Quick summary: Students sort a collection of solid waste items, explaining what they think happens to each item.
- Students begin to recognise that different types of waste are disposed of in different ways.
Australian Curriculum content descriptions:
Year 3 English
- Listen to and contribute to conversations and discussions to share information and ideas and negotiate in collaborative situations (ACELY1676)
Year 3 Science
- Science knowledge helps people to understand the effect of their actions (ACSHE051)
Year 4 English
- Interpret ideas and information in spoken texts and listen for key points in order to carry out tasks and use information to share and extend ideas and information (ACELY1687)
Year 4 Geography
- The use and management of natural resources and waste, and the different views on how to do this sustainably (ACHASSK090)
Topic: Solid Waste
Time required: 60 mins
Level of teacher scaffolding: High – collect waste materials and manage practical exercise.
Resources required: Sticky notes, pens, butcher’s paper. A basket or box containing samples of a variety of clean household solid waste (for safety reasons, it’s best not to use glass). Suggested items could include a paper envelope, cardboard box, aluminium can, steel can, plastic cream bottle, plastic milk bottle, milk carton, old t-shirt, carrot, broken toy, old shoe, leaves, branch of tree. Make sure that there are no sharp edges on any of the items.
Digital learning opportunities: Use digital sharing capabilities.
Homework and extension opportunities: This activity does not include opportunities for extension.
Safety: Ensure that the items used in the activity are empty, clean and have no sharp edges.
Key words: Waste, recycling, compost, worms, rubbish.
Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.