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

Study Guide Episode 7

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SynopsisIn this episode of Project Planet we learn all about sustainable practices in gardening, grocery shopping and saving water. From ‘nude food’ to ‘insect hotels’ to ‘the big bad packaging wolf’, this episode of Project Planet is full of surprises. Follow our students from all around Australia as they continue to pursue protecting and sustaining this beautiful planet called Earth.

Challenge Theme: Nude FoodThe challenge theme in this episode is all about Nude Food. Nude Food is simply food that is not wrapped in foil, plastic, or commercial packaging.

Over time, the way we buy and package food has changed significantly. When our grandparents went food shopping, the butcher and deli and fruit shop would wrap the food in brown paper, not plastic. Leftovers were taken for lunch the next day in reusable containers, not in plastic wrap. What about milk and soft drinks? They were packaged in reusable glass bottles! (Just ask your granny or grandpa about leaving the empty milk bottles by the front door each night to be collected in the morning!)

Reducing the amount of plastic we use globally is essential for our planet and for the generations to come. One of the first ways we can start is in our homes with the food we buy and the meals we make.

Relevant Links & ResourcesCompanion Planting http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/good-companions/9433728

Sustainable Gardening Australia https://www.sgaonline.org.au/edible-gardening/veggie-patch/

Waste Free Lunches http://www.wastefreelunches.org/

31 Day Zero Waste Challenge For Kids https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/31-day-zero-waste-challenge-for-kids

Wipe Out Waste – BTN http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s4667338.htm

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

Before• What is an expert? When might you need an expert?• What is sustainable gardening?• What things could you re-use for planting seeds and plants?

During• How did the students at Berry Springs solve the problem with their solar powered drip irrigation system?• Why is companion planting important?• What are the benefits of the ‘insect hotels’ that Carla, the Garden Guru, introduced into the garden at Fremantle College?

After• What changes occurred in the amount of rubbish generated at Berry Springs after the launch of Waste Free Wednesday?• How did the experts’ advice (Carla, Garden Guru; Dr Jeremy, Super Scientist) help the students continue with their missions?

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

Vocabulary:• expert• sustainable gardening• companion planting• insect hotel• soft plastic• nude food

Important Facts:• “Insect Hotels” provide temporary accommodation for beneficial insects that will help pollinate the garden and drive bad bugs away

• Times have changed:

• Butchers, delicatessens, fruit shops and fishmongers used to wrap food in brown paper, not plastic.• Leftover dinners were taken for lunch the next day in reusable containers, not plastic wrap.• Milk and soft drinks used to come in reusable glass bottles.• Dried fruit and nuts came in bulk and we would put them in a paper bag, not a plastic one.• Fresh fruit and vegetables were grown locally and taken home in reusable bags, not single use plastic bags.

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.

SelfWhat kinds of plant scraps did the Fremantle students use to grow new plants?

PartnerHow could you launch a “Waste Free Wednesday” idea at your school? What steps would you take to ensure its success?

GroupCarla Weir, the Garden Guru, gave the students at Fremantle College an ‘interesting’ gift. It was a kind of ‘hotel’. What was it and why is in important in a sustainable garden?

ClassOn the first Waste Free Wednesday, the Waste Warriors at Berry Springs Primary School did a lunch box audit. Max commented, “We had some pretty good lunch boxes, some great lunch boxes, and some terrible lunch boxes.” What did Max mean by this?

“We had some pretty good lunchboxes, some great lunch boxes, and some terrible lunch boxes.”

Max, Waste Warrior, Berry Springs Primary School

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

Activate #1 – Soft Plastic RecyclingSoft plastics are any plastics that can be easily squashed in to small ball or can be broken by hand when crushed. These include chips, biscuit, bread and lolly packets.

By recycling soft plastics, you can reduce even more the amount of landfill you, your family, your school and your community creates.

Research the soft recycling services available in your local area and ask these questions:

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 – Nude Food & No Packaging LunchesChallenge: The team at Fremantle College were given a challenge to buy a week’s worth of food for their school lunches with no packaging at all.

So, the challenge is yours: take an adult shopping with you, to see if you can purchase everything you need for your lunches without buying any packaging at all. Remember to take your own bags and reusable containers with you. Tea-towels are also great for wrapping bread or other delicate fruits and vegetables.

Activate 3 – Tips and Hacks To Start TODAYJenny shared lots of tips to pack school lunches with no packaging or plastics.

Jenny’s tips and hacks were:• Put your sandwich in a reusable container.• Use a bees wax wrap to keep your food extra fresh.• Use a lunch box with sections to keep your snacks separate and fresh.• Buy in bulk and take a small serving in your reusable lunch box.• Make your own snacks from nude ingredients.• Remember a reusable drink bottle.

“There are places that recycle soft plastics so they don’t go to landfill.

Jayden, Waste Warrior, Berry Springs Primary

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

Subject: Media Studies Article: Teaching Sustainability In Australian Schools

Link:

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/teaching-sustainability-in-australian-schools-who-s-missing-out

This news article discusses the introduction of Sustainability as one of the three Cross Curriculum Priorities in the Australian Curriculum.

Read this article and discuss the following questions:

• What attitude do students have towards living sustainably?• What attitude do teachers have towards teaching sustainability?• What are schools doing to be environmentally aware and active?• What influence do teachers have in teaching and modeling sustainable living practices?• What changes could be made to help teachers, students, and school communities partner together more effectively around sustainability?

Science: Make Your Own Drip IrrigatorThis step-by-step set of instructions from Wikihow shows you how to make your very own Drip Irrigator by reusing an old plastic bottle. This can be used in your own garden at home or in your school.

Link:

https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Drip-Irrigator-from-a-Plastic-Bottle

In this article, we read about a 16 year old Aussie girl who has invented a solar powered device to produce clean drinking water. Describe the process she used to make her device and discuss the way in which others’ lives will be helped by this invention.

Art & SustainabilityWashed Ashore is a non-profit community that collects plastic pollution from the ocean and repurposes it into powerful artworks in order to educate the community about the ever-increasing amount of plastic mounting up in our waterways.

Explore the artworks created by Founder and Artist Angela Hasseltine Possi and identify the ways in which her artworks are raising awareness about the impact of plastic pollution.

Link:

https://washedashore.org/

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Seek Expert HelpThroughout the journey of Project Planet, the students in each school have sought out and willingly accepted the help of experts – people who are very knowledgeable about and skillful in a certain area. In this episode, Max from Berry Springs Primary School comments on the importance of seeking help from people outside of your school. He said,

Seeking expert help is an important part living sustainably in your own life, household school and community.

Research and compile a list of people you could involve in your sustainability journey. Who, specifically, can help your school start and continue ways to save our planet? What teachers and/or parents could you invite to be involved? Who is influential in the community that could lend their expert advice?

Name Contact Details Expert/Skills Area Questions To Ask

Worksheet

“I know Dr Jeremy, he can help us.”Max, Waste Warrior, Berry Springs Primary School

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Questions For ThoughtLawrence, our Project Planet Champion, made some insightful comments in this episode about plastic, packaging and nude food. Read his words of wisdom below and respond to each one.

One“Then came along the big bad wolf, dressing up our nude food in packaging, most of it plastic.” Lawrence, Project Planet Champion

Why did Lawrence refer to plastic packaging as ‘the big bad wolf?

Two“Our convenience culture means we wrap everything up with plastic.” Lawrence, Project Planet Champion’

What did Lawrence mean by ‘convenience culture’? In what other ways is our convenience culture damaging our planet?

Three“Bye-bye packaging and hello nude food!” Lawrence, Project Planet Champion

Explain Lawrence’s statement above then list some examples of nude food you can bring in your lunch each day.

Worksheet