Lesson summary

Your school is a brilliant setting to address waste and shape behaviours in students that will last a lifetime. In this lesson, students will conduct a simple audit of the waste disposal systems at their school by counting the number and types of bins around the school (including rubbish bins, recycling bins and compost bins), and then by analysing the contents of the rubbish bins using photographs taken of rubbish bin contents. Students will then propose and implement actions for improving the waste disposal systems or waste generation at their school.

Learning intentions:

Students will...

understand what waste is
understand that there are a range of ways to dispose of waste at their school
recognise that not all waste is placed in the correct bins at their school
understand that they can help create change at their school.

Success criteria:

Students can...

participate in an audit
assist with data collection and recording
work collaboratively
participate in class discussions
propose and implement actions for change.

Lesson guides and printables

Lesson details

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Foundation Science:

Objects are made of materials that have observable properties (ACSSU003)
Engage in discussions about observations and use methods such as drawing to represent ideas (ACSIS233)

Foundation Mathematics:

Establish understanding of the language and processes of counting by naming numbers in sequences, initially to and from 20, moving from any starting point (ACMNA001)
Sort and classify familiar objects and explain the basis for these classifications. Copy, continue and create patterns with objects and drawings (ACMNA005)

Year 1 Science:

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 1 Mathematics:

Recognise, model, read, write and order numbers to at least 100. Locate these numbers on a number line (ACMNA013)
Choose simple questions and gather responses (ACMSP262)

Year 1 HASS:

Collect data and information from observations and identify information and data from sources provided (ACHASSI019)
Reflect on learning to propose how to care for places and sites that are important or significant (ACHASSI026)

Year 2 Science:

Earth’s resources are used in a variety of ways (ACSSU032)
People use science in their daily lives, including when caring for their environment and living things (ACSHE035)

Year 2 Mathematics:

Recognise, model, represent and order numbers to at least 1000 (ACMNA027)
Collect, check and classify data (ACMSP049)

Year 2 HASS:

Collect data and information from observations and identify information and data from sources provided (ACHASSI035)

Year 3 Science:

Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE051)

Year 3 Mathematics:

Identify questions or issues for categorical variables. Identify data sources and plan methods of data collection and recording (ACMSP068)

Year 3 HASS:

Locate and collect information and data from different sources, including observations (ACHASSI053)
Reflect on learning to propose actions in response to an issue or challenge and consider possible effects of proposed actions (ACHASSI060)

Syllabus outcomes: STe-9ME, ST1-11LW, ST1-9ES, ST2-11LW, MAe‑1WM, MAe‑2WM, MAe‑3WM, MAe‑8NA, MA1‑1WM, MA1‑2WM, MA1‑3WM, MA1‑4NA, MA2-18SP, MA2‑1WM, MA2‑2WM, MA2‑3WM, GE1-3, GE2-4

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Numeracy

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

Relevant parts of Foundation achievement standards:

Science – Students describe the properties and behaviour of familiar objects. They share and reflect on observations
Mathematics – Students group objects based on common characteristics and sort shapes and objects

Relevant parts of Year 1 achievement standards:

Science – Students describe objects and events that they encounter in their everyday lives, and participate in guided investigations of everyday phenomena
Mathematics – Students count to and from 100. They collect data by asking questions, draw simple data displays and make simple inferences.
HASS – Students respond to questions about familiar and unfamiliar places by locating and interpreting information from sources provided. They reflect on their learning to suggest ways that places can be cared for.

Relevant parts of Year 2 achievement standards:

Science – Students identify that certain materials and resources have different uses and describe examples of where science is used in people’s daily lives
Mathematics – Students count to and from 1000. They collect, organise and represent data to make simple inferences
HASS – Students locate information from observations and from sources provided

Relevant parts of Year 3 achievement standards:

Science – Students describe how they can use science investigations to respond to questions
Mathematics – Students conduct simple data investigations for categorical variables
HASS – Students locate and collect information from sources, including observations. They reflect on their learning to suggest individual action in response to an issue or challenge.

Unit of work: War On Waste – Foundation to Year 3

Time required: 120 mins

Level of teacher scaffolding: High – lead students in discussion and audit

Device with internet and presentation capability
Landfill image
Student Worksheet
Waste items found in your classroom bin (such as old paper, bottles, drinking straws, bottle tops or food wrappers). Try to pick a range of waste materials, including some that can be recycled and some that can’t. Ensure all items are thoroughly clean and any sharp parts are covered in tape.
Waste Safety Code (optional)

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

Communication
Collaboration
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.

War On Waste - Sorting Out Our School Waste

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Summary

Lesson guides and printables

In this lesson