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9-11 years
9-11 years
Circular economy for kids
General information
This exercise has been developed for the THINKIDS project, by Noemi Marchiotto, from STePS.
| Age groups | 9-11-year-olds |
| Recommended group size | 10-20 children Small groups (4-5 children each) |
| Recommended time | More than 2 hours (this doesn’t include preparation time, just the actual activity with children). |
| Place | In the classroom, at home |
| Learning outcomes | Distinguish the difference between linear and circular economy and suggest solutions for a more sustainable world. |
| Needed materials | Computer/laptop (1 per each group), internet connection, paper, pencils and dashboard. |
| Methods | Group Work, Peer Tutoring and Learning by Doing |
Developing skills in children
After the completion of this exercise children will have developed the following skills:
- Collaboration
- Perspective-Taking
- Critical Thinking
- IT Skills
Step by step implementation
Preparation (before the activity):
Explain to the group that the activity is based on Circular Economy concepts. Teach them the difference between linear and circular economy: in the linear economy, the industry makes a product from raw materials, we buy and use the product then, when we don’t need it anymore, we waste it and throw it away, often in non-recycle rubbish.
This is a wasteful approach and isn’t working! We’re running out of resources to make new things with, and we're producing too much toxic waste. That’s why we need to change our approach and make production more sustainable. In the circular economy, when a product's 'life' is over, we repair or we create new products from old ones.
The key is the 3R rule: REUSE, REPAIR and RECYCLE!
For example, in a circular economy, smart phones would be designed so they could be repaired more easily. And when they stopped working, they would be simple to take apart so that the precious metals and materials inside them could be reused in another product, or returned safely to nature.
Tell them that every citizen of the world can support a circular economy, including children, with their actions.
Then, ask the children what they think and let them be free to share their thoughts, without any prejudice.
To start the group conversation on the topic, you can propose the following video: Explaining the Circular
Economy and How Society Can Re-think Progress | Animated Video Essay.
See the “additional materials” for more resources.
Collect their opinion on a paper or digital dashboard and, in the end, summarize and return to children a general reflection.
Second phase (40 - 50 minutes):
Divide the class into small mixed groups of 4 - 5 children and assign to each group an object from their daily life. It could be available in the class or you can bring it from home (e.g. trousers, table, plastic bottle etc..). It would be better if they could look at it and physically touch it.
Each group must have access to a computer and an internet connection.
The demand for each group is to search online for information related to the assigned object, in particular they must focus on the following elements:
- Material extraction: What are the raw materials that make up the object? Where and how are they extracted?
- Manufacturing: How is the object produced? What are the processes?
- Packaging and transportation: How is it packaged and with what materials? Where is it distributed and how?
- Use: Who uses the object? How? For how long?
- End of life: How is the project disposed of at the end of his life?
- Solutions for reuse, repair and recycle the object: find online or think innovative solutions to give new life to the object.
Write the points on a dashboard or print them on a paper for each group.
Third phase (40 - 50 minutes):
Continue working in the same group as the previous activity.
Using the PIKTOCHART website, ask each group to make an infographic about what they have searched online. Use one of the templates in Environmental section (Piktochart visual -> Infographics -> Environmental)
The infographics should include the elements found in the previous phase.
Before starting this step, make sure to teach how to use the application.
Fourth phase (20 - 30 minutes):
Each group shows and explains their presentation to the rest of the class.
Finally, you resume the various projects and pull the strings of the speech, reflecting on the importance of raising awareness about the protection of the planet.
In order to implement the activity, you need to know how to use and teach the Piktochart application. Piktochart is an online tool that allows you to create infographics to be published on the web, online presentations and material for printing (A4, letter, flyers, reports). Free and paid versions are available. The language of the site is English. You can find some easy tutorials in the “additional materials” section at the end of the following document.
First phase (20 - 30 minutes):Explain to the group that the activity is based on Circular Economy concepts. Teach them the difference between linear and circular economy: in the linear economy, the industry makes a product from raw materials, we buy and use the product then, when we don’t need it anymore, we waste it and throw it away, often in non-recycle rubbish.
This is a wasteful approach and isn’t working! We’re running out of resources to make new things with, and we're producing too much toxic waste. That’s why we need to change our approach and make production more sustainable. In the circular economy, when a product's 'life' is over, we repair or we create new products from old ones.
The key is the 3R rule: REUSE, REPAIR and RECYCLE!
For example, in a circular economy, smart phones would be designed so they could be repaired more easily. And when they stopped working, they would be simple to take apart so that the precious metals and materials inside them could be reused in another product, or returned safely to nature.
Tell them that every citizen of the world can support a circular economy, including children, with their actions.
Then, ask the children what they think and let them be free to share their thoughts, without any prejudice.
To start the group conversation on the topic, you can propose the following video: Explaining the Circular
Economy and How Society Can Re-think Progress | Animated Video Essay.
See the “additional materials” for more resources.
Collect their opinion on a paper or digital dashboard and, in the end, summarize and return to children a general reflection.
Second phase (40 - 50 minutes):
Divide the class into small mixed groups of 4 - 5 children and assign to each group an object from their daily life. It could be available in the class or you can bring it from home (e.g. trousers, table, plastic bottle etc..). It would be better if they could look at it and physically touch it.
Each group must have access to a computer and an internet connection.
The demand for each group is to search online for information related to the assigned object, in particular they must focus on the following elements:
- Material extraction: What are the raw materials that make up the object? Where and how are they extracted?
- Manufacturing: How is the object produced? What are the processes?
- Packaging and transportation: How is it packaged and with what materials? Where is it distributed and how?
- Use: Who uses the object? How? For how long?
- End of life: How is the project disposed of at the end of his life?
- Solutions for reuse, repair and recycle the object: find online or think innovative solutions to give new life to the object.
Write the points on a dashboard or print them on a paper for each group.
Third phase (40 - 50 minutes):
Continue working in the same group as the previous activity.Using the PIKTOCHART website, ask each group to make an infographic about what they have searched online. Use one of the templates in Environmental section (Piktochart visual -> Infographics -> Environmental)
The infographics should include the elements found in the previous phase.
Before starting this step, make sure to teach how to use the application.
Fourth phase (20 - 30 minutes):
Each group shows and explains their presentation to the rest of the class.
Finally, you resume the various projects and pull the strings of the speech, reflecting on the importance of raising awareness about the protection of the planet.
Tips
The activity can be carried out during Science and IT lessons. The activity can be split into several days.
The infographics can be printed and hung in class, shared with families or presented to the rest of the school in
events such as Earth Day.
The infographics can be printed and hung in class, shared with families or presented to the rest of the school in
events such as Earth Day.
How to do it online?
The activity can be carried out online following the same steps. Some useful tools for taking note of children's
comments (phase one) may be MindMup or Groupboard.
In the second/third/fourth phases, each child can work independently and create their own infographic and
presentation.
comments (phase one) may be MindMup or Groupboard.
In the second/third/fourth phases, each child can work independently and create their own infographic and
presentation.
Additional materials
About Circular Economy:
Circular Economy: definition & examples | Sustainability Environment
Imagine a Chair | An Animated Explanation of Circular Economy
What is the Circular Economy? | The Kid Should See This
SDGs:
Goal 11 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs
PIKTOCHART Tutorial in ENG:
Piktochart Video #1 - Creating an Infographic
Piktochart Tutorial
Circular Economy: definition & examples | Sustainability Environment
Imagine a Chair | An Animated Explanation of Circular Economy
What is the Circular Economy? | The Kid Should See This
SDGs:
Goal 11 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs
PIKTOCHART Tutorial in ENG:
Piktochart Video #1 - Creating an Infographic
Piktochart Tutorial
Downloadable pdf
To download the exercise in pdf, click the icon below.
Which SDG is mentioned?
1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequality
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships to achieve the Goal
