Wasted

Source:

Based on 'Schools Out - Fieldwork made easy': A teacher's pack for 5-14 Environmental Studies produced by Highland Environmental Network School Group & Noss National Nature Reserve, teaching and activity pack (SNH)

Time

20- 60 minutes

You will need

• worksheets (see downloads below)
• pencils
• rubber gloves

Before the activity

Choose activity sheets,  from the seashore section in Schools Out:

• 'How long does rubbish last?' (question and answer sheets)
• 'Should it be there?'

You may like to blank out the column which gives suggestions for lasting times on the 'How long does rubbish last' worksheet and get the children just to put their best guess beside each item when they use the sheet.

The activity

Get the children to go on a scavenger hunt to find flotsam and jetsam on the strand line. When they find an item they can make a guess as to how old the item might be and how long they think it would last, based on how the sea, exposure to waves, light and water has worn down the item.

The group leaders can wear the rubber gloves and pick up a selection of items, made of as many different materials as possible, and collect them together at the meeting point. Encourage the 'scavengers' to alert you to interesting finds such as a dead crab, bones, old cork floats or a very worn flip flop! Also collect a few well worn natural items.

Gather the group back together to discuss the finds. For example,

• a plastic bottle:  find out if everyone found one and what state their bottles were in. Ask for suggestions about how long the bottle would last, were they surprised at the answer? Explain that although the bottle might get broken up by the sea and any colour fade, the plastic itself doesn't biodegrade or return to natural components although the bits of plastic might get smaller and smaller. (Some plastic items are now made of plastic which does eventually degrade with exposure to sunlight).
• did they find any bits of broken glass? Glass erodes like rock as it is made from limestone, sand and soda ash.
• did they find any paper or bits of food waste? Why were these items scarce?
• did they find any rope or nets?  What were they made of (nylon/plastic)?  Ropes and nets used to be made from plant fibres like jute and hemp, what are the advantages for fishermen and sailors of using man made fibres, what are the disadvantages to wildlife and the environment?

After you have discussed all the un-natural items of rubbish, get the class to run their fingers through the sand. Where does the sand come from? Can they see little bits of coloured stones in it and broken bits of sea shells?

Why does everything become smoother and rounder the longer it floats around in the sea? Look at waves breaking on the shore and watch the sand being picked up and tumbled, is this the answer? Look at the well worn natural items which have been collected and feel how they have been 'sanded' down.

Suggested Follow up

Select some clean items of flotsam and jetsam and take them back to make a class display alongside information about decomposition times and recycling.  

Downloads

Schools Out - worksheets in the seashore section

• 'How long does rubbish last?' (question and answer sheets)
• 'Should it be there?'

Additional Information

See Schools Out - Seashore section for illustrations of:

• Shells
• Unusual things along the tide line

Facts and figures about waste and recycling of many different kinds of materials at Waste Online

Photographs of the amazing animal sculptures made from scrap metal by the Scottish artist Helen Denerley

Curriculum Links

 Science

Age Range

2,3,4