Waste and Impact

Overview

This 45-minute lesson is designed for Year 5 students (ages 9-10) and forms the first session in a 12-lesson unit titled “Upcycling: Creativity Meets Sustainability”. It follows the Curriculum for Wales framework, focusing on developing learners’ understanding of environmental issues, sustainability, and responsible behaviours.

Curriculum Alignment

Areas of Learning and Experience (AoLE)

Science and Technology

Learners engage with concepts of sustainability and environmental impact.
Develop understanding of human impact on the environment through exploration of waste-related issues.

Health and Well-being

Promote responsible decision-making for environmental and personal well-being.
Encourage examination of how choices affect society and nature.

Cross-curricular Skills

Oracy (speaking and listening) through discussions.
Digital Literacy through video engagement and research prompts.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, learners will be able to:

Explain at least two negative effects of waste on the environment.
Describe the basic concept of sustainability in relation to waste.
Understand and define "upcycling" as a sustainable practice.

Success Criteria

I can name different types of waste and their impact on the environment.
I can explain why sustainability matters when thinking about waste.
I can describe what upcycling means using my own words.

Resources Needed

Projector or large screen display
Short educational video (3-5 mins) about waste and sustainability (with Welsh curriculum-appropriate language)
Visuals: Pictures of waste issues (landfills, ocean pollution, recycling bins).
Simplified information cards (for EAL and learners needing support).
Whiteboard and coloured markers
Worksheet – “What do I know about waste?” (with visuals)

Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Details	Differentiation/Extension
0-5 mins	Starter – Think-Pair-Share	Ask: What kinds of waste do you see around you? Learners share with a partner then whole class. Teacher records key ideas on board.	Use word banks and visuals for EAL learners.
5-15 mins	Video and Guided Discussion	Watch a short video explaining waste and its environmental impact. Post-video, key questions: What problems does waste cause? Why does it matter to all of us?	Pause video to check understanding. Provide simplified summaries for EAL or SEND learners.
15-25 mins	Teaching Input: Sustainability & Upcycling	Introduce sustainability as “looking after our planet so it can look after us.” Define upcycling with examples. Show images of upcycled items.	Use step-by-step visuals and realia. Simplified language for EAL learners.
25-35 mins	Small Group Discussion & Summary Activity	Groups of 4 discuss what they learned and complete the worksheet summarising waste impact and upcycling meaning. Share examples aloud.	Mix EAL and peers with good language skills for modelling. Provide sentence starters.
35-43 mins	Plenary: Quiz and Reflection	Quick oral quiz: “Name one bad effect of waste,” “What is upcycling?” Reflection: “How can we help reduce waste in our school or homes?”	Support responses with prompts for hesitant learners. Use thumbs-up/down for quick comprehension check.
43-45 mins	Set Extension/Homework	Challenge interested learners to research a specific waste issue affecting their community or school. Prepare to share in Lesson 2.	Extension learners can create a mini-presentation or poster.

Differentiation Strategies

EAL learners: Use visuals, simplified text, glossaries with key vocabulary (e.g., sustainability, waste, upcycling), sentence frames, paired talk with native speakers.
SEND learners: Break tasks into smaller steps, allow extra processing time, use multisensory approaches (videos, real objects), provide alternative recording options (drawing responses).
Advanced learners: Encourage them to research local or global waste statistics, or brainstorm innovative upcycling ideas to present in future lessons.

Assessment for Learning

Teacher observes group discussions and worksheet completion to gauge understanding.
Use oral questioning during plenary to assess comprehension of key concepts.
Review extension activity submissions (next lesson) for deeper engagement.

Key Vocabulary

Waste
Environment
Sustainability
Pollution
Upcycling
Recycle
Landfill

Reflection and Notes for Future Lessons

Monitor students’ use of vocabulary and level of engagement with sustainability ideas.
Adapt video and materials further if learners struggle with concepts or language.
Plan to build on this foundation in lessons about the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and hands-on upcycling projects.

This lesson encourages curiosity and responsible citizenship through age-appropriate environmental education in line with the Curriculum for Wales. It uses a rich mix of multimedia, discussion, and visual scaffolds to engage diverse learners.

Teaching Instructions