Visy Education - Why Recycling Right Matters

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

• creative thinking
• critical thinking
• communication
• community engagement

Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:

Year 7&8, Science

Students learn to 

• explore the role of science communication in informing individual viewpoints and community policies and regulations(AC9S8H04)
• examine how proposed scientific responses to contemporary issues may impact society and explore ethical, environmental, social and economic considerations (AC9S8H03).

Relevant parts of Year 7&8 achievement standards: Students analyse the importance of science communication in shaping viewpoints, policies and regulations. They construct evidence-based arguments to support conclusions and evaluate claims. They select and use language and text features appropriately for their purpose when communicating their ideas, findings and arguments to specific audiences.

NSW Syllabus outcomes:

A student

• communicates scientific concepts and ideas using a range of communication forms (SC4-WS-08).

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, Literacy, Personal and Social Capability 

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability 

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class game and discussions, and oversee independent tasks.

UN SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

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

• Challenges in Plastic Recycling Factsheet
• Household Recycling Guide Factsheet
• Zero Waste Zone scenario cards
• Student Worksheet

This lesson has been developed in partnership with Visy. For over 70 years, Visy has been committed to finding sustainable solutions for Australia's and New Zealand’s recyclables and helping to reduce local landfills. Visy collects, receives, and sorts paper, cardboard, glass, plastics, steel, and aluminium from households, businesses, and schools to reuse these products and re-manufacture new packaging products.

Fit Sustainability Into the Secondary Curriculum

Quick Summary: In this course, you will learn a holistic definition of sustainability, which goes beyond compost bins and solar panels and how to embed sustainability concepts to enrich your current curriculum without it being an add-on.