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Exploring the benefits of aluminium can recycling across the curriculum

The aluminium drink can is an ideal ‘real world’ example for teachers across a range of subjects, and at all stages of the National Curriculum.

Recycling is a habit that we all need to get into if the UK is going to reduce the amount of waste we generate and manage our impact on the environment effectively. It is getting easier to recycle and the Government is funding national and local initiatives to encourage people to recycle more.

About Novelis Recycling
Thinkcans.com is the consumer information website of Novelis Recycling.

Novelis is the world’s leading producer of aluminium rolled products, supplying sheet aluminium for customers in a wide range of industries including transportation, construction and packaging. The company is the global leader in aluminium can recycling, reprocessing over 30 billion used aluminium drink cans every year. The company has operations in 12 countries and employs over 13,500 people.

In the UK Novelis operates Europe’s only dedicated aluminium can recycling plant. Here used cans are melted down and cast into ingots, which are used in the manufacture of ‘new’ drink cans.
 

Novelis Recycling (formerly Alcan Aluminium Can Recycling) has been the driving force in the development of the UK’s aluminium packaging recycling infrastructure. The company works with a wide range of suppliers, including waste management companies, local authorities and scrap metal merchants and is actively involved in national and regional programmes on consumer education. Novelis Recycling believes that educating ‘tomorrow’s recyclers’ is the key to achieving the cultural step-change needed to drive up recycling rates and contribute towards the development of a more sustainable future.

It’s more than a citizenship issue…

Whether you are considering the properties of materials, the design aspects of different types of package or investigating the development of the UK’s recycling industry – using the aluminium drink can as an example it becomes possible to bring the subjects alive.

Add to this the fact that cans are 100% recyclable in a closed loop and the process has obvious environmental benefits – not least saving energy and raw materials and the subject has deeper relevance to pupils’ every day lives.

Bringing a wide range of curriculum areas and topics alive:
Thinkcans.com currently offers a range of activities for Key Stages 1 and 2, together with full supporting notes and downloadable materials, and advice on adapting them for classroom, along with suggestions for extending the range of the topic.
 

In addition there are audio-visual and interactive resources: The Loop – the lifecycle of an aluminium drink can, featuring the six stages of the loop - including footage of the Novelis can recycling plant - with video and audio soundtrack. Interactive games – ‘Alive or Not?’ and ‘I CAN recycle’ are suitable for a classroom activity and independent work by children in Key Stages 1 and 2.

Other features

• Our friendly robot ‘L00P’ to guide children through the activities.

• Information for parents, including a dedicated parents’ area explaining how they can support their child’s learning.

• Access to regular updates and information about support activities through our e-zine.

Future plans
Resources for secondary schools are currently under development and will focus on investigating what makes the recycling loop work. As well as geography, science, design technology and citizenship the new resources will cover additional subject areas, including business studies and media studies.

We are investing heavily in our new education resources and want them to be as relevant and useful as possible for teachers in primary and secondary schools. We plan to offer INSET-based training and a programme of events to ensure that the information we provide meets teachers and pupils needs. Teachers can share their feedback and register to receive updates, e-zines and information on events through the website.

For more information on our resources for schools:
www.thinkcans.com

For information on Novelis Inc.
www.novelis.com

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Interactive games

You can use the ‘Alive or Not’ and ‘I CAN recycle’ games as classroom activities, to introduce the topic or summarise the areas covered. Children can also play the games independently.

Alive or Not: To help children realise the importance of scientific grouping and categorisation.
Can be extended to include life processes and living objects, which can be contrasted with objects which were never alive and whose usage is sometimes limited, unless they can be recycled.

I CAN recycle: A natural extension of ‘Alive or Not’. Encourages consideration of the properties of the ‘non-alive’ objects, the materials they are made from and the potential for recycling / re-use.

 

Activity Sheets Investigating Packaging Exploring the properties of materials used for packaging food and other products in the home How Heavy Is It? Investigating the weights of different containers Is it Magnetic? Investigating the magnetic properties of different materials Where do Things Come From? Finding out why different materials are used for different products at school or home Information Sheet Useful information sheet for children on aluminium and recycling. Could be used for a comprehension exercise.

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