Study Guide written & edited by Megan Dredge. Additional writing by Max Schintler. Design by Shane Dunne.

Study Guide Episode 3

22

SynopsisIn this episode, we cover everything from finding a way to measure the flow of water, learning about barcodes and bottles and recycling, to how to make our school canteens kinder to the environment. One team discovers that some of the weeds growing in their garden are edible; another team goes shopping at the Tip Shop; and, another team of Waste Warriors are charged with the challenge of cleaning their whole school! And not just that, they can only use natural products, no chemicals.

Challenge Theme: Eco-CleaningThe challenge theme in this episode focuses on eco friendly cleaning. Every day in our homes, we use sprays and wipes and soaps and detergents and cleansers to keep everything looking shiny and sparkly. But as Lawrence, our Project Planet Champion, tells us: The cleaner your house is the dirtier our air and water becomes.

Chemicals end up in the atmosphere, on land, in waterways and in the oceans. They can damage the environment and pose a real threat to wildlife and also to us.

Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) interrupt the hormone-making system in our glands that help our bodies work properly, and these same chemicals are found in many household cleaning products.

Lawrence challenges us to be our very own household scientist and get about making our own non-toxic cleaners.

“If you love things to be Squeaky clean, we say go squeaky green!”

Lawrence, Project Planet Champion

33

Relevant Links & Resources7 Benefits Of Green Cleaning https://www.care.com/c/stories/5919/7-benefits-of-green-cleaning/

Be A Green Kid https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/go-green.html

Kids Health: You and the Environment http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&np=288&id=2651

Healthy Soil, Healthy Garden https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/soils/structure/garden

Reverse Garbage https://reversegarbage.org.au/

Reverse Art Truck http://www.reversearttruck.com/

Reverse Garbage Queensland http://www.reversegarbageqld.com.au/

“We really need to make some changes and make them permanent.”

Freida, Waste Warrior, Taroona High School

44

one - AskQuestions to ask before, during and after viewing the episode

Before• In what ways do we use chemicals in our homes and schools? • What is an industry?• How might industries use chemicals?• What do you think eco-friendly cleaning means?• What important things should you think about when starting a garden?

During• Why did Freida and her team go and visit the students at Goulburn St Primary School?• What is a waste-sorting facility?• What is a “tip shop”?• What do we normally do with weeds in our gardens?

After• How has your opinion of garden weeds changed? IMPORTANT: Some weeds are toxic so do your research with an adult first.• Why is the quality of the soil so important when planting seeds?• How does the use of green cleaners positively impact our lives as well as the environment?

55

TWO - AcquireImportant vocabulary phrases and important facts to look for and to learn in this episode.

Vocabulary:• toxic• chemicals• industry• industrial facilities• endocrine• Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)• exposure• non-toxic• waterway• risk

Important Facts:• Every second, 310kg of toxic chemicals are emitted from industrial facilities and factories all over the world. (That’s like one elephant’s weight worth of pollution every 24 seconds.)• We use many cleaning chemicals in our homes and in our schools, every day.• Chemicals end up in our air, our oceans, our waterways and on our land.• Chemicals pose a real risk to animals and people.

THREE - ApplySuggested activities and discussion starters to do with your class. These can be individual, with a partner, in a small group, and also to the whole class.

SelfList the things you regularly use each day that would be considered a chemical. What could you use in place of these?

PartnerWhat creams, liquids, lotions, soaps or sprays have you already touched, used or come into contact with today?

Group“The cleaner your house is, the dirtier our air and water becomes. ” Discuss this quote and what it means.

ClassIn this episode, Freida and her high-school teammates visited a primary school, Goulburn Street Primary School. This was a wonderful example of older students learning from younger students. How could you and your class intentionally learn from those younger than you?

66

Four - ActivateHelping your students devise ways of actively implementing what they have learned.

Activate #1 – Green Cleaning or Eco Friendly CleaningWe use many cleaning products and supplies throughout our homes, schools, office buildings, public facilities. And most of the products we use are very high in toxic chemicals.

In what ways can we change this? How can we use more natural products in the way we clean? What about your school? What about places you visit in the community like sports facilities or shared buildings?

Me: What can I do?

Us: What can my family do?

My School: What can we do?

My Community: What can we all do?

Activate #2 – Purple Box Challenge – Eco-Friendly CleaningChallenge: Clean your bedroom, classroom, or bathroom using only natural products.

Make a list of each thing/section you need to clean and how you can do the job using natural eco-friendly substances.Research some recipes for Green Cleaners and make them with the help of a responsible adult. Record your results.

Activate 3 – Tips and Hacks To Start TODAYWhat tips and hacks did Jenny from Berry Springs give us to help us get started TODAY?

Jenny’s tips and hacks were:• Make your own cleaning products.• Find ‘green ingredients’ in your own home.• Use natural products on your hair by making your own shampoo.• Instead of buying commercial laundry detergent, which can be full of nasty chemicals, make your own!

77

Five - AlignConsolidating and extending student learning by aligning with other Key Learning Areas in the curriculum.

English: ResearchIn this episode, the Waste Warrior team from Berry Springs visited their local “tip shop”. This is a place where items of value and use have been repurposed and can be purchased for reuse.

There are actually lots of these kinds of waste sorting and repurposing centres.

Research your local area and develop a list places and community groups that are making a difference by sorting, recycling, and re-using things and making them available to the public.

Include the name, address, contact details of each place you find.

Who in your family and in your school could you share this list with?

Maths: Volume Sinon and his team had to estimate how much soil they needed to fill their garden beds. To calculate volume they multiply the width by length by height. They divide it by 2 because their garden beds are shaped like a leaf. Calculate how much soil you will need to fill each of your garden beds.

Challenge: Using the advice of Carla the Garden Guru, calculate how long it will take two adults to fill your garden beds.

Double Challenge: How long would it take two students? How did you work out your answers?

Media Studies: The Power Of ProfileSearch and find 10 famous people who are actively promoting sustainability. Who are they? What is their cause? How are they using their platform and profile to raise awareness? How is the media helping them?

88

• toxic• chemicals• industry• industrial facilities• endocrine• EDCs• exposure• non-toxic• waterway• risk

Vocabulary Find-A-Word/WordsearchLook carefully! Some words may be written diagonally, or even backwards.

Worksheet

Get Clean By Going GreenJenny said, “Get clean by going green.” What did she mean?

99

Poster PowerLawrence, our Project Planet Champion, said, “Every second, 310kg of of toxic chemicals are emitted from industrial facilities and factories all over the world.”

That’s a big number, right? Hard to imagine?

Think about it this way: It’s like one elephant’s weight worth of pollution every 24 seconds.

Design a poster that communicates the intense amount of pollution that is being created by humans and put into our environment, all day, every day.

Worksheet