A resource for teaching and learning about consuming planet earth

BCONTINUED
Buy ‘green’, save money
Will it end up in landfill?
Reduce waste going to landfill by choosing reusable and recyclable products. Avoid disposable
products that will be used once only. Look for products that give the consumer recycling
information eg. numbered recycling symbols on different plastics. Look at other disposal
options – giving to charity, a friend, neighbour, selling at a local market.
Where was it made?
Transportation contributes to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
What does the label really mean?
Look out for vague labels such as:
‘Enviromentally safe’, ‘Earth friendly’, ‘Ozone friendly’, ‘Recyclable’.
5. A model home
Create a model home and include as many energy saving devices as possible.
Create a class display for the school’s Open Day or Parent/Teacher night.
6. Create a class garden
Create a special garden space for the class to grow flowers or seedlings.
7. Insulation experiment
Make model houses and cover with a variety of insulating materials, measure the
temperature changes and evaluate the effectiveness of different materials.
8. Create a solar product
Using the resources listed in this unit, explore the growing range of solar powered
products and create your own, for example, a solar powered barbeque.
9. Make paper pots
As a class, make some recycled paper from old newspapers and other waste paper.
Mould the paper into plant pots and create an indoor garden.
10. Testing household cleaning products
Consumers are increasingly demanding environmentally-
friendly, less toxic household cleaners, and also trying simple
home made solutions which are cheap and effective. Conduct
experiments comparing some popular cleaners with homemade
ones eg. baking soda to clean tiles and workbenches, vinegar
and water to clean glass. First, develop some criteria you could
use to evaluate the different products.
consumer affairs victoria
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Need consumer help? 1300 55 81 81 www.consumer.vic.gov.au