Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

10 minutes

Tune In: Recalling waste disposal methods

20 minutes

Find Out: Conducting a school waste PMI

25 minutes

Take Action: Presenting the waste PMI

5 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions & success criteria

Students will:

use questioning skills to analyse waste disposal methods and behaviours.

Students can:

think critically about how their school manages waste
collaborate to improve waste disposal method in their school community.

Tune In: Recalling waste disposal methods

Step 1

Give each student a copy of the Student Worksheet and invite students to complete a Think Pair Share routine around the following questions:

What waste disposal methods do we use in our classroom?
If we were to walk around the school, would we find any other waste disposal methods?
If so, what are they, and where would we find them?

Students should record their initial thoughts in Column A on the table provided on the Student Worksheet before sharing their ideas with a classmate. They can then return to the table and add new ideas or thoughts to Column B.

Questioning is a key literacy skill that encourages students to actively engage with a topic by seeking clarification and deeper comprehension. By asking questions, students enhance understanding, stimulate curiosity, and stay focused on the content.

Step 2

Invite students to share their ideas with the class and record the main types of waste disposal that students could recall on the board.

Find Out: Conducting a school waste PMI

Step 1

Explain that students will now walk around the school to see how their predictions about waste disposal at their school compare to what they find.

Work with students to plan your walk, ensuring you tour all school sites where waste disposal systems might be present, including indoor spaces around the canteen, outdoor spaces, and sites where larger bins (including skips) are stored. For example:

A classroom

paper recycling boxes
paper reuse boxes
plastic bottle recycling containers
rubbish bin
container for collecting food scraps.

Other waste disposal methods

paper recycling bins or skips
charity clothing bins
photocopier toner cartridge boxes
battery recycling bins
phone recycling bins
soft plastics bin
cork recycling box
aluminium can cage
rubbish skips
compost bins
worm farms
chicken pens
any other waste disposal stations around your school.

Step 2

Break students into groups of 3 to 4 and give each group the PMI Chart. Explain that they will work in their groups to discuss and record their observations using this chart. For example, students could take turns being the scribe for their group.

Before heading out, remind students of your outdoor learning guidelines, such as staying close enough to the teacher to be able to hear them and keeping noise to a minimum so as not to disturb other classes. In addition, remind students of your waste safety code.

Step 3

Head out on your tour. As you visit each of the stations, the students are to discuss with their group what they found positive (P), what they found to be negative or minus (M) and what they found interesting (I).

Take Action: Presenting the waste PMI

Step 1

Once back in the classroom, ask students to continue working in their groups to discuss what they found positive (P), what they found to be negative or minus (M) and what they found interesting (I) about the waste disposal methods of the school.

Step 2

Working in their groups, students will now create a short presentation to share the results of their observations with the class. In each group, at least one student should prepare the PLUS information, one should prepare the MINUS, and one should prepare the INTERESTING.

Provide time for students to share their presentations.

Reflection

Invites students to consider the following questions:

What did you notice about the signage around the waste disposal methods you observed?
Was it effective?
How could it be improved?

Students could brainstorm their answers and record these on the board.

Learning extension: Students create new and improved signs for those they think need improving.

Waste Spotto

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Summary

Lesson guides and printables

In this lesson