children might have their ideas about how to extend this activity, or you could use one of the ideas below:

Work with your group to create new signs for your bins so that everyone understands what items should go into which bins. This can be a fun arts and crafts activity where children can use drawings or pictures to represent different types of waste, such as recycling, composting, or general rubbish. Display these signs near the bins to help everyone understand where each item belongs.
Be sure to have a bin for ‘repair’ and ‘reuse’ so children understand that there are many options for the things we no longer want or need. Introduce the concept of repair and reuse by making new creations from recycled materials. Encourage them to think creatively about how they can give new life to old items rather than throwing them away.
Create a clip of your children singing the Clean up the Litter song or create your version of a clean up song with information about which items should go into which bins. You can share your clip with other rooms and families at your centre.
Go on a waste walk! Take children on a "waste walk" around your building. Equip them with gloves and bags, and encourage them to collect any litter they find along the way. After the walk, gather together to discuss the different types of waste they collected and brainstorm ideas for how it can be properly disposed of or recycled.

Evaluation

Complete an analysis of learning, listing evidence about:

Belonging	Finding something of interest
Communication	Expressing an idea or feeling
Exploration	Engaging with challenge and persisting when difficulty arises
Wellbeing	Being involved

Clean Up Australia - Keep Waste Out of Nature

Go to

Summary

Activity guides and printables

Activity Details

Skills

Curriculum Mapping

Resources Required

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Additional Info

In this activity