War On Waste - Auditing the Waste at Our School

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 7 Science:

• Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, including water that cycles through the environment, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)

Year 7 Mathematics:

• Calculate volumes of rectangular prisms (ACMMG160)
• Identify and investigate issues involving numerical data collected from primary and secondary sources (ACMSP169)

Year 7 Geography:

• Evaluate sources for their reliability and usefulness and select, collect and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS048)

Year 8 Science:

• Solutions to contemporary issues that are found using science and technology, may impact on other areas of society and may involve ethical considerations (ACSHE135)

Year 8 Mathematics:

• Choose appropriate units of measurement for area and volume and convert from one unit to another (ACMMG195)
• Develop formulas for volumes of rectangular and triangular prisms and prisms in general. Use formulas to solve problems involving volume (ACMMG198)
• Investigate techniques for collecting data, including census, sampling and observation (ACMSP284)

Year 8 Geography:

• Evaluate sources for their reliability and usefulness and select, collect and record relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS056)
• Represent data in a range of appropriate forms, for example, climate graphs, compound column graphs, population pyramids, tables, field sketches and annotated diagrams, with and without the use of digital and spatial technologies (ACHGS057)

Year 9 Mathematics:

• Identify everyday questions and issues involving at least one numerical and at least one categorical variable, and collect data directly and from secondary sources (ACMSP228)

Year 9 Geography:

• Evaluate sources for their reliability, bias and usefulness and select, collect, record and organise relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from a range of appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS064)
• Represent multi-variable data in a range of appropriate forms, for example scatter plots, tables, field sketches and annotated diagrams, with and without the use of digital and spatial technologies (ACHGS065)

Year 10 Geography:

• Evaluate sources for their reliability, bias and usefulness and select, collect, record and organise relevant geographical data and information, using ethical protocols, from a range of appropriate primary and secondary sources (ACHGS073)
• Represent multi-variable data in a range of appropriate forms, for example scatter plots, tables, field sketches and annotated diagrams, with and without the use of digital and spatial technologies (ACHGS074)

Syllabus outcomes: SC4-12ES, GE4-7, GE5-7

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Numeracy

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

Relevant parts of Year 7 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how the sustainable use of resources depends on the way they are formed.

Relevant parts of Year 7 Mathematics achievement standards: Students use formulas for the area and perimeter of rectangles and calculate volumes of rectangular prisms. They identify issues involving the collection of continuous data.

Relevant parts of Year 7 Geography achievement standards: Students evaluate a range of primary and secondary sources to locate useful information and data. They record and represent data and the location and distribution of geographical phenomena in a range of forms.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Science achievement standards: Students explain how evidence has led to an improved understanding of a scientific idea

Relevant parts of Year 8 Mathematics achievement standards: Students convert between units of measurement for area and volume. They explain issues related to the collection of data.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Geography achievement standards: Students evaluate a range of primary and secondary sources to locate useful and reliable information and data. They select, record and represent data and the location and distribution of geographical phenomena in a range of appropriate digital and non-digital forms.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Mathematics achievement standards: Students compare techniques for collecting data from primary and secondary sources.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Geography achievement standards: Students evaluate a range of primary and secondary sources to select and collect relevant and reliable geographical information and data. They record and represent multi-variable data in a range of appropriate digital and non-digital forms.

Relevant parts of Year 10 Geography achievement standards: Students critically evaluate a range of primary and secondary sources to select and collect relevant, reliable and unbiased geographical information and data. Students record and represent multi-variable data in the most appropriate digital and non-digital forms.

Unit of work: War On Waste – Years 7-10

Time required: 200+ mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – oversee class discussion and auditing processes

• Camera or device with a camera 
• Device with internet and presenting capability
• Map or plan of school (hard copy or Google Maps)
• Rubber gloves
• Student Worksheet – one copy per student
• Waste Audit Worksheet – How Many Bins?
• Waste Audit Worksheet – How Much Waste?
• Waste Audit Worksheet – What’s In The Bins?
• Waste Safety Code (optional)

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

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Leadership

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.