Activity

1. Ask the class about littering E.g. why do some people do it? Why is it important not to litter? What can you do about littering alone or in groups?
2. Introduce the idea of individual change versus working together. Which do they think is more effective and why?
3. Put a line of tape across the classroom on the floor (the hall or playground may be better for this). Ask for 2 volunteers to come to the front of the classroom. Explain that they need to work together to cross the line at exactly the same time. They need to communicate to do this. If they don’t cross at the same time, they have to go back and start again.
4. Ask the whole class (or a large group depending on size of space) to come up to the line and communicate so that they cross at the same time. Was this more challenging?
5. Reflect with them about how important it is that they work together and how this relates to littering and the environment. What happens if some people don’t cross at the same time? Explore with them that only by working together are we able to accomplish our goals for the environment.

Reflection

• What happens if not everybody picks up their litter?

• What happened when we worked together as a team to achieve our goals?

• Was it difficult?

• Did you need to help each other?

Go Further

Explore the idea of picking up other people’s litter, even when you haven’t dropped it. How can making these small changes help on a bigger scale? Look at some ideas on a computer about community litter pickers and how they help.

Inquisitive: Cooperating Appropriately

Students can only achieve their goal by communicating effectively to coordinate their actions. When they work together, they can accomplish their task. Students consider how working together fixes problems.