Reduce,Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher Resource Pack Contents 1. Glossary....................................................................................................................................... 3 2. Introduction................................................................................................................................. 6 3. Topic Overview ........................................................................................................................... 7 4. Session Plans ............................................................................................................................. 11 Session 1 ...................................................................................................................................... 12 Session 2 ...................................................................................................................................... 15 Session 3 ...................................................................................................................................... 17 5. Resources ................................................................................................................................. 20 The Recycling Song .................................................................................................................. 20 Signs and Symbols...................................................................................................................... 24 Mr Recycle ................................................................................................................................. 26 Sensory Boards............................................................................................................................ 27 Recycled Patchwork Puppets ................................................................................................. 28 Picture Bingo .............................................................................................................................. 29 Notes ........................................................................................................................................... 31 6. Risk Assessment ....................................................................................................................... 33 7. Further Information ................................................................................................................... 34 Websites ..................................................................................................................................... 34 Video Animation ........................................................................................................................ 35 Books ........................................................................................................................................... 36 8. Visits and Outdoor Learning .................................................................................................... 37 London Borough of Hackney Contacts.................................................................................. 37 Local Parks and Recycling Bins ............................................................................................... 38 9. Feedback Form ....................................................................................................................... 39 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 2 of 39 1. Glossary for Teachers Climate Change Compost Deforestation Global Warming ‘Weather’ is the rain, wind, or temperature that changes on an hourly or daily basis. ‘Climate’ is the long-term weather monitored over a long period (30 years). In the UK we live in a ‘Temperate’ Climate Zone. Any slight change in climate (caused by global warming) will affect the resident plants and animals, and could have catastrophic effects for humans too. A free eco-friendly fertilizer for your garden that you can make yourself from raw food and garden waste. Into your compost bin throw fruit, vegetables, garden waste, teabags, coffee grounds, torn egg-boxes and egg shells. It will naturally decompose, with a little help from the worms, into nutrient-rich compost. Trees are stripped from forests in order to make products such as paper. Sometimes ancient woodland or rainforest is cut down to make room for softwood plantations (quick-growing trees such as Pines) which are used for making paper. This can lead to a loss of native plants and wildlife in the area, and have major knock-on social and environmental effects. Forests are the ‘lungs’ of the Earth, absorbing CO2 and releasing Oxygen, and ameliorate the rise of global warming. The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of gases which trap in some of the Sun’s heat helping to keep our planet at a liveable temperature: ‘the greenhouse effect’. However, humans have been releasing more greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and methane from rotting waste) into the air, which is leading to an increase in the Earth’s temperature: ‘global warming’. Scientists believe that global warming is leading to climate change. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 3 of 39 Incinerator Landfill Site Pollution Reduce Reuse A unit or facility used to burn waste until it is reduced to ash, creating air pollution (including toxic fumes and greenhouse gases) and ash as by-products. Some of the ash is used in the construction industries. An increasing amount of our waste ends up here. Some incinerators create energy (in the form of electricity) from the heat produced when the waste is burnt. 49% of UK waste in 2009/2010 ended up in landfill (defra.gov.uk). Collected waste is dumped into a large cavity in the ground. When it is full, it is covered over to blend in with the surrounding area. When the rubbish decomposes, Methane (a potent Greenhouse Gas) is produced, and toxic chemicals can leach into groundwater and water bodies. 89% of CO2 emissions from the UK’s waste management sector comes from landfill (defra.gov.uk). Contamination of the natural environment by unwanted and damaging substances. There are many different types of pollution, eg. air and water, created from different processes. Serious damage can be done to plants, animals, human health, natural resources, the natural world and ecosystem processes…and ultimately the Earth: causing global warming and climate change. Reducing the waste you generate in the first place, either by: opting for products with the least packaging; increasing efficiency in your use of products; making your own DIY items or grow your own food; only buying what you need; using products that can be reused/bought in bulk. Repeatedly using a product or material as many times as possible to get the maximum usage out of it. This could mean using the product as it is (eg. reusing plastic shopping bags), or creating a new useable object from the old material without changing its basic form (eg, reusing a yoghurt pot to plant seedlings). Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 4 of 39 Recycle Sustainability Waste Making a new product out of an old one. The Council collects discarded waste from recycling bins, and takes it to the MRF (Material Recovery Facility) where it is sorted, before being taken to the recycling factories to be processed and converted back into raw materials, which are then used to create new products. Living sustainably means improving the quality of life now without damaging the planet for future generations, eg. growing your own food, using renewable energy, and managing your waste effectively. Education for Sustainable Development will give children the knowledge, skills and understanding for them to be able to participate in bringing about a more sustainable world. Any substance or object which the user discards. The rubbish in your bin at home is your household waste, which may consist of a variety of materials such as paper, metal, plastic, kitchen and garden, glass, textiles. Our aim is to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill, the incinerator or as litter, by reducing, reusing and recycling. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 5 of 39 2. Introduction Thank you for choosing to teach your students about waste and recycling. This SEN Teacher’s Pack includes lesson plans, resources and further information sources for yourself and your staff. Your pupils will learn about waste and recycling through hands-on engaging activities divided into 3 separate lessons, each lasting approximately one hour. Timings can be adjusted to suit the requirements of your group. Lesson Plan Sequence 1. What Rubbish! Reducing Our Waste 2. Let’s Reuse! Exploring Materials 3. Recycle! Acknowledging Our Achievements The sessions cover the 3 R’s: Reduce Reuse Recycle, and actions that pupils and staff can take towards reducing their waste, both at home and within their school community. All activities and lesson plans are adaptable to your setting or individual pupil’s needs, and should be seen as a guideline only. Please contact ecoACTIVE Education if you need help adapting activities, or if specific resources are required for your pupils. EcoACTIVE Education This resource pack was put together by ecoACTIVE Education. Based in Hackney, ecoACTIVE Education is a registered charity no. 1124556 which works with schools in London to promote awareness of sustainable development and translate it into practical environmental action. ecoACTIVE Education Morningside Community Centre. Cresset Road, Hackney, London E9 6SJ 020 8510 0113 admin@ecoactive.org.uk www.ecoactive.org.uk Please do contact us for further information. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 6 of 39 3. Topic Overview Why teach about waste and recycling? We all produce waste which needs to be dealt with. There are over 34,000 schools in the UK, each producing a significant amount of waste per year, most of which ends up in a landfill site or is incinerated. Only a small percentage is sustainably dealt with, such as being reused or sent for recycling. Reducing waste being sent to landfill or incineration not only has many environmental benefits, but also will save a significant amount of money in the long run. The United Nations declared the years 2005-2015 as ‘The Decade of Education for Sustainable Development’. Teaching your pupils about Waste and Recycling is a part of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) which now is an integral part of the National Curriculum and links into many subject areas. “…pupils respond to practical activities relevant to their lives and future well-being. Schools have shown that focusing on sustainability can also reduce financial costs and contribute to what is often a striking improvement in pupil behaviour. I hope other schools will be able to learn from the examples…” Christine Gilbert, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, OFSTED, ‘Education For Sustainable Development: improving schools, improving lives’ report, 2009. A 2009 OFSTED survey (ESD Improving Schools Improving Lives) found that benefits from ESD extended beyond the classroom, changing practices within family homes and the wider community. What’s wrong with landfill sites and incineration? Landfill or incineration should be the very last option for the waste that cannot be reused or recycled in any way. The more waste we produce the more landfill sites we will need and the larger they will need to be. This is not only a problem in terms of available space, but also as the waste decomposes, toxic liquids can leach into surrounding areas. It also emits potent greenhouse gases, such as methane, which is a contributor to global warming. Incinerators burn the waste at very high temperatures and emit smoke, which includes toxic and greenhouse gases. Transporting the waste to these facilities in itself causes environmental damage through high fossil fuel usage and carbon dioxide air pollution from the vehicles. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 7 of 39 So what are the alternatives? The 3 R’s… Reduce Reducing your consumption of products that create waste means that you are lessening the burden that unwanted rubbish puts upon us and our environment. TIP: Buy the groceries with least packaging, or better still, grow your own veg! Reuse Once you have reduced your waste as much as you can, see if any of your rubbish is reusable. If so, reuse as many times as possible before recycling. TIP: Clean empty yoghurt pots make great seedling pots! Recycle If an item’s waste can’t be reduced or reused, then it should be recycled. Recycling saves energy by creating a new product from old materials, which avoids extracting raw materials from scratch. TIP: Find out what is recyclable in your area, and recycle as much as you can! Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 8 of 39 Recycled Paper produces 73% less air pollution than if it was made from raw materials £36,000,000 worth of Aluminium is thrown away each year As much as 50% of waste in the average dustbin could be composted Up to 60% of the rubbish that ends up in the dustbin could be recycled 70% less energy is required to recycle paper compared with making it from raw materials If all cans in the UK were recycled we would need 14 million fewer dustbins The largest lake in Britain could be filled with rubbish from the UK in 8 months Aluminium Cans can be recycled and ready to use within 6 weeks Glass that is thrown away and ends up in landfills will never decompose Glass is 100% recyclable and can be used again and again Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose 1 Recycled tin can would save enough energy to power a television for 3 hours Fact Source: www.recycling-guide.org.uk Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 9 of 39 London Borough of Hackney Schools in Hackney, East London, have reason to feel proud. In the summer term of 2011, the highest ever recycling rates were recorded in Hackney schools, and both teachers and pupils have doubled the amount of paper, tins, cans and bottles being recycled. http://www.hackney.gov.uk/green-matters-july-to-sept-2011.htm; Hackney Recycling Mascots, July 2011 Case Study: Side by Side school Side by Side school is a special needs and integrated nursery and SEN school for children aged 4-16, located in the London Borough of Hackney. Their needs range from MLD (moderate learning difficulties), SLD (severe learning difficulties) and PMLD (profound and multiple learning difficulties). After taking part in some waste and recycling workshops with ecoACTIVE in Spring 2011, Side by Side school began recycling for the first time. Beverley Maron, a teacher at Side by Side says: “The KS2 class participated in a number of different workshops provided by the ecoACTIVE team. This included sorting and classifying different types of rubbish, examining different types of rubbish which can or can’t be recycled. This was extremely hands on and the children could then relate it to the real recycling bins provided in the school and outside in the street. They became the recycling monitors around the school on a weekly basis. We had many comments from parents stating that the children now help and understand the sorting of rubbish at home”. The children enjoyed many multi-sensory learning experiences provided by the various activities, such as making drums out of recycled materials, and acting out ‘The Story of Paper’: a recycling sequence involving songs, actions and pictures. Beverley Maron and Side by Side school followed ecoACTIVE’S workshops further by making fun sock puppets out of old socks and recycled materials. The staff at Side by Side school emphasise that the effects of these activities filter through to the whole school, plus family and friends, and therefore benefits are not limited solely to the children participating in the workshops. These simple activities explore what the term ‘recycling’ really means, and encourage children to foster a deeper understanding of their world, their place within it, and wider environmental issues as a result. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 10 of 39 4. Session Plans The waste and recycling programme is divided into 3 sessions which cover the themes of the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse and recycle. Although strictly the 3 R’s refer to different processes, you can simplify the vocabulary and put all activities under the umbrella heading of ‘recycling’. Pre-Programme Activity: Before you begin the 3 session programme, you may like to read a story related to the issues of waste and recycling to set the scene. ‘Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish’ by Michael Foreman, is a good starter and may be available as a Big Book from your local library. Please look at the Further Information section of this pack for more book ideas. Post-Programme Activity: To embed learning and foster a sense of achievement at the completion of the 3 sessions, you may like to create a ‘School Storybook’ of your waste and recycling journey. Take photos of your pupils throughout the 3 sessions, as well as photos of them contributing to carrying out waste and recycling activities within your school grounds. Create your own school waste and recycling book showing what happens to rubbish in your school by sticking photos into a scrapbook, photo-album or wall display. Talk to your class about the sequence of the story, what happens and who features. Congratulate the pupils on helping their school reduce waste. By reducing, reusing and recycling, they are helping planet Earth feel better. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 11 of 39 Session 1 What Rubbish! Reducing Our Waste Subject areas Whole school initiatives Session objectives Science, Geography, PSHE, Citizenship, Art, Design & Technology, Speaking & Listening Skills; Numeracy, Literacy, Life Skills (Our Environment Around Me) Eco-Schools, Sustainable Schools, Growing Schools, Healthy Schools, Every Child Matters, Every Child’s Future Matters Introduction Introduce ‘Mr Recycle’ (puppet or picture). He is visiting the school to remind everyone to reduce the amount of rubbish (‘waste’) they throw away. To introduce the term ‘recycle’ and why we should reduce (make less) rubbish To identify symbols, actions, objects and waste To understand that different objects are made from different materials To understand we all live together on Earth and we should help our planet To enjoy exploring auditory properties of various materials Introduce the magic key-words to be repeated throughout the 3 sessions, either: ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’ or just ‘Recycle’ [choose one of these to suit your group]. Hold up a large recycling symbol (see Resources) to the class. Sing and sign a Recycling Song [Lyrics plus Widgit symbols PDF can be downloaded with this pack] Activities PowerPoint 1: ‘What’s Wrong With Rubbish?’ Discuss the images one by one: the Earth is feeling unwell, and to make it better we need to look after it, by reducing our rubbish. Bin Detectives: Put on a high visibility vest and gloves, and encourage your pupils to do the same. Hold up a black bin bag that you had previously filled with cleaned rubbish. Tell the class that if we throw this bag of rubbish away now, it may make the Earth feel unwell. But not everything inside the bag needs to be thrown away! Tell the pupils that they are Bin Detectives and that we need their help. Ask if they can guess what may be inside the bag. Take out items of rubbish one by one, handing them to the pupils. Encourage them to explore and discuss the items: what used Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 12 of 39 to be inside the packaging? Display a normal black rubbish bin, and a few recycling boxes clearly labelled with images of the materials to go inside them (photos, Widgit, Council labels- see Resources section). Tell your pupils that as Bin Detectives, they have to now put the waste packaging into the correct bin. [To simplify this activity, just have 2 boxes: a recycling box with the Recycling Symbol and happy earth clipart image, and a normal rubbish bin with an image of an incinerator, landfill site or unhappy earth]. Show your pupils that by putting as much rubbish as they can in the recycling bin, they have reduced the amount of rubbish in the black bin bag that would have been sent to Landfill or Incineration. Well done Bin Detectives! Extension Task: Act out or role play the journey the black bin bag will take to the incinerator or landfill site, encouraging the pupils to join in with the actions: in a noisy truck drive the rubbish to be burnt or dumped, the rubbish burning in the furnace, smoke coming out of the chimney. Show photos of a truck, fire and smoke to illustrate what you are acting out. Junk Musical Instruments: We can use some rubbish to make fun toys! Show the pupils some waste packaging. Make sure that it is clean with no sharp edges. Explain that we are going to make ‘junk model’ musical instruments. Talk about different types of instruments and the sounds that they make. Help the pupils create a variety of junk model instruments, by providing a good selection of waste packaging, as well as additional materials such as cello-tape, glue, elastic bands, plastic bags etc. Some ideas may be: Bottle Shakers (put drinking can ring-pulls into a dry water bottle), Box Guitars (stretch elastic bands over the opening of a tissue box), Pot Drums (tightly stretch a plastic bag over the opening of a pot, and secure round the edges with elastic band), Castanets (jam jar lids with vacuum popper). See the activity book ‘Making Musical Instruments from Junk’ in the Literature section of this pack. Allow your pupils to create their own inventions too. Explain that by doing this activity, you are reducing your rubbish and therefore helping our planet Earth. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 13 of 39 Plenary Sing the Recycling Song using the pupils’ Junk Musical Instruments. Finish with Mr Recycle doing a brief lesson summary: they may have learnt that not all rubbish is the same, that some things (materials) can be recycled, and that we should try to reduce our waste (make less rubbish). Resources Intro: ‘Mr Recycle’ (see the Resources section of this pack for ideas on how to make him); Recycling Song words, plus Makaton or Widget. PowerPoint: Computer, projector, ‘What’s Wrong With Rubbish’ PowerPoint Sorting: Hi-visibility vests (found in most Poundshops); gloves; black bin bags; variety of clean waste packaging; recycling boxes and normal rubbish bin clearly labelled with images and signs Eg. plastic bottle, newspaper; laminated images Eg. landfill site, incinerator, rubbish truck, fire, smoke, planet Earth happy and unwell; Recycling boxes, and a normal rubbish bin, clearly labelled with images of materials that go inside them. Instruments: Assortment of cleaned waste packaging (bottles, boxes, cartons, toilet roll tubes, jam jar lids), can ring-pulls, elastic bands, cello-tape, glue, paper, plastic bags etc. Plenary: ‘Mr Recycle’; Recycling Song words, plus Makaton or Widget; the Junk Musical Instruments. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 14 of 39 Session 2 Let’s Reuse! Exploring Materials Subject areas Whole school initiatives Session objectives Science, Geography, PSHE, Citizenship, Art, Design & Technology, Speaking & Listening Skills; Numeracy, Literacy, Life Skills (Our Environment Around Me) Eco-Schools, Sustainable Schools, Growing Schools, Healthy Schools, Every Child Matters, Every Child’s Future Matters Introduction Introduce ‘Mr Recycle’, reminding the pupils of what they did in Session 1. To reinforce the term ‘recycle’ and how we can ‘reuse’ waste To understand that items of rubbish can be reused To compare different types of recyclable materials To enjoy exploring the tactile properties of materials. Hold up the large recycling symbol image and see if they can remember the magic key-words: ‘Recycle’, or ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’. Sing the Recycling Song, plus Makaton or Widget. Explain that rubbish is made from lots of different things (‘materials’), and that we are going to explore this in today’s session. Activities PowerPoint 2: ‘Making Things Out Of Rubbish’ Discuss each image. Why does reusing as much of our rubbish as possible help the earth? Sensory Boards: Pre-make some Sensory Boards (see the Resources section of this pack) with 2 different materials on each. Remind your pupils that items in the bin are made out of many different types of materials. Show them some whole Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 15 of 39 items of rubbish made from the same products that feature on your sensory boards (eg. Whole paper cup, tin foil roll, whole plastic bottle). Explain how you made the Sensory Boards and hand them out. The pupils may work individually or in pairs. Ask the pupils to use their senses to compare the 2 materials: depending on their abilities, they may wish to close their eyes and touch the materials with their fingers, describing how it feels. They may wish to scrunch or tap the material to see if they make different sounds or smells. They could describe what the materials look like and name them. Ask the pupils to swap Sensory Boards so that everybody has a chance to compare lots of different materials. Extension Activity: Material Matching game. Ask them either to: pick out the materials that match those on their board; or sort materials accordingly to which ‘feel soft’, ‘looks shiny’, or ‘sticks to a magnet’. Recycled Patchwork Puppets [See the Resources section of this pack for instructions] Hold up Mr Recycle. Tell your pupils that they are going to make some puppets to help Mr Recycle and be his friends. Show some whole items of rubbish made from the same materials that they will be using (Eg. cardboard box (base template), whole paper cup, tin foil roll, whole plastic bottle). Demonstrate how you cut out the base and cut patchwork squares out of the other materials. This will help them understand the origins of what they are using. Display the patchwork pieces in separate baskets according to their material type. Demonstrate gluing them onto a cardboard puppet base, and finishing the puppet off with a smiley face and a stick for a handle. Individually or in pairs, the pupils can make puppets each decorated with different materials. Once complete, they could give them names: e.g. ‘Metal Max’ and ‘Plastic Priya’. Alternative Activity: Sock Puppets (decorating old socks with scrap materials) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 16 of 39 Plenary Sing the Recycling Song using the Puppets as props. Finish with Mr Recycle doing a brief lesson summary: they may have learnt that recyclable materials look, feel, smell and sound different, and been given ideas on the many ways we can reuse our rubbish. Resources Intro: Mr Recycle; Recycling Song words, plus Makaton or Widget. PowerPoint: Computer, Projector, ‘How Can We Reuse Rubbish?’ PowerPoint Sensory Boards: Pre-made sensory boards; whole items to show; magnets Puppets: Pre-made puppet bases; glue; cello-tape; stick for handle; smiley faces; small recyclable material patchwork pieces made out of milk bottle tops, foil, crisp packets, paper food labels, plastic cartons, cling film, paper cups, fabric strips etc.. Plenary: Mr Recycle; Recycling Song words, plus Makaton or Widget; the Recycled Patchwork Puppets. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 17 of 39 Session 3 Recycle! Acknowledging Our Achievements Subject areas Science, Geography, PSHE, Citizenship, Art, Design & Technology, Speaking & Listening Skills; Numeracy, Literacy, Life Skills (Our Environment Around Me) Eco-Schools, Sustainable Schools, Growing Schools, Healthy Schools, Every Child Matters, Every Child’s Future Matters To reinforce the term ‘recycle’ and build upon previous sessions To understand more about the recycling process, and that recycling helps our planet To reinforce identification of symbols, actions, objects and waste images To celebrate their achievements Introduce ‘Mr Recycle’ again, reminding the pupils of what they did in Session 2. Today is the last session. Whole school initiatives Session objectives Introduction Hold up the recycling symbol: can they remember the key ‘magic’ words: ‘Recycle’, or ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’? Sing the Recycling Song, plus Makaton or Widget. Remind your pupils of what ‘recycling’ means (making something new from old rubbish or waste materials). Activities PowerPoint 3: ‘Why Recycle? The Story of Paper’: Discuss the story and images: where paper comes from and where our paper recycling ends up. Extension Activities: Sequence: Hand out a large laminated image from the PowerPoint story to each pupil. Ask them to stand in line in the correct order in which their image appears in ‘The Story of Paper’: “First”, “Next” and “Last”. Role-Play: dress up and act out the scenes in the ‘Story of Paper’ using appropriate sound effects, movements or Makaton. Waste & Recycling Picture Bingo: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 18 of 39 This game can consolidate what we have covered in the sessions so far. It can be adapted according to the ability of the group (see Resources section in this pack for example Bingo card templates). Option 1: Bingo. Hand out a Bingo picture base to each pupil. The teacher says the name or describes an item (e.g. ‘recycling box’ or ‘you put your recycling in here’) and the pupils make a mark next to the corresponding item. Option 2: Match. Hand out the Bingo photo base. Hand out corresponding line-drawn, Makaton or Widget images that match with the photos on the Bingo card. Pupils can work individually or in pairs to match the images. Option 3: Sequence. Provide the pupils each with 4 laminated cards each with a different image from the recycling sequence (printed images from the ‘Story of Paper’ PowerPoint or photos from pupils recycling at your school). Working individually or in pairs they need to put the cards in the right order to show how an item is recycled. As this is a celebration lesson you could provide a small prize for all the children when they have completed the activity. Junk Jewellery: As a visual celebration of their completion of this programme, the pupils can make a necklace or bracelet by threading old straws (pre-cut to long bead size) or scrap materials onto elastic string. Medallions (cut circles out of old cardboard and punch a hole in the top to thread onto elastic) can be decorated with shiny gold or silver scrap materials (foil, sweet wrappers). Alternatively, you could write the pupil’s names on the medals and hand them out as awards at the end. Plenary Finish with Mr Recycle doing a brief summary of the last 3 lessons, and congratulating them on all their work. Ask the pupils if they can remember the key ‘magic’ words: ‘Recycle’ or ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 19 of 39 Ask the pupils whether they enjoyed the programme: they could give a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’, or point to a picture of a happy or sad face. Sing the Recycling Song, plus Makaton or Widget. Let Mr Recycle say goodbye! Resources Intro: Mr Recycle; Recycling Song words, plus Makaton or Widget. PowerPoint: Computer; Projector; ‘Why Recycle? The Story of Paper PowerPoint’; laminated printed out images from the PowerPoint; dressing up/props for the role-play. Picture Bingo: Either: bingo bases and individual picture matches, laminated tick boxes base and pen, or laminated recycling sequences. Junk Jewellery: pre-cut straws; elastic; scrap fabric strips or any other ‘ Medallions as awards. Plenary: Mr Recycle; Recycling Song words, plus Makaton or Widget; laminated ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ faces. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 20 of 39 5. Resources The Recycling Song: See separate Recycling Song plus Widgit symbols PDF to download. Recycling Sign: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 21 of 39 Signs and Symbols You may wish to use Makaton, Widget, Brail or Moonfont to accompany activities in this pack. Below are some relevant links. Makaton Print out the relevant Makaton symbols for the song and point to them as you sing. For example: http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/somethingspecial/watch Widgit Print out and add the relevant Widget symbols: science, sorting materials. Create your own Widget symbols to fit in with the sessions and activities. Add Widget symbols to the PowerPoint images for ease of recognition and definition. Local Council Material Recycling Images You can use the Council’s recycling symbols to show what can be recycled. Your pupils will then be able to relate these images to those on the front of the public recycling bins. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 22 of 39 The symbols can be found here: http://www.hackney.gov.uk/recycling-recycling-banks.htm Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 23 of 39 Mr Recycle To make a Mr Recycle character, you can enlarge an image such as the ClipArt one below, and glue to a board to hold up in class - Or alternatively, use the Recycled Patchwork Puppet template further on in this resource section, and use a variety of recyclable materials to decorate him. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 24 of 39 Sensory Boards: Sensory Boards are easy to make, and are a great way to let pupils explore different types of recyclable materials. A simple sensory board could be 20cm x 30cm, and consist of sticking on 2 types of materials in order to compare. One small board can be handed to each pupil, and by encouraging them to swap every now and then, they will get to feel and compare all the materials available Alternatively, you may decide that it would better suit your group to have a larger board with a wider range of materials at once. Pupils could be in pairs or small groups and share one larger sensory board together. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 25 of 39 Recycled Patchwork Puppets 1: Using old corrugated cardboard boxes, cut out puppet bases before the session using the template overleaf. 2: Cut ‘patchwork pieces’ out of various recyclable materials and either yourself or your pupils can divide them into separate baskets. Remove anything too sharp. 3: Glue one type of material to decorate and totally cover cardboard puppet base. Stick on a friendly face and hair at the end to create the character: Metal Max, or Plastic Priya. 4: Cello-tape a stick to the back, and your puppet is ready! Create your own recycling story using the puppets, or make a classroom wall display with them to celebrate their recycling achievements. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 26 of 39 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 27 of 39 Picture Bingo: Use the bingo card images or base templates below (clipart images): Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 28 of 39 Or create your own: visit http://www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/6/PECS.xhtml to use the SEN Teacher website software to create waste and recycling image cards for matching and literacy games. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 29 of 39 Notes on Activities: The activities mentioned in this pack can be adapted according to the needs of your individual pupils or group. Extension Ideas: Sensory Boards: As a next step, provide laminated worksheets with simple written questions about the materials (plus Widget if appropriate): ‘Which material can stick to a magnet?’ (provide magnets) or ‘Which material feels soft?’ (provide fabric). The worksheets could give the children a choice of 2 options. Or, using Velcro stuck to the back, they can affix images of the materials or a piece of the actual material directly onto the worksheets next to the questions. Other sensory activities could include smelling food waste / compost. Story of Paper: Let children handle the actual materials: show a large image of a tree/take them to a tree in your school grounds, and provide a piece of wood for them to touch; hand round different types of paper for them to feel (newspaper, writing paper, card); they could squish paper pulp (small shredded paper pieces in water) between their fingers to explore the textures and sensations; show them and let them use an object made out of recycled paper, eg. a notebook. Picture Bingo: another game to play could be picture dominos using the images from the PowerPoint stories. Magic Word: If the children are able to verbalise, they could start saying the word or phrase (‘Recycle’ or ‘Reduce Reuse Recycle’) in a very quiet voice and gradually get louder and louder. Keep coming back to the magic word/phrase during the workshop. Other Waste and Recycling Activity Ideas: Bin Detectives: When sorting waste into the recycling bin and general waste bin, a ‘cause and effect’ reward sound for each item put into the correct bin would particularly benefit blind or visually impaired children. Use a ‘Big Mack Switch’ with pre-recorded sounds and messages. You could record 2 options for the Big Mack Switch and the children would need to press the button on their preferred option. Bin Detectives: if recycling bins and waste bins aren’t readily available, use large images of the bins (start with 2 options: a mixed recycling bin and a rubbish bin, and progress to 3 or 4 options- paper only bin, food waste compost caddy- when you feel they are ready). Give each child a piece of rubbish and ask them to move next to the correct image. This means all participants are active and can take part at the same time. Literature: Big Book stories (available from local council library) are good for introducing topics. Large posters (A1 or A2) of the recycling process or other relevant images could be used instead. Tactile books could be made, with materials stuck on for children to feel and link to the text (links into sensory board activity). Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 30 of 39 Reuse: As an alternative reuse activity (session 2), decorate old t-shirts with fabric paints/pens (can use relevant stencils such as the recycling symbol), or reuse yoghurt pots to grow cress in. Other additions: for specific children’s needs you may need to use larger fonts and images, more sounds songs and noises, or provide sentences in Makaton, Widget, Brail or Moonfont. Further Curriculum Links: Literacy – to demonstrate recycling sequence, have flash cards for individual children and ask them to put them into correct order. Some children could read simple text and more able children would be able to stick missing ‘key’ words into closed passages (have pictures and sentences on laminated sheets, with Velcro words or stick cut-out words onto a worksheet). Numeracy – How Many? – provide pictures to show process of turning raw materials into products and finally being recycled into something new. At each stage children can count how many ‘things’ are in each picture e.g. 3 trees 7 newspapers 5 recycled notebooks Science – Sorting materials – ask the children to sort a pile of rubbish into different materials and then ask them to use just one type of material during a junk modelling session – e.g. plastic Life Skills – “Our environment around me” – provide ways for teachers to extend the waste and recycling lesson plans to help children learn more about their local environment, e.g. visiting their local park and taking photos of any rubbish that they find. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 31 of 39 6. Risk Assessment: Project name Waste & Recycling SEN teacher-led sessions Date produced Next update Nov 2011 Apr 2012 Risk (Insert new rows for each risk) Probability (Assess as High Medium Low) Produced by EcoACTIVE Education Participants School Staff and Pupils Who is at Risk? Action to reduce probability &/or impact Ensure that staff and pupils do not lift heavy items alone. Demonstrate the proper way to lift heavy items, to reduce risk of injury Injury due to lifting recycling boxes LOW School staff / pupils Cuts/abrasions from using scissors, or handling waste materials LOW School staff / pupils Ensure that materials and items are in working order, with no sharp edges which may cut them. Contamination from waste whilst sorting or junk modelling LOW School staff / pupils Ensure that materials have been cleaned and do not contain allergenic substances. Gloves should be available if necessary. Electric shock and trip hazard from Laptop/PowerPoint Cables LOW School staff / pupils Ensure cables and plugs are safe and out of the way of staff and pupils Suffocation from plastic bags and bin bags LOW School staff / pupils Ensure all plastic bags are removed when not in use Ingestion of materials or choking on small objects LOW School staff / pupils Ensure nil-by-mouth during sessions Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 32 of 39 7. Further Information Websites Capital Waste Facts- Hackney Nature Grid www.capitalwastefacts.com Waste and recycling information and statistics on your local London Borough, such as Hackney. www.naturegrid.org.uk/infant. Includes interactive books with environmental themes, and a page for younger children to write in their ideas and questions Eco Schools Ollie’s World www.eco-schools.org.uk Schools can register, work towards their prestigious Green Flag award, download resources and ideas for class activities. Includes a ‘Kids Zone’ page with games. www.olliesworld.com Interactive series of websites dealing with sustainable waste management, such as recycling. Recycle Now (WRAP) Education Development for Sustainable www.esd.rgs.org/link9.html ESD in the National Curriculum. Many links to other relevant sites. Global Action Plan www.globalactionplan.org.uk UK charity with ideas for school waste audits and other actions in school. Global Footprints www.globalfootprints.org: For primary schools to explore the impacts of lifestyle choices and how to be create a more sustainable future. Learning Difficulties Blog http://www.studentswithlearningdifficulties.blo gspot.com/ SEN teacher blog, click on links to see her recycling teaching resources. Little Rotters www.Littlerotters.org.uk Downloadable classroom resources for KS1 and KS2 pupils, with ‘How to’ tips for setting up a school composting scheme. Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP) www.lovefoodhatewaste.com Many ideas on how to reduce your food waste. www.recyclenow.com Waste and Resource Action Programme (WRAP) provide resources and help on integrating composting into the curriculum, as well as a multitude of Information, including ‘closing the loop’ and ‘5 steps to starting recycling at school’. SEN Teacher Resources http://www.senteacher.org/Worksheet/6/PEC S.xhtml Free resources (can use their software to produce photo cards with images of waste and recycling for the sessions). Sparkle Box http://www.sparklebox.co.uk/topic/worldaround-us/materials/ Free signs and labels for sorting materials. Teachers Gov www.teachers.gov.uk/growingschools/resourc es/teachingresources/detail.cfm?id=221 Curriculum links and lesson plans for KS1-4 available. Website now decommissioned, but its contents has been archived. The Pod www.jointhepod.org Works in partnership with Eco Schools, providing information and downloadable resources for registered schools. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 33 of 39 Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) Women’s Environmental Network www.wrap.org.uk/local_authorities More information on recycling services to Hackney schools. www.wen.org.uk/local_food/schools.htm Useful information about how to set up a successful composting scheme at school. Waste Watch World Wildlife Fund (WWF) www.wasteonline.org.uk Teaching zone with resources and waste facts. www.recyclezone.org.uk Interactive children’s zone. www.wwf.org.uk and www.wwflearning.co.uk Range of environmental information including the 'Go Wild' children’s page. Video, Animation and Songs CBeebies The Recycle Song http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/ecobeebies /songs/ecobeebies-recyclesong/ Jack Johnson’s 3R’s Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZRnZ46y VZY&feature=fvst Recycle Now Animations http://www.recyclenow.com/how_is_it_recycl ed/index.html Short simple videos on how items are recycled Recycle Now Songs http://www.recyclenow.com/schools/primary _school_resources/primary_schools.html Sing-a-long to the blue monkey’s song! Reduce Reuse Recycle Animation http://www.learnanytime.co.uk/Science/Redu cing,%20reusing%20and%20recycling.htm Recycling Videos and Web Links http://sqworl.com/l8xi1g Recycling animations and links together in a Sqworl group. USA Mixed Waste Recycling Animation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGplQc7 cMLY&feature=autoplay&list=PL467B27787314 C442&playnext=1 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 34 of 39 Literature: Below are a selection of topical books available to borrow from your local Library or buy on Amazon. There are a variety of fiction, fact, and arts and crafts books on waste and recycling. They vary in detail and difficulty, the simplest introduction being Jess Stockham’s ‘Recycling! Helping Hands’. Charlie and Lola: Look After Your Planet; We Are Extremely Very Good Recyclers Stephanie Turnbull (2007), Usborne Publishing Ltd, ISBN-13: 978-0746074817 Lauren Child 0141333731 Rubbish Truck (Working Wheels) (2011), Puffin, ISBN-13 978- Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish Annabel Savery (2009), Franklin Watts, ISBN-13: 978-0749692926 [Big Book] Michael Foreman (1999), Longman, ISBN-13: 978-0582420922 See Inside Recycling & Rubbish [Flap Book] Don’t Throw That Away! (Little Green Books) [Board Book] Lara Bergen (2009), ISBN- The 3 R’s: Reduce Reuse Recycle 13 978-1416975175 Garbage and Discoverers) Alex Frith (2010), Usborne Publishing Ltd, ISBN13 978-1409507413 Recycling (Young Nuria Roca (2007), Barron's Educational Series, ISBN-13: 978-0764135811 Sally Morgan & Rosie Harlow (2002), Kingfisher, ISBN-13 978-0753455036 The Adventures of an Aluminium Can: a story about recycling; The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle (Little Green Books) [Pop Up] George Saves the World By Lunchtime Alison Inches (2009), Little Simon, ISBN-13: 9781416972211 Dr Jo Readman (2006), Eden Project Children's Books, ISBN-13: 978-1903919507 The Great Recycling Adventure Making Musical Instruments from Junk Nick Penny (2006), A+C Black Publishers Ltd, ISBN-13 978-0713672466 Jan McHarry (1994), Franklin Watts Ltd, ISBN13978-0749618506 ‘Michael Recycle’ and ‘Litter Bug Doug’ What If? A book about recycling (Wonder Wise) Ellie Bethel (2008), Meadowside Children’s Books, ISBN-13 978-1845392819 Mick Manning & Greta Granstrom (1999), Franklin Watts Ltd, ISBN-13: 978-0749632922 Peppa Pig: Recycling Fun Why Should I Recycle? Ladybird (2008), ISBN-13 978-1846469527 Jen Greene (2002), Wayland, ISBN-13 9780750236812 Recycling! (Helping Hands) Jess Stockham (Illustrator) 2011, Child’s Play International, ISBN-13 978-1846434150 Recycled Crafts Box (The Art of Recycling) Laura C Martin (2004), Storey Books, ISBN-13 978-1580175227 Rubbish and Recycling Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 35 of 39 8. Visits and Outdoor Learning Opportunities London Borough of Hackney Local Contacts There are many organizations locally that would welcome a visit or be able to assist your group or school in learning more about waste and recycling. ‘Sustainable Hackney’ have created an interactive Google Map showing many green and environmentally friendly organisations in Hackney: http://bit.ly/xPMymO East London Community Recycling Project (ELCRP) See a community recycling project in action, and their ‘composting rocket’ system. Provides hands-on composting workshops and wormeries for schools. Tel: 020 8986 5608 Email: sonia@elcrp-recycling.com Web: www.elcrp-recycling.com Address: The Recycling Centre, 6 Muir Road, Nightingale Estate, E5 8PG ecoACTIVE Education Charity delivering environmental education in Hackney: free hands-on workshops on waste, recycling, composting, wormeries. In-school projects, after-school clubs, advice and INSET. Tel: 020 7923 7899 Email: admin@ecoactive.org.uk Web: www.ecoactive.org.uk Groundwork London Delivers projects in schools and communities to raise awareness of and promote recycling. Tel: 020 8985 1755 Email: contact@groundworkeastlondon.org / zoe.goss@groundworkeastlondon.org Web: www.groundworkeastlondon.org Address: 6 Lower Clapton Road, E5 0PD Growing Communities – Learn To Grow Project A local community sustainable food growing project. Visit the eco classroom in Allen Gardens equipped with a compost toilet. Contact: Fiona McAllister / Helen Carey Tel: 020 7502 7588 / 07984 407 097 Email: learning@growingcommunities.org Web: www.growingcommunities.org Address: Growing Communities, c/o Old Fire Station, 61 Leswin Road, London N16 7NX Growing Concerns A community based garden centre where you can buy plants for the school garden and get advice on gardening and composting. Tel: 020 8985 3222 Email: info@growingconcerns.org Web: www.growingconcerns.org Hackney City Farm Open for school visits, as well as farm animals it also includes a kitchen garden showcasing compost in action. Tel: 020 7729 6381 Email: farm@hackneycityfarm.co.uk Web: www.hackneycityfarm.co.uk Hackney Council Recycling Team Contact the recycling department to order more recycling facilities or find out which items can be recycled or composted at your school. Contact: Sarah Williams- School Recycling Officer Tel: 020 8356 6688 Email: recycling@hackney.gov.uk Web: www.hackney.gov.uk/recycling Hackney Environmental Network (HEEN PROJECT DIRT) Education Hackney Sustainable Schools Forum Contact ecoACTIVE for information on how to join admin@ecoactive.org.uk LMB Education Through projects for schools such as ‘Shoe Friends’ and ‘Clothes Collectors’ LMB Education free recycling initiatives and Sock Puppet Monster workshops. Tel: 020 7474 2000 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 36 of 39 Email: info@lmb-education.co.uk Web: www.lmb.co.uk/shoefriend.html London Community Recycling Network Supports schools with on-site composting and recycling initiatives, and London contacts. Tel: 020 7324 4690 Email: info@lcrn.org.uk Web: www.lcrn.org.uk Address: The Grayston Centre, 28 Charles Square, London, N1 6HT North London Waste Authority (NLWA) Resource and waste redction advice to schools. Information on how waste and recycling is carried out in the North London Boroughs. Tel: 020 8489 5730 Email: post@nlwa.gov.uk Web: www.nlondonwaste.gov.uk/services.html St Mary’s Secret Garden A Hackney horticultural project described as a ‘peaceful oasis’ with on-site composting area, plant sale, open for school visits and Monday mini-beast activities. Tel: 020 7739 2965 Email: info@stmarysgarden.org.uk Web: www.stmaryssecretgarden.org.uk Textile Recycling for Aid & Development (TRAID) TRAID staff deliver free school assemblies, clothes-customising workshops, and help set up clothes recycling banks at your school. Tel: 0208 733 2591 Email: lyla@traid.org.uk Web: www.traid.org.uk Wiggly Wigglers Deliver worms and wormeries direct to your school. Tel: 01981 500391 Email: wiggly@wigglywigglers.co.uk Web: www.wigglywigglers.co.uk Local Parks and Recycling Bins Local parks are great places to learn more about waste and recycling. Arrange a litter-pick activity to clean up the area using suitable equipment: a litter-picker (The ‘Graptor’ www.helpinghand.co.uk), Hi-Vis vest, bin bags and gloves. It is advisable for the teacher to do a risk assessment of the area first to check for dangerous objects. Choose a park or area which has recycling bins nearby, so that the children can sort the rubbish immediately into the appropriate bins. Alternatively, the children can be given cameras and just photograph the litter they find. Hackney Council has a list of where all their ‘Cow Bins’ and ‘Recycling on the Go’ bins are located. Find out where your local public bins are located, and make a trip to put some of your school recycling straight into these. Contact Sarah Williams (Recycling Officer) for details recycling@hackney.gov.uk. Alternatively search on http://www.hackney.gov.uk/recycling-recycling-banks.htm or ‘Find My Nearest...’http://www.map.hackney.gov.uk/Find-My-NearestInternal/?CAT=REC_BS It may also be possible for your group to visit a local recycling plant, such as a MRF (materials recovery facility, such as Bywaters www.bywaters.co.uk), or visit an incinerator. Contact them first, if a group visit is not possible then the class teacher can do an individual visit, take photos, and show the pupils afterwards as a photo-story. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle SEN Teacher’s Resource Pack Page 37 of 39 9. ecoACTIVE Feedback Form Your name: Date: School: Your role at school: Year group(s) pack was used with: Teacher Pack Title: How would you rate this teaching pack: (1= Low 10= High) Has the resource helped to provide a positive learning experience for you and your pupils? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Have you been able to tailor the activities to suit the needs of your pupils? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Did the pack provide all the information that you required, in order to confidently deliver activities with your pupils? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Has the resource complemented the school’s teaching of any part of the curriculum? If so, which areas of the curriculum have been covered by this pack? Please circle more than one if appropriate In your opinion, how has this pack helped to improve pupil understanding of the topics covered? Please tick more than one item if appropriate How will you follow up this project to consolidate pupil understanding of environmental issues and sustainability? Please tick more than one item if appropriate Other – please state………………….. Facilitated hands-on learning Made them think about things differently Reinforced previous knowledge Introduced a new topic Helped them understand the impacts of behaviour Helped them understand what they can do personally to address environmental issues Other (please specify): More discussion in class Making displays Whole school sharing e.g. assembly Practical actions e.g. composting, recycling etc Reinforcement through the curriculum Exploring how to change behaviour at school Exploring how to change behaviour at home Other (please specify): Do you have any further comments or suggestions on ways of improving this teaching pack? ecoACTIVE Education Morningside Community Centre Cresset Road London E9 6SJ 020 8510 0113 admin@ecoactive.org.uk www.ecoactive.org.uk Written by Gemma Hindi for ecoACTIVE Devised by Jessica Dolan Special thanks to Beverley Maron and Side by Side school for help and advice with this teacher’s pack