Using the data provided in the course materials I have created an Excel document to calculate the amount of rubbish found in the school bins each week. This data was used as a starting point to develop class activities to help students understand and represent meaningful data in relevant ways.
School Rubbish Data
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It is interesting to notice that almost half (47%) of rubbish is food scraps, which could all be used to create compost!
After some research I found that plastic wrappers and cling film can be recycled by dropping them into a REDcycle collection bin located at many Woolworths or Coles stores.
Click here for the details.
After some research I found that plastic wrappers and cling film can be recycled by dropping them into a REDcycle collection bin located at many Woolworths or Coles stores.
Click here for the details.
Using this Activity to Develop Student Insight
Into Data Representation & Pattern Searching
This is a great activity for a Years 3 or 4 class because it aligns with the Australian digital technologies curriculum by "developing understanding and skills in computational thinking, such as categorising and outlining procedures" (ACARA). This activity will involve collecting, manipulating and interpreting data, so students can further build on their understanding of the characteristics of data and their representation, which is also part of the digital technologies curriculum for years 3 & 4 (ACARA).
Activity
Introduction
To introduce the topic students will watch the second episode of the ABC documentary "War on Waste." This is a documentary that explores plastic waste including plastic recycling, landfill and that which ends up in the environment.
War On waste YouTube Clip
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To further develop interest and engagement with this activity students could be asked to bring their lunchboxes into the classroom and discuss what sort of items in their lunch box would be thrown into the rubbish.
Using this interest the teacher will engage students in collaborative discussion to determine a key question or problem. E.g. "How can we reduce our waste?" "Where does our rubbish go?" etc.
This aligns with the year 3 & 4 content description ACTDIP010 Define simple problems, and describe and follow a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve them.
The teacher will then scaffold a solution through collaboration and discussion by asking open questions and helping students identify;
Using this interest the teacher will engage students in collaborative discussion to determine a key question or problem. E.g. "How can we reduce our waste?" "Where does our rubbish go?" etc.
This aligns with the year 3 & 4 content description ACTDIP010 Define simple problems, and describe and follow a sequence of steps and decisions (algorithms) needed to solve them.
The teacher will then scaffold a solution through collaboration and discussion by asking open questions and helping students identify;
- How can we find this out?
- What information do we need?
- Where can we find this information?
Collection of Data
Students will then use the above activity to obtain some quantitative data about school and class rubbish and display this information in a meaningful way such as using excel to create graphs and tables similar to above.
This aligns with ACARA's year 3 & 4 digital technology content descriptions:
This aligns with ACARA's year 3 & 4 digital technology content descriptions:
Analysing the Data
Students will then explore how the data is displayed and use it to compare, summarize and evaluate school rubbish. In particular data will be used to evaluate and improve the amount of rubbish being sent to landfill.
Further Questions & Research
The analysis of data will be used to extend students understanding about school rubbish.
This knowledge will be extended through class research about what happens to this rubbish including an opportunity to visit the local waste and recycling facility to further research in a meaningful way. This excursion will include some pre-planned students questions to help improve waste behaviour, particularly in school.
This research could then be used to develop a solution to minimize waste (e.g. Creating a compost and educating the school about how to use it. Or developing a recycling system appropriate for student use etc.)
This meets the content description ACTDIP013 Plan, create and communicate ideas and information independently and with others, applying agreed ethical and social protocols
This knowledge will be extended through class research about what happens to this rubbish including an opportunity to visit the local waste and recycling facility to further research in a meaningful way. This excursion will include some pre-planned students questions to help improve waste behaviour, particularly in school.
This research could then be used to develop a solution to minimize waste (e.g. Creating a compost and educating the school about how to use it. Or developing a recycling system appropriate for student use etc.)
This meets the content description ACTDIP013 Plan, create and communicate ideas and information independently and with others, applying agreed ethical and social protocols