Ready for action?
Resources
Tangible Resources
transport to location, bags to collect waste, rubber gloves, camera to take pictures of waste.
Human Resources
Expert
Preparation
Identify a suitable location in the local area and, where necessary, contact the owners of the land (such as a park manager). Source a suitable recycling initiative in the vicinity and choose suitable receptacles to collect the waste such as bin liners, gloves, litter picking tools and a camera to photograph the waste. Arrange a prize (optional).
Goals, messages & concepts
Specific goals
- Getting inspired.
- Learning about the scale of the waste problem.
- Learning about the reasons for the waste problem.
- Learning about the impacts of the waste problem.
Specific messages
- A lot of waste is unintended.
- Litter is a big problem.
- Thinking about waste/solving the waste problem doesn’t have to be boring.
Main terms
- litter
- the nature of waste
- awareness of the problem
Practices & skills
STEM practices
- Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
- Asking questions and defining problems
Soft skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
Management skills
- Planning
Course of activity
step 1
Gather at location in a suitable area – teachers will present the location and the litter problems that are present.
step 2
Introduction and presentation from the location manager and/or administrator (expert) about the location.
step 3
Presentation from an environmental activist to increase awareness of littering problems.
step 4
Present the Waste Collecting Challenge: “Who can collect the most litter?”
step 5
Divide the class into smaller groups - start collecting the litter from the location. Remind students to take note of the different types of litter that they come across during the activity.
step 6
Gather to display and discuss the collected litter.
step 7
Choose the winner and present an award for most litter collected.
step 8
Discuss the project and upcoming lessons, linking it to the completed activity.
step 9
Take separate photographs of each type of waste material collected and print it on paper for the next lesson.