National Recycling Week - Less Stuff, More Happiness?

Australian Curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 7 Science:

• Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
• Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (ACSHE120)

Year 8 Science:

• Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (ACSHE135)

Year 9 Science:

• People can use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they should accept claims, explanations or predictions (ACSHE160)

Year 10 Science:

• People can use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they should accept claims, explanations or predictions (ACSHE194)

Year 10 Geography:

• The human-induced environmental changes that challenge sustainability (ACHGK070)

Syllabus Outcomes: GE5-2, GE5-3, SC4-11PW, SC5-13ES, SC4-12ES

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking, Ethical understanding

Time needed: 20 minutes

• Internet
• Laptops and earphones
• Student Worksheet

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

• critical thinking

Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week started in 1996 to bring a national focus to the environmental benefits of recycling. This highly regarded annual campaign continues to educate and stimulate behaviour change by promoting kerbside, industrial and community recycling initiative. It also gives people the tools to minimise waste and manage material resources responsibly at home, work and school. In partnership with Planet Ark, we have developed lessons from early learning through to year 10 to help educators bring these important topics into the classroom.

National Recycling Week is held in the second week of November each year but you can recycle all year-round with these lessons which were designed to be used at any time. Click here to find out more about National Recycling Week and the Schools Recycle Right Challenge. 

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – allow students to explore the topic independently