Waste breakdown

Waste breakdown

Lesson 6 of 8 in this unit

  • Primary
  • Year 1 - 2
  • Science
  • Environmental
  • Recycling
  • Sustainability
  • ...

Lesson summary

In this activity, students look at waste and the time frame it takes to
decompose. Students are asked to order a selection of waste materials into the time it takes for them to break down. In the closing activity, they will act as archaeologists undertaking a dig of a kitchen 100 years in the future and are asked to describe the condition of the items that they find.

Learning goals:

  • The aim of this activity is to raise awareness of the rate of waste material breakdown and how this can take many, many years.

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson Plan

Lesson details

Curriculum mapping

Australian curriculum content description:

Year 1 Science:

  • Everyday materials can be physically changed in a variety of ways (ACSSU018)
  • Science involves asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events (ACSHE021)
  • People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE022)
  • Participate in different types of guided investigations to explore and answer questions, such as manipulating materials, testing ideas, and accessing information sources (ACSIS025)

Year 2 Science:

  • Science involves asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events (ACSHE034)
  • People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE035)
  • Participate in different types of guided investigations to explore and answer questions, such as manipulating materials, testing ideas, and accessing information sources (ACSIS038)
  • Represent and communicate observations and ideas in a variety of ways such as oral and written language, drawing and role play (ACSIS042)

Syllabus Outcomes: ST1-4WS, ST1-11LW, ST1-9ES, ST1-12MW, 

Time required: 60 mins

Resources required

Additional info

This is an original Cool.org lesson. Facts and figures in these lessons may have changed since this lesson was published. We always endeavour to update our resources in a timely manner, but if you see an error or issue in our resources please get in touch with us.

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