Lesson summary
Students will explore the components and manufacturing process of mobile phones, understand the environmental impact of phone production, and evaluate sustainable alternatives. They will learn about the importance of extending the lifespan of mobile devices by understanding the impacts of resource extraction, assembly and consumption.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand the components and manufacturing processes of mobile phones
- evaluate the environmental impact and sustainability of different mobile phone usage and disposal practices.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- describe the process and materials involved in making a mobile phone
- construct a model of a mobile phone from its components
- evaluate the environmental impact of mobile phone production and propose sustainable alternatives.
Lesson guides and printables
Curriculum links
Select your curriculum from the options below.
Lesson details
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- collaboration
- communication
- ethical understanding
- global citizenship
- problem-solving
Curriculum Mapping
Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content descriptions
Years 3 & 4 Design and Technologies:
- examine design and technologies occupations and factors including sustainability that impact on the design of products, services and environments to meet community needs (AC9TDE4K01)
- describe how forces and the properties of materials affect function in a product or system. (AC9TDE4K02)
Year 4 Science:
- examine the properties of natural and made materials including fibres, metals, glass and plastics and consider how these properties influence their use. (AC9S4U04)
Year 4 Humanities and Social Sciences:
- sustainable use and management of renewable and non-renewable resources, including the custodial responsibility First Nations Australians have for Country/Place. (AC9HS4K06)
Relevant parts of achievement standards:
Years 3 & 4 Design and Technologies:
- Students can describe how people design products, services and environments to meet the needs of people, including sustainability.
Year 4 Science:
- Students can relate the uses of materials to their properties.
Year 4 Humanities and Social Sciences:
- Students can describe the importance of environments, and sustainable allocation and management of resources.
NSW Syllabus outcomes:ST2-11LW, ST2-14BE, ST2-15I, ST2-16P, GE2-2, GE2-3, GE2-3, ST2-13MW
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – provide direction and facilitate class discussion.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
UN SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Resources Required
- Device capable of displaying audiovisual material
- Class set of ‘Make Your Own Mobile Phone Worksheet’
- Hot Potato question sheets
- ‘When We Mine’ ebook
Additional Info
This lesson has been developed as part of Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week. Following this lesson plan is an ideal way for your school to take part in MobileMuster. You’ll be joining thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference and creating positive environmental change. Take part in the Schools Recycling Right Challenge for Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week. Register your lesson or other activities today!
Related Professional Learning
How to Teach Sustainability with Hope
Quick Summary: This course is for both primary and secondary teachers of all subjects, but especially for English, Science, Humanities and Geography teachers who are covering climate change and the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability.
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