About
Transform everyday food‑waste issues into STEM adventures with our CSIRO resource suite packed with real‑world problem‑solving for Years 5-8. Students are challenged to investigate food-waste through hands‑on experimentation, engineering design and systems thinking, before applying their learning to the circular economy by creating their own school‑based sustainability campaign.
Our teacher guide provides step‑by‑step support, including detailed lesson sequences and assessment opportunities, all aligned to the Scientific Inquiry Continuum. The accompanying classroom presentation guides students through a curriculum‑aligned investigation using the LIA Framework, helping them design, test, analyse, and present innovative packaging solutions. The student workbook transforms lessons into a vibrant STEM lab, complete with planners, investigation templates, testing procedures, reflection tools, and creative prototyping activities.
Together, these resources aim to facilitate scientific and creative thinking, while developing environmental awareness through learning.
Teacher guide
Teacher guide
The teacher guide supports educators to deliver the Food Packaging and Waste topic, including discussion prompts, equipment lists, and activities to extend student learning. All topics are aligned to the Scientific Inquiry Continuum and Australian Curriculum. Use this as a guide when planning lessons and structuring learning across the unit.
Student and teacher resources
Classroom presentation
This classroom-ready presentation supports teachers with clear learning objectives, step‑by‑step inquiry activities, and real‑world sustainability examples from packaging design to circular economy thinking, while encouraging students to design, test, analyse, and present their own solutions. Use it in your classroom to reinforce key ideas through discussion and initiate hands-on learning.
Classroom presentation PowerPoint
Student workbook
This student workbook turns your classroom into a buzzing science lab. Students will explore why fruits and vegetables get bruised, how packaging protects them, and how smart design can reduce food waste. Designed to guide students through questioning, reproducible testing, prototyping, and analysing real data - just like real scientists and engineers do. Everything you need is built-in, including planners, investigation templates, testing procedures, reflection prompts, and engaging hands‑on activities.
The student worksheets have been designed for printing.
Student workbook - accessible version
About
Transform everyday food‑waste issues into STEM adventures with our CSIRO resource suite packed with real‑world problem‑solving for Years 5-8. Students are challenged to investigate food-waste through hands‑on experimentation, engineering design and systems thinking, before applying their learning to the circular economy by creating their own school‑based sustainability campaign.
Our teacher guide provides step‑by‑step support, including detailed lesson sequences and assessment opportunities, all aligned to the Scientific Inquiry Continuum. The accompanying classroom presentation guides students through a curriculum‑aligned investigation using the LIA Framework, helping them design, test, analyse, and present innovative packaging solutions. The student workbook transforms lessons into a vibrant STEM lab, complete with planners, investigation templates, testing procedures, reflection tools, and creative prototyping activities.
Together, these resources aim to facilitate scientific and creative thinking, while developing environmental awareness through learning.
Teacher guide
Teacher guide
The teacher guide supports educators to deliver the Food Packaging and Waste topic, including discussion prompts, equipment lists, and activities to extend student learning. All topics are aligned to the Scientific Inquiry Continuum and Australian Curriculum. Use this as a guide when planning lessons and structuring learning across the unit.
Student and teacher resources
Classroom presentation
This classroom-ready presentation supports teachers with clear learning objectives, step‑by‑step inquiry activities, and real‑world sustainability examples from packaging design to circular economy thinking, while encouraging students to design, test, analyse, and present their own solutions. Use it in your classroom to reinforce key ideas through discussion and initiate hands-on learning.
Classroom presentation PowerPoint PPTX (65 MB)
Student workbook
This student workbook turns your classroom into a buzzing science lab. Students will explore why fruits and vegetables get bruised, how packaging protects them, and how smart design can reduce food waste. Designed to guide students through questioning, reproducible testing, prototyping, and analysing real data - just like real scientists and engineers do. Everything you need is built-in, including planners, investigation templates, testing procedures, reflection prompts, and engaging hands‑on activities.
The student worksheets have been designed for printing.
Student workbook - accessible version TXT (25 KB)