Lesson summary
In this activity students investigate the meanings of renewable and non-renewable resources, and look at the role of recycling for these resources. As a class students create a survey to find out what ideas for improving the school’s waste management system other students and staff have for your school. Finally students should create a plan for improving the school’s waste management system.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- identify reversible processes of materials and distinguish between renewable, non-renewable and recycling
- understand that different people from the same school have different opinions about our environment and how it should be managed
- take responsibility for deciding on a plan to improve the school’s environment.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Australian curriculum content descriptions:
Year 6 Geography:
- Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary and secondary sources (ACHASSI123)
- Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions (ACHASSI133)
- Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects (ACHASSI132)
Year 6 English:
- Participate in and contribute to discussions, clarifying and interrogating ideas, developing and supporting arguments, sharing and evaluating information, experiences and opinions (ACELY1709)
Syllabus Outcomes: GE3-2, GE3-4, EN3-1A
Time required: 60 mins
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – Once students start brainstorming it is hard for them to stop. Insist that once they have decided on what they want to do not to get side tracked by ideas that are no longer relevant.
Resources required
- Internet access
- Student worksheet
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- communication
- community engagement
- collaboration
- critical thinking
- social skills
Additional info
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.
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