2. How Many TV Sets Are Thrown Away Every Year?

E-waste

Focus Questions

1. Briefly summarise the E-waste story.

2. How many TV sets are thrown away every year?

3. Name some of the nasty chemicals in old TVs.

4. Find out what CRT stands for and describe how the old TVs are different to the TVs on the market today.

5. In your own words, describe why it’s important to recycle old electronics.

6. What is different about the recycling company Aspitech?

7. What are some of the valuable metals found in old TVs?

8. How much of an old TV can be remade into something else?

9. Is there something the government can do to make people recycle? Explain your answer.

10. How has your thinking changed since watching the BtN story?

E-waste

Students will write an information report about e-waste. Begin with a discussion about the issues or facts raised in the BtN story.

Identify what students know

Brainstorm key words and issues associated with e-waste and record students’ comments using a concept map. This is a useful way of connecting ideas and identifying headings for their report. Students may need to research the issue in more detail.

Develop a glossary

Technical or scientific language is often used in reports. Ask students to develop a glossary of special language that they will need to write their report.

Structure of a report

Introduction
The opening statement explains the subject of the report, and includes a definition or short description. Students need to define what e-waste is in the introduction.

Description
The body of the report is a series of paragraphs giving information about the subject. Each paragraph describes a particular fact about the subject. For example how electronic items are recycled, why it’s important to recycle electronics, toxic materials in e-waste, risks to human and environmental health. The paragraph should begin with a topic sentence and is followed by facts that support it.

Conclusion
A summary of what has been said.

Language features

Reports are usually written in the third person.

Present tense is often used.

A formal, factual style is used.

Support students to follow the draft-edit-publish process to produce their reports.

Suggested ways to present their report include:

· PowerPoint presentation

· Published as a brochure

· Oral presentation

8 Related Research Links

Behind the News – TV recycling
http://www.abc.net.au/btn/story/s2584981.htm

ABC News – Landfills `busting at seams’ with e-waste
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-06-05/landfills-busting-at-seams-with-e-waste/855016

Clean Up Australia – e waste fact sheet
http://www.cleanup.org.au/PDF/au/clean-up-australia---e-waste-factsheet-final.pdf

E-waste - Materials found in e-waste
http://www.ewaste.com.au/ewaste-articles/how-the-materials-found-in-ewaste-can-affect-human-health-and-the-environment/