Enviroschool Zero Waste Learning inquiry ( NZC Levels 1-4)
Suggested activity. NB: Those in each section are not in a sequential order.
ZW=Enviroschools Zero Waste theme area.
Zero Waste
Key concepts:
Action Learning
Cycle Stage
IDENTIFY
Key Questions:
What do you
know and feel
about waste?
Where can waste
be found in and
near the school?
What can you
learn about
waste?-see key
concepts.
How much waste
do you create?
What types of
waste are in your
school?
What would you
change if you
could?
Lindsey Fish 2013
NB: All video clips should be watched before showing to students to determine suitability.
a. Waste is a human invention.
b. Looking after Papatūᾱnuku-how our current waste management creates problems.
c. Designing for zero waste.
For background information on the above concepts see ZW Pg 371-375
….
Set the scene: Brainstorm to see what students already know about waste, and/or to introduce new vocabulary. Ask: how many
word students know for rubbish (rapihi)e.g. Scrap, refuse, garbage, waste, litter, trash, junk…
KEY WORDS: Consumerism, resources , waste, landfill, recycling (hangarua,) reducing, reusing, organic, inorganic, biodegradable,
composting, rot, decompose, raw materials, metal (maitai,) contamination, leak, leach, hazardous, pollution, environment, Earth
(Papatuanuku,) zero waste (para kore,) compost (wairakau,)dissolve, dump, plastic (paratiki,) glass (karahe,) tin (tini,) rubbish bin
(tini parapara,) food scraps parahanga,) See ZW Pg 394 for list of words related to 3R’s.

Why should we reduce waste going to landfill : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd0geMqxtZQ

Bury It-ZW Pg 378. Students bury waste collected from around the school to lead students to discover meaning of term
biodegradable/ organic inorganic. Record sheet on Pg 379.Should be done early on as this is a continuing activity over time. Students
could be encouraged to make predictions about what will happen and time scales. Followed up with Dig It Up- ES Pg 387. For
reflective questions. Follow up with Timeline activity from Create Your own Eden, part 2 make visual representation of how long
things take to rot. (Can be adapted for all ages.) (http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz/schools_docs/CYOE%20Activity%20%20Waste%20timeline.pdf)

Leaf Litter Hunt-ZW Pg 386. Outside activity to examine decomposition and organic concepts.

Natural Cycles –ZW Pg 388. Investigation leading on from decomposition cycle to plant, insect, animal lifecycles interpreted through
Is this how you
want it to be?
Lindsey Fish 2013
art and drama.

Listen –ZW-Pg 389/391. Poem to introduce concept of waste destroying the land/Papatuanuku. Lot of extension activities exploring
landfill and industrial waste dumping around New Zealand and the world.

Blooms Taxonomy: Why reduce waste? Pg32 Wise Up on Waste, Be Resource Smart
http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf

Visit a local landfill to consider where waste from the school and home goes. Fact sheet and activities discussing landfill, Pg 15/16.
Wise Up on Waste, Be Resource Smart
http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf

Hot Spot Questionnaire ZW-Pg 382. Students design questions to ask people in school community to gain a picture of people’s
perceptions about waste around the school. Useful in ascertaining who are the key people who can help when planning to take
action.

Litter Survey-ZW Pg 383/4, includes template. Vital activity to determine where litter is around school, where it may come from and
current waste management in order to plan action.

Waste Brainstorm-ZW Pg 381. Includes sorting and classifying types of waste found around school. Useful in assessing which types of
waste pupils are familiar with.

Carry It with you-ES ZW 385. Experiential activity where pupils carry the rubbish they generate with them for a whole day and
consider how it could be disposed of. Also, My Waste, Pg5-7 Wise Up on Waste, Be Resource Smart
http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf,




Supermarket Sleuth-ZW Pg 392. Examining packaging for examples of recycling etc- can be good homework activity.
Also see www.unpackit.org.nz for examples of best and worst packaging.
For older students (yr 5+) Consumerism, explores how consumer choices impacts waste production. Pg8, Wise Up on Waste, Be
Resource Smart http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf
For older students (yr 8) Watch short 20 minute film about consumerism http://www.topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-story-of-stuff/

Waste Audit-ZW Pg 395 (See your Enviroschools facilitator for help.)Templates and instructions for collecting data about the school
waste stream which can then be entered into the Enviroschools Measuring change tool; useful to monitor changes in waste output
and provides graphical representation of data. (Helpful if school caretaker or property manager could have imput too.)
http://www.measuringchange.org.nz/
EXPLORE
ALTERNATIVES
How else could it
be?
What have others
done?
What are all the
actions we could
take?
What are our
priorities for
change?
How will we
decide?
Lindsey Fish 2013

Find out what is happening now to the waste at school: http://www.e-cycle.co.nz/education/behaviour-change-unit/how-can-werecycle/

Use De Bono’s six thinking hat’s to consider the waste audit results, Wise Up on Waste, Be Resource Smart-Pg 32,
http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf

Tony Ryan Thinkers Keys Reduce, Reuse, Recycle-For quick starter, homework or extension activities exploring the 3R’s. Wise Up on
Waste, Be Resource Smart -Pg 29/31
http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf

The 3R’s in your School and community-ZW Pg 393. Use local contacts to see local examples of 3 R’s
3 is a magic number: 3 R’s song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtoeZ9Nkeqk

Visit schools /Community gardens/use Enviroschool scrapbooks to see examples of composting and worm farming. Invite local
experts to visit the school to share their knowledge. Create your own Eden website has complementary fun activities such as word
Finds, Spot the difference and worm Maze puzzles. EG: “I have, You have” game to learn about recycling organic material:
http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz/schools_docs/CYOE%20Activity%20-%20I%20have%20Who%20has%20game.pdf

De Bono’s six thinking Hats to consider different viewpoints on waste, Wise Up on Waste, Be Resource Smart-Pg 33,
http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf,

Explore successful ways of recycling and ways to save money by watching video clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EWg_o4sUZo (Chpts 2-12)

What options are available to recycle in our locality? What does it cost? Visit a local recycle centre. How does a recycle centre work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0ASgPwgQlY

What happens after our recycling is collected? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abgc-h9PlOA
TAKE ACTION
What changes do
we want?
What actions will
bring about those
changes?
What do we need
to do to take
action?
Which designs will
work best?
Who else do we
need to involve?
Who will do what
and when?
Lindsey Fish 2013

What happens to recycled glass? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R8YObQbE88

How is paper reused? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0ASgPwgQlY

How can we resuse…give pupils 5 minutes to think of as many different uses as they can for an object they may otherwise throw
away, Eg; empty crisp packets. Look at this link of empty plastic bottles filled with inorganic rubbish for inspiration:
http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2011/05/06/drink-it-in-14-buildings-made-from-plastic-bottles/ Also:
http://www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/films/2009/012/
See the green “Take Action” part of the kit, pg209, for an action guide and a selection of action tools such as planning and evaluating
guides for sustainable design, indicators and action planners.


Generate a big question and sub question to research and explore. Example of big question: How can our school reduce its waste
going landfill by 15%? Example of a Sub Question: How can we recycle our food scraps?
Resources which maybe useful to an inquiry include:

How do we compost our waste? Easy to read posterhttp://www.wes.org.nz/files/WES%20CYOE%20Fabulous%20Compost%20Poster.pdf

How do we turn our food scraps into fertilizer/use a EM bokashi system: Easy to read posterhttp://www.wes.org.nz/files/WES%20CYOE%20Bokashi%20Poster.pdf

How do we build a worm farm? Easy to read poster- http://www.wes.org.nz/files/WES%20CYOE%20Worm%20Farm%20Poster.pdf
Create your own Eden website has tools, curriculum integration inquiry units, glossary, posters and information for teachers to set up
bokashi, composting and worm farm systems :http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz/schools_guide.html
How to clips for making composting , worm farm made for kids by kids: http://earthwhile.co.nz/composting_kids-dvd/

How can we reuse our rubbish? How to make bags from newspapers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSfusvAP1vw
How to make a football from plastic bags: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBT7fwZ-fXE

How can we encourage others to reduce, reuse and recycle? It’s in the Bag ES-Pg 380 includes writing a guide for others to follow the
3 R’s.
REFLECT ON
CHANGE
What have we
done and what
have we achieved?
Lindsey Fish 2013

Make animations to promote waste minimisation. Watch this short animation, made from recycled materials, encouraging recycling:
http://www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/films/2012/032/
Also, http://www.theoutlookforsomeday.net/films/2012/085/ using an action packed animation and Stars Wars and Harry Potter to
promote recycling.

What is it possible for us to change?
Fact sheet for recycle bin suppliers: http://www.wes.org.nz/files/WES%20-%20Recycling%20Bin%20Suppliers%20Guide%20%203.8.11.pdf
Fact sheet for zero free lunches: http://www.wes.org.nz/files/waste%20free%20lunches.pdf
Free guide to down load for teachers and schools wanting to become waste free:
http:// www.wes.org.nz/files/files/7708_Waste%20Wise%20proof3.pdf

How can companies reduce packaging? Become involved in the awards process with unpack it: www.unpackit.org.nz

What is e waste and e-cycling? Unit for Levels 1 and 2 focussing on what electronics are and methods of recycling them, includes
posters and useful information for students and teachers: http://www.e-cycle.co.nz/education/in-class-teaching-units/what-areelectronics/

How can we get rid of our e waste safely? Curriculum unit for levels 3 and 4 focussing on life cycle and manufacturing processes of
electronics in order to make the correct choices for recycling. http://www.e-cycle.co.nz/education/in-class-teaching-units/recoveryof-electronics/

Take action. http://www.wes.org.nz/files/Be%20resource%20smart%20Wise%20up%20on%20waste%20email%20version.pdf,
Session 4. Page 19 (Shows curriculum links and key competencies.) Suggested activities for taking action and an action planner and
http://www.e-cycle.co.nz/education/behaviour-change-unit/taking-action/:

Create a school/community-wide culture of waste minimisation.
Offer incentives, develop a plan/policy/strategy, pilot/implement the strategy.
Use a PMI to answer key questions. What have we achieved? Have we changed our behaviour?


Use activities and methods in the Reflect on Change part of the Enviroschools kit as tools to evaluate and help answer these
questions and decide on the next steps.(pg 251)
How did the
project go?
What changes and
benefits have
come about
because of our
actions?
How will we
celebrate our
achievements?
Where to from
here?
Lindsey Fish 2013

What are the features of waste management you want to keep using at your school? Are there any more change you want to make?
What will you next steps be? How can we keep it going?

Which changes were most successful? How do you know this?

Chart to monitor composting systems:
http://www.createyourowneden.org.nz/schools_docs/Create%20your%20own%20Eden%20Data%20Collection%20Chart.pdf

Have we reduced costs for waste removal? Repeat waste audit and update Measuring change web tool to graph and monitor
changes.

Have we educated our community about waste minimisation?

How can we communicate our results: media, newsletters, assembly, blogs.

How can we celebrate?