Resources: Handouts, classroom bin/s (full!), rubber gloves and computers/tablets for research.
Support Handout (1): A handout with questions to answer regarding rubbish in their school and a scaffolded space to write a pledge.
Core Handout (2): A handout with questions to answer regarding rubbish in their school and a space to write a pledge.
Stretch Handout (3): The same handout as the core, with an additional space to write a letter to their local supermarket.
Challenge Handout (4): A table for the children to complete, showing which types of plastics are easy to recycle and which are much more difficult.
Enquiry Approach - Research
Using information from a variety of sources to answer scientific questions.
Enquiry Skill - Interpreting and communicating results
Using information, results and data to present findings, including oral and written explanations.
Using the starter slides, recap the difference between climate and weather, and how trees can help prevent climate change. Discuss and address any misconceptions.
Use the presentation slides to explore what recycling is and how items that are not recycled are sent to a landfill. Carefully look through the classroom bin to see what has been thrown away (you may want to wear rubber gloves). If there is already a recycling bin in the classroom, check to see if the rubbish that has been thrown away has been put in the correct bin. Sort the items in the classroom bin/s by what can be recycled and what can’t. Children will then look at the advantages and disadvantages of landfills.
Discuss some ways that the children can limit the amount of rubbish sent to landfill, such as avoiding single-use plastics like bottles and drinking straws, using a reusable bottle, using reusable food bags and buying more food in bulk and less with individual wrappers.
Career Film: This is Frances Schofield. Francis works as a Graduate Chemist for National Nuclear Laboratory.
Ask the children to write a pledge for what they are going to do to limit the amount of things that are thrown away and to improve recycling in their school. Extend pupils by asking them to write to their local supermarkets to find out what they are doing to reduce waste and support recycling.
Challenge Task: Not all plastic is easily recyclable. Ask the children to find out which types of plastics are easy to recycle and which are much more difficult.
Ask the children to share their ideas and pledges to reduce waste and improve recycling. Ask the children to identify the top three suggestions proposed.
Remember to record the temperature every day and the rainfall once a week.
Sending rubbish to landfills has several negative impacts on the environment, including the emission of greenhouse gases, water pollution, and soil contamination. There are several ways to reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfills, including:
Recycling: Recycling is the process of converting waste materials into new products. Recycling reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and conserves natural resources. Recycling can include materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, glass, and metal.
Composting: Composting is the process of decomposing organic materials, such as food waste and yard waste, into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. Composting reduces the amount of organic waste sent to landfills and helps to improve soil quality.
Reducing waste: Reducing waste involves using fewer resources and generating less waste in the first place. This can include strategies such as using reusable containers, purchasing products with minimal packaging, and avoiding single-use items such as plastic bags and straws.
Reusing items: Reusing items involves finding new uses for items instead of throwing them away. This can include strategies such as repairing and repurposing items, donating unwanted items to charities, and purchasing used items instead of new ones.
Waste-to-energy: Waste-to-energy involves converting waste materials into energy, such as electricity or heat. This can be done through various methods, including incineration and gasification. While waste-to-energy can help to reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, it can also have negative environmental impacts and should be used as a last resort after other waste reduction and recycling strategies have been implemented.
By adopting these strategies, individuals, businesses, and governments can help to reduce the amount of rubbish sent to landfills and mitigate the negative impacts of waste on the environment.
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