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Description

This activity enables Scouts to gain awareness that different materials take different times to decompose and therefore have varying impacts on the environment.

Resources

Waste Timeline Resources Sheet
(optional) A selection of the items from the Waste timeline sheet e.g. teabag, plastic bottle
Scissors
Wall Chart or Notice Board
Large Sheet of paper, at least A3, or Flip chart will do, per Patrol.

Instructions

Preparation
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1. Cut out the pictures of waste items from page 1 of the Resources sheet.
2. If possible laminate them, leaving empty space between each picture.
3. Cut each picture into a separate laminated card.
4. Large Sh

Running
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1. Divide Scouts into Patrols or small Teams.

2. Give each Patrol the Waste timeline sheet (or set of cards if cut out beforehand) and the large blank sheet of paper.

3. Introduce the activity by asking Scouts what they think happens to various items on their cards once people have finished with them. Suggest to the Scouts that if the items were thrown away in a ‘normal’ bin (rather than recycled or composted) the mixture of items would end up in a landfill site or rubbish tip.

4. Check Scouts understanding of the term ‘decompose’, then ask them to draw a straight horizontal arrow across the blank paper and to write "Fastest to decompose" at the left end of the line, and "Slowest to decompose" on the right end of the line. Now place their cards from fastest to slowest material to decompose on the table in front of them.

5. Discuss the Scouts’ timelines. Ask them why some materials decompose before the others.

6. Draw a timeline on the flipchart and add this year on the left. Now place the cards in the correct order.

7. Ask pupils for their ideas of the approximate timings that it takes for the items to decompose, then add the answers using the sheet titled "Approximate time taken for items to decompose" also add the year 1000 years hence on the right-hand side of the timeline or read them out.

8. Now ask the Scouts if they think it’s a problem that some things, particularly plastics and electrical goods take years to decompose. What might the solutions be?

Extension ideas
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Composting investigation – Allow pupils to bury a selection of materials in a marked area of soil. Dig them up every fortnight and observe the changes. Which materials take the longest to decompose?

Tags

• Environment awareness

Badge Links

• Community Impact - Identify