Activity
Episode 31
5th November 2013
Green Art
Key Learning
Students will explore what it means to refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle. Students will propose possible
actions that could be taken to promote awareness about how people can reduce their impact on
the environment through recycling.
The Australian Curriculum
Geography / Geographical Knowledge and
Understanding
The sustainable management of waste from production and
consumption. Year 4. (ACHGK025)
 exploring different ways of managing wastes sustainably,
and how these may include the principles of reduce, reuse,
recycle and replace
The natural resources provided by the environment, and
different views on how they could be used sustainably. Year
4. (ACHGK024)
Geography / Geographical Inquiry and Skills /
Reflecting and responding
Reflect on their learning to propose individual action in response
to a contemporary geographical challenge and identify the
expected effects of the proposal. Year 4. (ACHGS032)
Cross-curriculum priority / Sustainability
Systems

Sustainable patterns of living rely on the interdependence
of healthy social, economic and ecological systems.
World Views

World views are formed by experiences at personal, local,
national and global levels, and are linked to individual and
community actions for sustainability.
Futures

The sustainability of ecological, social and economic
systems is achieved through informed individual and
community action that values local and global equity and
fairness across generations into the future.

Actions for a more sustainable future reflect values of care,
respect and responsibility, and require us to explore and
understand environments.
http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPrioritie
s/Sustainability
Discussion Questions
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What is upcycling?
In the Green Art story what recycled material do the students use in their upcycling projects?
What sorts of items do the students make?
What technique do the students use to make their art and craft objects?
a. Knitting
b. Embroidery
c. Crochet
Have you ever created a piece of art or craft using upcycling? Explain and illustrate.
What are the benefits of upcycling?
What do you recycle or reuse at home or at school?
Think of ways that you could upcycle a milk container?
Why is it important to refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle?
What surprised you about this story?
©ABC 2013
Activities
Engage
As a class discuss what is meant by the phrase ‘refuse, reduce,
reuse and recycle’. Define each of the words and what they mean to
you.
Continue the class discussion using the following inquiry questions:
 Where does your rubbish go?
 What is landfill?
 What is the best way to reduce landfill?
 What do you recycle or reuse at home and at school?
 Why is it important to refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle?
 What is upcycling?
 Should upcycling be added to the ‘refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle’ phrase? Explain.
School recycling project
The following project gives students a simple framework within which to plan and deliver and recycling
project in their school. Students will propose possible actions that could be taken to promote awareness
about how people can reduce their impact on the environment.
Decide whether the project will target your own class, a year group or the whole school. Through this
project students will develop their communication and teamwork skills within their school community.
Students will:
 Audit their schools waste
 Identify where improvements can be made
 Set targets, plan and take real steps to improve recycling facilities
 Plan and execute a campaign to educate and encourage students to recycle whenever they can
 Measure their success and report back to the school
 Sustain their recycling effort in the longer term.
Refer to the Wipe out Waste program for ideas on how to approach waste management and learning at
your school. http://www.wow.sa.gov.au/
Recycling design project
Students will investigate, design/plan, create and exhibit their own upcycling project.
As a class ask students to think about products that could be made
using recycled materials. Record student’s responses on the classroom
whiteboard.
For ideas refer to:
Planet Arks tips on 25 things you can reuse at home.
http://www.recyclingnearyou.com.au/education/25things-to-re-use.cfm
©ABC 2013
Engineering a better world:100 Amazing upcycling ideas anyone can do
http://toponlineengineeringdegree.com/?page_id=116
A web search of products made from recycled materials may also help
inspire students. There are also retail outlets that sell products made
from recycled materials, for example Oxfam.
Mini Activity
How could you reuse the following objects?
o Paper
o Milk carton
o Plastic straw
o Cardboard box
o Chip packet
Students will decide on an object to make and sketch it. Students need
to ensure that they have access to the materials, equipment and skills
required to construct their object.
 What recycled materials are needed?
 Does the design need to be adapted?
Students collect recycled materials (from home or school) and
equipment needed to construct/manufacture their product.
A list of items students might require include: cardboard, toilet rolls,
paper, tins, bottles, bottle tops old CDs, old clothes/fabric, magazines
etc.
Display your students work as an art exhibition to be displayed in the
classroom or art area which can be accessed by the rest of the school.
Each student/group can give a brief description of their object.
If students have designed clothing consider holding a fashion show at
your next school assembly.
Students will record any problems they had in the construction of their
project.
 What steps did you take to overcome the problems?
 What worked well with the design?
 What would you do differently next time?
©ABC 2013
Visit the Traid website for lots of ideas on how to upcycle recycled materials, including this activity on
turning an old t-shirt into a bag! http://www.traid.org.uk/
©ABC 2013
 Related Research Links
Evelyn Roth Festival Arts – Recycled Videotape
http://evelynrothoz.com/photos-9/
Sweet P – Upcycling VHS Tapes
http://sweetphk.com/2013/07/19/upcycling-vhs-tapes/
Behind the News – Recycling
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2321538.htm
Planet Ark – 25 Things you can reuse at home
http://www.recyclingnearyou.com.au/education/25-things-to-re-use.cfm
©ABC 2013