Old cloths and plastic bags can be made into something really desirable and processing plastic is really a relatively simple exercise in applying heat and pressure.
Make a frisbee from recycled plastic
Year 4
Sustainable Futures
CSIRO has developed the Sustainable Futures program to support teachers of Years 3 to 10 with ideas and resources to support teaching sustainability and the environment.
Solar schools
This Brisbane-based organisation was founded by two enthusiastic teachers. It offers a comprehensive program for engaging learners in practical action based on real data collected in their school.
Kitchen Garden Foundation
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation provides professional development, educational resources and access to the Shared Table, our online community of educators. Our Support Team will help you choose the best tools to get your kitchen garden program growing.
Recycle right
This resource was produced by the South Australian government to support teachers of English as a Second Language. It contains a variety of activities that might be suitable for selective use throughout the primary school years.
Merri-bek City Council resources
This resource is one sample from a larger collection on the Merri-bek City Council website. Some of the resources may be specific to that locality but they might provide inspiration for activities in your own locality.
HSIE – sustainability
This 40 page document from NSW Education supports the teaching of the Sustainability CCP within the Human Society and its Environment curriculum. Links are included to the source of the document and other resources.
Awesome activity books
The web page has links from which the three activity books (2017, 2020, and 2022), each with a variety of single page activities, can be downloaded. There are also links to other resources for STEM learning and teaching. The 2022 book is focused on conservation and sustainability.
Glass sorting
Glass is an extremely durable material, though fragile, and can be recycled many times. Recycling glass requires far less energy than manufacturing it from raw materials, saving both cost and environmental damage. The PowerPoint file presents information about recycling glass, including a video linked from YouTube, and challenges students to sort glass from mixed waste as would be required for recycling.
Weigh your waste
This activity is designed to be completed in class over a period of a week or a little more. It requires students to collect, weigh, record, and analyse the waste they produce during the week. It will help them to realise how much waste is generated and to recognise the differences between general waste, recycled products, and reusable materials. There are questions to help with their thinking about the issues.
