War On Waste - Going To War On Waste

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 4 Science:

• Natural and processed materials have a range of physical properties that can influence their use (ACSSU074)
• Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE062)
• Represent and communicate observations, ideas and findings using formal and informal representations (ACSIS071)

Year 4 HASS:

• The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)
• Interact with others with respect to share points of view (ACHASSI080)
• Reflect on learning to propose actions in response to an issue or challenge and consider possible effects of proposed actions (ACHASSI081)

Year 5 HASS:

• Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI102)
• Use criteria to make decisions and judgements and consider advantages and disadvantages of preferring one decision over others (ACHASSI103)
• Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects (ACHASSI104)

Year 6 HASS:

• Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI130)
• Use criteria to make decisions and judgements and consider advantages and disadvantages of preferring one decision over others (ACHASSI131)
• Reflect on learning to propose personal and/or collective action in response to an issue or challenge, and predict the probable effects (ACHASSI132)

Syllabus outcomes: ST2-13MW, ST2-11LW, ST2-4WS, GE2-2, GE2-3, GE2-4, GE3-4

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.6, OI.8

Relevant parts of Year 4 Science achievement standards: Students apply the observable properties of materials to explain how objects and materials can be used and identify when science is used to understand the effect of their actions. They use formal and informal ways to communicate their observations and findings.

Relevant parts of Year 4 HASS achievement standards: Students identify the interconnections between components of the environment and between people and the environment. They reflect on their learning to propose action in response to an issue or challenge and identify the possible effects of their proposed action.

Relevant parts of Year 5 HASS achievement standards: Students work with others to generate alternative responses to an issue or challenge and reflect on their learning to independently propose action, describing the possible effects of their proposed action.

Relevant parts of Year 6 HASS achievement standards: Students collaboratively generate alternative responses to an issue, use criteria to make decisions and identify the advantages and disadvantages of preferring one decision over others. They reflect on their learning to propose action in response to an issue or challenge and describe the probable effects of their proposal.

Unit of work: War On Waste – Years 4-6

Time required: 200+ mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – oversee activities and facilitate class discussion

• Butcher’s paper and various coloured sticky notes
• Device with internet and presenting capability
• Group Roles
• Plastic Factsheet (optional)
• Project Checklist – ready to project or enough copies for small group work
• Project Planning Tool – ready to project or enough copies for small group work
• S.M.A.R.T. Goals Criteria – ready to project or enough copies for small group work
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student

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

• Communication
• Community engagement
• Collaboration
• Problem solving

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.