Recycling Rocks!

Introduction
Year 4’s, our school needs your help! Nearly all of the schools recyclable materials are being put into
general waste which is damaging our environment when we could be reusing our materials! This has
happened because some classes have not been exposing their waste properly and mixing up their general
waste and recycling! And we all know what happens when we mix general waste into our recycling… the
recycling is contaminated and we can’t reuse the material! Are you ready to step up and take control of
our schools recycling?

Brief
It is your duty to create a system for our school that is going to help raise awareness about this
problem and reduce the amount of recycling that goes to waste. Your system must be realistic and be
implemented across the whole school. You need to think of some effective and efficient ways you will
be able to monitor waste and regularly check our schools progress.

Generating Ideas
You will all formulate your own designs for a system in groups (thinking about how you will track
progress, how you will reach each class, how you will inform each class about recycling, and what you
can do to promote effective waste management). You must decide on 3 overall designs as a whole class,
as part of a vote. The 3 designs will be chosen as a majority vote as we live in a democracy. The final
vote will come down to your teacher, Miss Trewren, who will decide which system we will go ahead with
as a class.

Project Specifications
- must educate all year levels
- must promote effective waste management in
each classroom
- must track progress of each class

Project Management
The first step in bringing a design to production is the design itself. The design should be clear, easy
to understand and implement. Any resources you may need, should be included here for an effective
production of the design.
As the system involves the whole school, it is important that all people involved are aware of the system
so that you get the tick of approval to go ahead. Your principal will have the final say, so you need to
make sure that everything is planned and designed in a way so that you can make sure they understand
that your proposal is going to make our school a more sustainable environment.
Once your proposal has been approved and any adjustments necessary have been made, you will be ready
to start implementing your system into your school. Just think… what would be the best way to do this,
start small and get bigger, or dive straight in?

Evaluation
Keep in mind, there are individual, group and class contributions to this project, so that is what your
teacher will be looking at. Do you work well as a class? Do you help your group? Is your work the best
you can produce? Your teacher will also be working with the Principal who will determine whether or
not they think your system has proven successful or not. So make sure you are all helping each other
for the best possible results!

Presentation
You will be required to present to the school, as a class, at the assembly at the end of term. You will
present what you have implemented and the results from your introduced system to the school.

Time
WEEK 1 TO 5 (EACH LESSON IS 60 MINUTES)

1. Go through the design brief as a class. Buddy bump read as a class. Write down a class
checklist of the main points that we need to do. Create a brainstorm of recyclable materials.
2. Research recycling and ways we can recycle as a community. Individually make a poster about
recycling to put up in around the school.
3. In groups of 3-4 design a system that could be implemented in the school to encourage
recycling.
4. Groups present their designs to the class. The class will vote on the 3 most effective designs.
Miss Trewren will decide on the final design to go ahead with.
5. Write a letter to the principal about why the class design should be implemented in the
school and how and why it will be effective.
6. Finalise the plan and make any adjustments. Determine individual/group/class rolls for the
system.
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM FOR THE LAST 5 WEEKS ON TERM

7. Reflect on your system – did it work or did it not work.. Evaluation your influence on the
system (what did you contribute? Did you fulfil your roll? What could you do better? Do you think the system should continue?
Are there any adjustments you want to make?)

8. As a class, brainstorm and write up a script for the end of term assembly to inform the
school of the system created, how it was implemented and the results..