Take this activity with you into nature and see what you can find!

Colouring In! Humans have flooded the planet with plastic, and now we’re seeing its dangerous effects. Let’s send plastic packing from our oceans.

Students at Wilford School in Petone were shocked to discover the amount of rubbish finding its way onto their local beach. Find out how they investigated the issue by using traps to collect the rubbish entering the stormwater system.

This article describes a citizen science project carried out by three schools on Aotea Great Barrier Island. Concerned by the amount of marine debris washing up on their beaches, the students partnered with scientists from the University of Auckland to investigate what was happening and to take action to bring about change.

It’s time to talk trash with Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELDw2kjr1J4

Nanogirl, Emma and her friends from Breens Intermediate visit ESR in Christchurch where they meet expert Olga Pantos and find out all about microplastics.

Link to experiment: https://youtu.be/b-2s-g8_JHU

Is dead seaweed rubbish? Follow these directions to find the answer...

Did you know plastics can be made from lots of different things? Try this easy experiment at home to make your own plastic from milk!

Your ‘carbon footprint’ is the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) you release into the atmosphere during your daily activities. Simple actions can lead to major changes for the future of our planet.

Everyday, more and more packages are being sent around the world. In the context of design, explore the properties of materials that make them suitable for packaging, and construct a package strong enough to protect a fragile gift.

Lots of things around us are made of plastic. But what is plastic? Does it grow on a plastic plant?
Suzy uses milk to investigate! She even manages to sneak some jelly beans in too :D

This episode doesn’t stink, even though it’s about pollution.

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h3kjFRLpWs

The environment is an important modern day topic. Recycling is a key part of this so get students involved with this lesson plan that contains some fun activity ideas and key concepts.

We all have a rubbish monster – are you looking after yours? Use the tick boxes to assess how you’re doing, or to make some important changes.

Frame up pictures of your most loved NZ places, plants, and animals with rubbish you’ve collected just by walking around your community. It will inspire you to reduce your waste and/or manage your waste properly for sure!

The context of rubbish is well known to children, and investigations into the ways in which we classify items as rubbish can begin with classroom and school contexts.

Where does the water go when it rains? This is a very good question and hopefully rainwater is the only thing that arrives at that final destination!

Establish your own waste minimisation project at home or school. There is lots of scope for us to better reduce waste and to reclaim useful resources from our waste too.

So where does it all go? What part can we play in making sure the mountain doesn't grow?

Our Waste Warriors Award Scheme is a way for kids to form better habits around waste, and to be recognised positively for their efforts and progress.

Let’s investigate our own kāinga (home) by taking a soil sample.
What lives in the whenua? What is it made up of?

Follow the lines (over and under) to discover some places that will take in these puzzling products, and challenge yourself to discover where other puzzling products and packaging can go!