War On Waste - Finding Out about Fast Fashion

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 7 Economics and Business:

• The ways consumers and producers interact and respond to each other in the market (ACHEK017)
• Gather relevant data and information from a range of digital, online and print sources (ACHES022)
• Apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts in familiar and new situations (ACHES025)
• 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 (ACHES026)

Year 8 Economics and Business:

• Types of businesses and the ways that businesses respond to opportunities in Australia (ACHEK030)
• 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)
• 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)
• Reflect on the intended and unintended consequences of economic and business decisions (ACHES049)

Year 10 Economics and Business:

• Factors that influence major consumer and financial decisions and the short- and long-term consequences of these decisions (ACHEK053)
• The ways businesses respond to changing economic conditions and improve productivity through organisational management and workforce management (ACHEK054)
• 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, C5.5, C5.7, C5.8

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Literacy

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8

Relevant parts of Year 7 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students describe the interdependence of consumers and producers in the market. They gather data and information from different sources to investigate an economic or business issue. They apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar problems. Students develop and present conclusions using appropriate texts, terms and concepts. They identify the effects of their decisions and the possible effects of alternative actions.

Relevant parts of Year 8 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students describe the different ways businesses can respond to opportunities in the market. They 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. Students develop and present evidence-based conclusions using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts. They identify the effects of an economic or business decision and the potential consequences of alternative actions.

Relevant parts of Year 9 Economics and Business achievement standards: Students explain why businesses seek to create a competitive advantage, including through innovation, and evaluate the strategies that may be used. They gather and analyse relevant data and information from different sources to answer questions, identify trends and explain relationships. Students develop and present evidence-based conclusions and reasoned arguments using appropriate texts, subject-specific language and concepts. They analyse the effects of economic and business decisions and the potential consequences of alternative actions.

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, and apply economics and business knowledge, skills and concepts to familiar, unfamiliar and complex hypothetical problems. Students develop and present evidence-based conclusions and reasoned arguments incorporating different points of view. They use appropriate texts, subject-specific language, conventions and concepts. They analyse the intended and unintended effects of economic and business decisions and the potential consequences of alternative actions.

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

Time required: 120 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – lead students in class discussions

• Communication Piece Assessment Rubric (optional)
• Device with internet and presenting capability
• Fashion Images – to project or enough printed to distribute in small groups
• Online Search Strategies (optional)
• Student Worksheet – one copy per student

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

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• 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.