How are Mobile Phones Recycled?

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• collaboration
• communication
• ethical understanding
• global citizenship
• problem-solving

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 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)

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)

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 Humanities and Social Sciences:

• Students describe the importance of environments, and sustainable allocation and management of resources.

Year 4 Science:

• Students can relate the uses of materials to their properties. 

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 SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 

• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

• Class set of ‘Make Your Own Mobile Phone Worksheet’
• Device capable of presenting audiovisual material
• Sticky notes/scrap paper

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!

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.