Environmental Programs for Schools
Council funds a range of engaging environmental workshops and activities for schools and childcare facilities in the City of Maribyrnong.
Students will learn about actions that we can all take to avoid waste, care for our waterways and reduce our impact on the climate.
A list of activities and workshops are provided below, including recommended year levels.
Booking applications can be made directly with CERES via the link provided in the workshop dropdown tabs below.
Programs and bookings
To make a booking you must select a minimum of two 45 minute workshops from the list below. These workshops can run as back-to-back sessions for different classes.
You will need to provide three dates to ensure your booking can be secured on an appropriate date.
Towards Zero Waste
Program overview
Join our expert educators on a journey towards zero waste where students will explore the impacts of waste, discover solutions to reduce waste and demonstrate ways to turn waste into a valuable resource. Our educators will guide students through problem solving and action planning to create change within their school community and explore solutions to move towards zero waste at school or home.
Through this interactive incursion your students will:
Years F – 2
- Find out how human activity contributes to waste pollution
- Explore the 6R’s and you can engage with them day to day
- Discover and engage with a range of exciting and creative waste solutions
- Explore CERES’ waste recovery systems that are inspired by natures cycles
Years 3 – 10
- Find out how human activity contributes to waste pollution
- Explore the concepts of ‘Take, Make, Dispose’ (linear economy) and circular economies
- Discover and engage with a range of exciting and creative waste solutions (resource economy)
- Explore CERES’ waste recovery systems that are inspired by natures cycles
You’ll receive a school teacher guide, including instructions for optional activities to do before and after the CERES incursion to get your students thinking, discussing and actively contributing to a world that is environmentally sustainable for all living creatures.
Session length
45 minutes
Recommended year level
Prep - Year 10
Maximum number of participants
30 students.
Make a booking
Caring for Climate
Program overview
Join our expert educators to understand the connection between energy production and climate change. Students will discover how electricity is generated, understand the impacts it has on climate change and the important role renewable energy plays, and discuss political and social solutions (systems change) to increase agency and empowerment in students. Our educators will guide students through problem solving and action planning to create change within their school community and explore solutions to create change at school or home.
Through a variety of hands on activities your students will:
Years 3 – 10
- Find out how human activity is impacting the earth’s atmosphere
- Discover and engage with a range of innovative solutions to mitigate climate change
- Learn about the different types of atmospheric pollutants
- Feel empowered to make positive long-lasting change
You’ll receive a school teacher guide, including instructions for optional activities to do before and after the CERES incursion to get your students thinking, discussing and actively contributing to a world that is environmentally sustainable for all living creatures.
Session length
45 minutes
Recommended year level
Grade 3 - Year 10
Maximum number of participants
30 students.
Make a booking
Farming for our Future
Program overview
Join our expert educators and explore the concepts of organic urban gardening. Discover where food comes from and how organic food systems connect to a healthy self, community and planet, and investigate the wondrous relationship between bees, bugs and soil. Our educators will guide students through problem solving and action planning to create change within their school community and explore solutions to increase local food production at school or home.
Through this interactive incursion your students will:
Years F-2
- Find out where food comes from
- Discover the wonderful world of bees, bugs and healthy soil
- Learn about plant lifecycles and how to grow and care for plant
Years 3 – 10
- Find out how industrial farming negatively impacts our landscape and wildlife
- Discover organic and Indigenous farming practices
- Learn about the key elements involved in regenerative farming practices
You’ll receive a school teacher guide, including instructions for optional activities to do before and after the CERES incursion to get your students thinking, discussing and actively contributing to a world that is environmentally sustainable for all living creatures.
Session length
45 minutes
Recommended year level
Prep to year 10.
Maximum number of participants
30 students.
Make a booking
Water Cycles and Solutions
Program overview
Hosted by expert educators, your students will deepen their understanding of the importance of water in our lives and the systems in place for it to flow through our taps, rivers and oceans. Students will take an in-depth dive into the water cycle and its human connection, investigate the issues that face water conservation, and explore potential solutions.
Through this interactive incursion your students will:
Years 3 – 10
- understand the value and state of freshwater resources in the world
- identify the differences and issues behind natural & urban water cycles
- learn about sustainable urban water solutions like Water Sensitive Urban Design and water recycling
- investigate surface and groundwater problems and potential solutions
You’ll receive a school teacher guide, including instructions for optional activities to do before and after the CERES incursion to get your students thinking, discussing and actively contributing to a world that is environmentally sustainable for all living creatures.
Session length
45 minutes
Recommended year level
Grade 3 - Year 10 students.
Maximum number of participants
30 students.
Make a booking
Student Environment Leadership Program - Waste
Program overview
This full day workshop is perfect for green teams or single classes of up to 30 students.
Focusing on their own school grounds, students will conduct a waste audit to assess the amount of waste that is produced every day across the school, identify waste hot spots, and determine where the waste is going.
Using this data students will evaluate the school and come up with practical goals and strategies to improve sustainability and waste management across the school.
Session length
1 full day.
Recommended year level
Grade 6 to Year 12 students.
Maximum number of participants
30 students.
Make a booking
Explore the world of worms, mini-beasts and waterways (preschool)
Program overview
Hosted by expert educators, this engaging hands-on session is designed for preschool children to learn about the world of worms, mini beasts and waterways through nature-play.
Session length
45 minutes
Recommended year level
Preschool students
Maximum number of participants
30 students.
Make a booking
Recycling with Mondo - Textile recycling and fundraising program
Recycle With Mondo is a free textile recycling and fundraising program for primary school students. Schools that collect old clothing, textiles and electronic items can receive a payment per kilogram, with items collected by Southern Cross Recycling.
Schools can select Designated Collection Days or opt to have Clothing Drop-Off Hubs installed at the school. Collection Days earn .25c per kilo of items collected and Drop-Off Hubs earn .10c per kilo of items collected.
In addition to collections, schools can also book educational talks, and students are provided with Sustainability Calculators so that they can track the real-time impact their efforts are achieving in waste, water, energy and greenhouse gas savings.
Find out more about the program.
School Sustainability Resources
Below you will find presentations and lesson plans which are free to download. Select your topic of interest to find out more about each of the environmental issues.
Waste
Presentation
This presentation is perfect for foundation to grade 6 students and covers a range of key student learning outcomes.
Key student learning outcomes
- Learning key terms related to water and the water cycle
- Understanding why it's important to save water
- Making a connection between reducing litter and healthy waterways
- Understanding where our water comes from and ends up
- Thinking of solutions to reduce water use at home.
Related Information
Biodiversity
Presentation
An ideal presentation for foundation to grade 6 students which covers a range of key student learning outcomes.
Key student learning outcomes
- Basic understanding of the variety of life on Earth
- Identifying that difference plants and animals have different needs for survival
- Identifying that plants and animals rely on each other and their environment for survival
- Understanding the impact of our behaviour on the environment and biodiversity.
- Understanding that plants and animals come from different places, and the difference between native, indigenous and exotic plants.
Related Information
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