The Zero Waste Education (Z.W.E) programme has been educating children since 1993. This award winning programme is now taught in more than 470 schools throughout New Zealand to students in Years 3-8. Xtreme Waste linked with the ZWE programme in 2008 to provide consistency in zero waste education offered across NZ. Visit www.zerowasteeducation.co.nz for more information.
The programme aims to enable children to investigate the links between the earth's natural resources, the products they use and the resulting waste that enters our landfills and pollutes our environment each year.
The programme consists of 6 units, each tackling the problems caused by waste and focusing on specific solutions. As the units alternate each year, a child will learn all 6 units by the time they complete Year 8 and are immersed in a comprehensive programme.
Years 3/4: Reduce Unit / Reusing Unit.
Years 5/6: Recycling Unit / Composting Unit.
Years 7/8: Resource Sustainability Unit / Water Unit.
By the time students finish the Composting Unit they will know more about composting than anyone else in their house. Students are encouraged to educate their family and friends.
Timetabling
Schools are contacted during term 4 to arrange a suitable school week for our educator to visit in the following year. Relevant unit plans are provided during this initial contact.
Each unit comprises of 4 x 45 minute sessions. A completed timetable is required by Zero Waste Education at least two weeks before our educators come in to teach a unit.
Prior to teaching a unit, it is possible for a Z.W.E educator and syndicate teachers participating in the programme to meet. This meeting would take approximately 15-20 minutes to explain the unit plans, workbooks and extension activities and to answer any questions.
Ideally, the Z.W.E programme fits with part of a larger class, syndicate or school wide theme being taught at the time of our visit.
Classroom Teacher Resources
When the programme started 15 years ago the subject of waste minimisation was not widely discussed in our homes or schools. It is now a more mainstream topic and as a result our programme has evolved too.
Students now have a knowledge base that wasn't there five years ago and as a result lessons, workbooks, unit plans and activities are more in-depth. We're confident you'll find the changes beneficial.
The Unit Plans
Every teacher is provided with a unit plan. Every Z.W.E unit plan has suggested achievement objectives and learning objectives the classroom teacher may wish to incorporate into their planning. Every suggested learning objective has a specific formative assessment task that can be found in the workbook provided.
Each unit plan has follow up extension activities that the classroom teacher has the option of using after the educator finishes teaching the course. We encourage teachers from syndicates to get together to plan how they might all use the extension activities and share ideas.
There are suggested writing tasks for different writing genres and a list of over 50 journal stories with environmental themes that classroom teachers may wish to integrate into their literacy programme.
The Unit Workbooks
The workbooks for each unit are described to the students as being an information booklet they can use to teach their family and friends about the topic. However, the most important pieces of information are missing and need to be filled in by students.
Please remember that the workbook is also intended to be read by the caregivers so that the learning carries on to the home.
Formative assessment activities are clearly defined in the workbook. Each assessment task is linked to a learning objective in the unit plan. All assessment tasks are explained and started under the supervision of the Z.W.E educator. A marking template of the workbook is given to each classroom teacher. Other workbook activities can be completed independently by the students.
The Units
Reduce Unit (Years 3/4)
This unit shows students how to effectively reduce the amount of rubbish in their household by not buying it in the first place (Sensible Shopping). Students are also introduced to the concept of waste, landfills and the five natural resources used to make all the ‘stuff' we consume. Recycling, composting and reusing are introduced as ways of ‘reducing the rubbish pile'.
Reusing Unit (Years 3/4)
The concept of ‘reusing' products and packaging and also buying longer lasting items is further investigated. It also examines specific groups in the community and their role in helping people to reuse some of our waste e.g. Salvation Army, Trademe etc. Students will put their knowledge into practise by reusing items of packaging from home to make a money bank or desktop tidier.
Recycling Unit (Years 5/6)
Students delve deeper into the practise of recycling and investigate a format for setting up and maintaining their own recycling system in the home. Key recycling issues such as ‘contamination' and their responsibilities as a recycler at home are reinforced. Through the investigating ‘product life-cycles' students can see how to sustainably use natural resources through recycling. Students see what actually happens to their recycling after it leaves their house from recycling bin to new end product.
Composting Unit (Years 5/6)
Approximately 40-60% of all solid waste that enters New Zealand landfills could have been composted. Composting is a key tool in tackling our growing waste problem. It is also is something every student can take an active part in at home.
Students investigate which of their home and school waste can and cannot be composted and the role of nature in turning some waste into new compost. The key differences between landfills and composts are examined. Each student will build their own ‘mini'compost bin' using tiger worms, giving them the skills and knowledge to build and look after a large scale compost at home.
Resource Sustainability Unit (Years 7/8)
Natural resources- renewable and non-renewable- are the focus of this Year 7-8 level unit. Students investigate how current economic and production systems affect our ability to conserve natural resources for future generations.
Alternatives to these linear forms or production are offered, as well as insights into more sustainable business practises (such as replacing waste streams with clean streams). A history of waste disposal including a detailed look at New Zealand landfills gives students an insight into what is happening with our wasted natural resources. The question of who is using what resources is investigated, including a comparison of different families' ecological footprints from around the world.
Water Unit (Years 7/8)
Water is one of the most precious natural resources on our planet. In this unit students investigate how water is ‘made' through the water cycle, how we use this water and what happens to the water we no longer want - waste water and stormwater. Water conservation and our role in the prevention of water pollution through stormwater protection complete this unit.
