War On Waste - Tuning In To Numbers Around Plastic Waste

Australian curriculum content descriptions: 

Year 4 Mathematics:

• Investigate equivalent fractions used in contexts (ACMNA077)

Year 4 HASS (Geography):

• The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)
• Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (ACHASSI074)
• Interact with others with respect to share points of view (ACHASSI080)
• Present ideas, findings and conclusions in texts and modes that incorporate digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms (ACHASSI082)

Year 5 Mathematics:

• Compare and order common unit fractions and locate and represent them on a number line (ACMNA102)
• Compare, order and represent decimals (ACMNA105)

Year 5 HASS:

• Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary sources and secondary sources (ACHASSI095)
• Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI102)
• Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions (ACHASSI105)

Year 6 Mathematics:

• Make connections between equivalent fractions, decimals and percentages (ACMNA131)
• Interpret secondary data presented in digital media and elsewhere (ACMSP148)

Year 6 HASS:

• Locate and collect relevant information and data from primary sources and secondary sources (ACHASSI123)
• Work in groups to generate responses to issues and challenges (ACHASSI130)
• Present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of texts and modes that incorporate source materials, digital and non-digital representations and discipline-specific terms and conventions (ACHASSI133)

Syllabus outcomes: MA2‑1WM, MA2‑3WM, MA2‑7NA, MA3‑1WM, MA3‑2WM, MA3‑3WM, MA3‑7NA, GE2-2, GE2-3, GE2-4, GE3-4

General capabilities: Numeracy, Critical and Creative Thinking

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.8

Relevant parts of Year 4 Mathematics achievement standards: Students recognise common equivalent fractions in familiar contexts and make connections between fraction and decimal notations up to two decimal places

Relevant parts of Year 4 HASS achievement standards: Students identify the interconnections between components of the environment and between people and the environment. They locate, collect and sort information and data from different sources, and propose individual action in response to a local geographical challenge and identify some possible effects of their proposed action.

Relevant parts of Year 5 Mathematics achievement standards: Students order decimals and unit fractions

Relevant parts of Year 5 HASS achievement standards: Students locate and collect data and information from a range of sources to answer inquiry questions. They work with others to present their ideas, findings and conclusions in a range of communication forms using discipline-specific terms and appropriate conventions.

Relevant parts of Year 6 Mathematics achievement standards: Students connect fractions, decimals and percentages as different representations of the same number

Relevant parts of Year 6 HASS achievement standards: Students identify the purpose of business and recognise the different ways that businesses choose to provide goods and services. They locate and collect useful data and information from primary and secondary sources, and present ideas, findings, viewpoints and conclusions in a range of communication forms.

This lesson is part of the wider unit of work: War On Waste – Years 4-6

Time required: 60 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate guided discussion and lead students in activities

• Device capable of presenting a video to the class
• Waste Chart Fractions (years 4 & 5 only)
• Waste Chart Percentages (year 6 only)
• Waste Facts
• Student Worksheets – one copy per student

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

• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Collaboration

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.