Resources for schools
Education resources for schools
The topic of waste prevention offers diverse learning opportunities, ranging from minibeasts to climate change; from product design to growing and preparing food.
We have put together a selection of existing waste prevention education resources to support learning in schools. Let us know if you have any suggestions to add.
Primary age resources
Food waste
Taste It, Don't Waste It: Education resources on the topic of food waste
Key Stage 2 lesson plans designed to fit into a half term from WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action Programme).
Food and Agricultural Organisation (UN): Do Good, Save Food
Teaching guides for different ages, including two core lessons and follow-up activities aimed at reducing food waste.
A waste-focused look at the how we grow, cook and prepare our food. Includes composting and packaging.
Hampshire Recycles Food Waste Toolkit - Intro Pack
Lesson 1 Pack - What's in food waste
Lesson 2 Pack - How can we reduce food waste
Lesson 3 Pack - Growing your own food and composting
Hampshire Recycles Food Waste Toolkit Key Stage 1 lesson plans on food life cycles, reducing food waste and composting.
Composting
Guides and activities for four hands-on sessions looking at soil, the compost lifecycle and worms.
Composting for schoolsA guide from the RHS on how schools can set up their own compost bins on site.
KS2 Lesson Plan on how compost is madeAn interactive lesson guide where students can perform experiments over several weeks to learn about decomposition. Best suited to Year 4.
KS1: Save the scrapsAn animation from author Bethany Stahl to introduce the concept of composting to younger children.
An animation from WRAP (The Waste and Resources Action programme) on how compost is made.
Waste Awareness, Prevention and Reuse
Presentations and activities which encourage pupils to think about the value of materials and to consider waste prevention and reuse ahead of recycling.
Resource use and design
Ellen MacArthur Foundation: How we make stuff
Downloadable activities exploring how products are currently made and asking whether there could be a better way.
Primary age books available from Hampshire libraries
The Rubbish Monster Thing, Simon Chadwick, 2018
A rhyming story about the actions we can all take to reduce our waste. This book was supported by the Waste Prevention Community Grant Fund.
Yucky Worms, Vivian French, 2015
A closer look at worms and the important role they play in creating compost and aerating the soil.
Zero Waste Kids, Kathryn Kellogg, 2020
30 achievable child-friendly challenges to reduce waste.
Compost stew: an A to Z recipe for the Earth, Mary McKenna Siddals and Ashley Wolff, 2010
A rhyming picture book introducing children to composting.
I can reduce waste, Martha E.H. Rustad, 2020
30 achievable child-friendly challenges to reduce waste.
Secondary age resources
Food waste
Love Food Hate Waste: Powerpoint for assemblies and food waste diary
The presentation can be personalised with your own school information. The diary allows pupils to track their food waste before taking action to reduce it.
Food and Agricultural Organisation (UN) Do Good, Save Food
Teaching guides for different ages, including two core lessons and follow-up activities aimed at reducing food waste.
Waste Awareness, Prevention and Reuse
Presentations and activities which encourage pupils to think about the value of materials and to consider waste prevention and reuse ahead of recycling.
Resource use and design
Ellen MacArthur Foundation: How we make stuff
Downloadable activities exploring how products are currently made and asking whether there could be a better way.
Secondary age books available from Hampshire libraries
Six weeks to zero waste: a simple plan for life, Kate Arnell, 2020
A six week challenge for older pupils and adults.
The True Cost of Technology: How to Shop to Change the World, Mary Colson, 2014
A closer look behind the resources that are needed to build the technology we use every day.
A Teen Guide to Eco Fashion, Liz Gogerly, 2013
This book covers sourcing eco-friendly fashion as well as reuse, repair, recycling and maintaining the life of our clothes.
This Book is Not Rubbish: 50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Rubbish and Save the World! Isabel Thomas and Alex Paterson, 2018
50 tips to reduce waste and live a more sustainable lifestyle.
My zero-waste kitchen, Kate Turner, Ruth O’Rourke-Jones and Will Heap, 2017
As well as recipes, this includes tips for shopping, meal planning and storing food.