National Recycling Week - Recycle Rescue

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 4 Geography:

• The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)

Year 4 Science:

• Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE062)

Year 5 Science:

• Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE217)

Year 6 Science:

• Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE220)

Year 5 & 6 Design and Technology:

• Investigate characteristics and properties of a range of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment and evaluate the impact of their use (ACTDEK023)

Syllabus outcomes: GE2-3, ST2-11LW, ST3-6PW.

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capabilities.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3, OI.7, OI.9

Relevant parts of Year 4 Science achievement standards: Students apply the observable properties of materials to explain how objects and materials can be used. 

Relevant parts of Year 5 Science achievement standards: Students classify substances according to their observable properties and behaviours.

Relevant parts of Year 6 Science achievement standards: Students compare and classify different types of observable changes to materials.

Relevant parts of Year 4 Geography achievement standards: Students develop geographical questions to investigate and locate, collect and sort information and data from different sources to answer these questions.

Relevant parts of Year 5 & 6 Design and Technology achievement standards: Students describe competing considerations in the design of products, services and environments, taking into account sustainability.

Unit of work: National Recycling week

Time required: 70 minutes

• A range of whiteboard markers, internet access, data projectors and compatible device capable of playing an online video, enough devices to facilitate online research in groups of 3-4 students,
• Student Worksheet (one copy per student OR computers/tablets to access the online worksheet)

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

• communication
• empathy
• critical thinking
• creativity
• digital literacy

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: Medium – facilitate class sharing activities and discussion.