Lesson summary
Students examine and weigh the waste that has been collected over one week from the teacher’s household. They will also bring to class one item of packaging that they think is excessive. Students will then be asked to think critically about the amount of packaging that is used to wrap the things we use every day and to think creatively about how this packaging could be reused. This activity is in two parts and requires some preparation to collect one week’s worth of rubbish and examples of excessive packaging.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- learn that we create a lot of waste in our daily lives
- understand that we can recycle much of this waste
- understand that we can think carefully about what we buy so that we aren’t contributing unnecessarily to the waste problem.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- assess and correctly sort household waste
- analyse waste materials for excessive packaging
- make recommendations for how packaging could be improved based on the principles in the Waste Hierarchy.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Australian curriculum content descriptions:
Year 7 Mathematics:
- Investigate, interpret and analyse graphs from authentic data (ACMNA180)
Year 7 Science:
- Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
- Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed (ACSIS125)
Year 8 Mathematics:
- Choose appropriate units of measurement for area and volume and convert from one unit to another (ACMMG195)
Year 8 Science:
- Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed (ACSIS140)
- Construct and use a range of representations, including graphs, keys and models to represent and analyse patterns or relationships, including using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS144)
- Summarise data, from students’ own investigations and secondary sources, and use scientific understanding to identify relationships and draw conclusions (ACSIS145)
Syllabus outcomes: SC4-5WS, SC4-6WS, SC4-7WS, SC4-12ES.
General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3, OI.8.
Time required: 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: High – collect waste items, assist students in the activity.
Resources required
- Art and craft materials
- Device with internet access
- Graph paper
- Large buckets
- Plastic bags
- Scales
- Waste items for one week (teacher to collect)
- Waste Hierarchy
- Writing materials
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- Community engagement
- Problem solving
- Critical thinking
Additional info
Following this lesson plan is an ideal way for your school to take part in Schools Clean Up Day or a Clean Up on any day of the year. You’ll be joining thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference and creating positive environmental change.
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