Learning in Action

What happens to a tennis ball or camera after you’re done using it? This question has plagued the minds of many, especially in our era of reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Ms. Collis’s Grade 5 class took on the tall task of investigating the complete life cycle of certain products to understand how following the three Rs can make a positive impact on our environment.

Students picked a product that fascinated them and researched how their product is made, used, and recycled or repurposed. With two weeks to research and build their visual displays, the students expanded their knowledge on the lifespan of everyday products they’ve seen, touched, or used.

“The goal was for them to see each stage of their product and understand how changing states can affect the products we use,” explains Ms. Collis, Grade 5 core teacher.

With an unlimited choice of products, each student chose drastically different objects to research. Cadence decided to explore the ball that makes tennis possible. With a passion for the sport, she wanted to know what happens to a worn-out tennis ball as well as the packaging it came in.

“The canister includes plastic, metal, and the cap, which are all recyclable. Once tennis balls become dead, meaning they don’t bounce well, we can reuse them for other things, such as drying our laundry and using them as foot massagers. These balls can be used in many ways when they get old,” she says.

Her project includes an interactive component. Cadence glued a tennis ball package to Bristol board and placed a tennis ball inside, turning the packaging and the used ball into a game her classmates could play. It’s her favourite part of the project.

“I like that I added a bottle so that with a tennis ball you can use it to play a game and throw the tennis ball into the bottle,” she says, demonstrating how it works.

Bouncing from sports to technology, Lauren chose to explore the inner workings of a camera. She researched the complexities of its parts and the best methods for recycling it. Her appreciation for the camera grew as she studied it.

“I chose a camera because I found it really interesting that there are so many different pieces to it, but they can all work together and create an image or video that you can post or send socially or physically,” Lauren says.

As she delved into the best way to recycle a camera, Lauren was fascinated by how each component plays a crucial role in the product’s function. She learned that recycling a camera is challenging due to its numerous parts, which must be carefully separated and processed.

“I learned that the camera is just not one whole piece with the circuits and electricity boards. There are components like the image finder, the lens, and the different buttons. It’s so individually made and hand-crafted; when you look inside it, it’s so beautiful and interesting to explore,” Lauren says.

 

Lauren discovered that cameras require proper disposal at specialized facilities to prevent environmental damage. “A camera can’t be thrown in the trash, so it must be brought to an e-waste facility, which is an eco-friendly waste recycler so that the parts can be reused. It is sorted by plastic and metal, and the circuits are separated from each other. If a camera can’t be disposed of properly, it will have a horrible impact on the environment. For example, it can leak toxic substances that could impact the health of wildlife,” she explains.

Cadence and Lauren found interesting ways to recycle or repurpose their products for the betterment of the environment and unearthed an appreciation for their subject matter. While it’s uncertain if Cadence will one day use a tennis ball as a foot massager or if Lauren will delve into camera work, they have certainly developed a healthy habit. This new perspective will enable them to alloy their recycling and repurposing skills to many products they encounter in the future.