Introduction to waste
This workshop is a great place to start the topic. Waste issues are introduced through discussion and hands on activities. Children discover landfill sites and the 3Rs: ‘Reduce, Reuse and Recycle’ with a view to supporting changes in school.
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Compost
Children discover the process of making compost. They get to handle it, smell it, learn how and why we should make it, and what it can be used for. We can also provide and help to set up a FREE school compost bin as well as teaching what can and can’t go in it.
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Find out more on how to compost at school here
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Energy
A new workshop for this year. Children discover how we use energy in our daily lives and how we rely on fossil fuels to provide this energy. Investigation and discussion of sustainable energy sources takes place and pupils get to create items from waste to help remind others to reduce their energy use.
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Masks
This workshop reuses scrap materials to make fantastic masks and shows how creative we can be with waste. Many of the materials used come from Somerset’s scrapstores and have been saved from disposal in a landfill site.
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Paper Making
Pupils learn how paper is recycled by recycling their own piece of paper in the classroom. Other waste paper and card is reused to create a variety of decorative items such as jigsaw puzzles, photo frames or envelopes.
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Music
Children create musical instruments from household rubbish. The instruments can be used to spread the message of reducing, reusing and recycling through the development and performance of stories, songs or raps.
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Seasonal
Children get to reuse a range of waste items to produce decorations and crafts relevant to the time of year. Be it Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine’s Day or Halloween there are ways to get creative with rubbish!
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KEY STAGE 2
The following workshops are suitable for Key Stage 2 only.
Waste Free Lunch
Pupils investigate the waste generated from an average school packed lunch and the various materials its components are made from. This workshop involves playing the Waste Free Lunch floor game where they will learn how to minimise the waste coming from their lunch boxes, through exploring a range of reduce, reuse and recycle options.
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Global
This workshop highlights different approaches to waste disposal around the world and encourages the children to think about the impact of their lifestyle and how it compares to children in other countries. Children get to employ methods and techniques used around the world to create useful items from waste.
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Role Play & Debate (Year 5 and 6 only)
Pupils are given the opportunity to take part in a debate or role play about controversial waste issues by being placed in a real life situation. Pupils have to assume and consider the views of different people. This is a great way to stimulate thinking on the topic.
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Energy
This energy workshop is tailored for Key Stage 2. Children discover how we use energy in our daily lives and how we rely on fossil fuels to provide this energy. Investigation and discussion of sustainable energy sources takes place and pupils get to create items from waste to help remind others to reduce their energy use.
Download lesson plan here
Download risk assessment here
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PROJECT DAYS
SWAP offers a variety of project sessions suitable for a small, dedicated group. Pupils will get the opportunity to work in a small group to create something from waste or learn more about it.
Days can involve carrying out a school waste audit, creating sculptures from rolled paper, designing and stitching a World War 2 blanket or overhauling the school compost bin.
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ASSEMBLIES
Introduction to Waste
A great way to introduce waste and recycling issues to the whole school. There is a focus on what happens to waste here in Somerset as well as the more sustainable alternatives available.
Compost
A very visual way to discover how to make compost, what lives in a compost bin and how to look after the school compost bin. For Key Stage 1 children our ‘Wigglebert the Worm’ assembly can help them to understand the process and how they can help.
Global
An exciting look at how people in other parts of the world deal with their waste. Children can compare and contrast what happens in the UK with what happens in developing countries.
Energy
Introducing a new assembly for 2006/07. A look at how we use energy in our lives and the different sources of energy. Fossil fuels and their environmental implications are highlighted along with the various sustainable sources of energy.
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