War On Waste - A Circular Economy For Waste

Australian curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 8 Economics and Business:

• The ways markets in Australia operate to enable the distribution of resources, and why they may be influenced by government (ACHEK027)
• Gather relevant data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES033)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar and new situations (ACHES036)
• Present evidence-based conclusions using economics and business language and concepts in a range of appropriate formats, and reflect on the consequences of alternative actions (ACHES037)

Year 9 Economics and Business:

• The nature of innovation and how and why businesses seek to create and maintain a competitive advantage in the market, including the global market (ACHEK041)
• The changing roles and responsibilities of participants in the Australian or global workplace (ACHEK042)
• Gather relevant and reliable data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES044)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar, new and hypothetical situations (ACHES047)
• Present reasoned arguments and evidence-based conclusions in a range of appropriate formats using economics and business conventions, language and concepts (ACHES048)

Year 10 Economics and Business:

• Factors that influence major consumer and financial decisions and the short- and long-term consequences of these decisions (ACHEK053)
• Gather relevant and reliable data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES056)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar, new and hypothetical situations (ACHES059)
• Present reasoned arguments and evidence-based conclusions in a range of appropriate formats using economics and business conventions, language and concepts (ACHES060)

Syllabus outcomes: C4.1, C4.2, C4.3, C4.4, C4.7, C4.8, C5.1, C5.2, C5.3, C5.4, C5.7, C5.8

General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8

Relevant parts of Year 8 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students explain how markets operate and recognise why governments may influence the market’s operation. They explain the rights and responsibilities of consumers and businesses in terms of financial and economic decision-making. Students develop questions and gather relevant data and information from different sources to investigate an economic or business issue. They apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar and unfamiliar problems.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students analyse the roles and responsibilities of participants in the workplace. They gather and analyse relevant data and information from different sources to answer questions, identify trends and explain relationships. They apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar, unfamiliar and hypothetical problems.

Relevant parts of Year 10 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students analyse factors that influence major consumer and financial decisions and explain the short- and long-term effects of these decisions. They gather and analyse reliable data and information from different sources to identify trends, explain relationships and make predictions, and apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar, unfamiliar and complex hypothetical problems.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: War On Waste – Years 7-10

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussions, lead students in activities

• Circular Linear Economy Image (optional)
• Device capable of presenting an online clip to the class
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student
• National Waste Policy 2018

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

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Critical thinking

Cool Australia’s War On Waste lessons have been developed in partnership with Lune Media and with support from the Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network. These lessons have been designed to lead students through a deeper understanding of some of the big issues relating to waste in Australia and to support them to take action to reduce the impact of waste on our environment.