The Waste Management License is a learning opportunity for pupils in grade 5 and 6 that takes them on a playful journey into the world of waste. At three interactive stations, children work on the topics of waste separation, recycling and upcycling - an easy-to-implement concept that supports teachers in their lessons and sensitizes pupils to the sustainable use of resources.

The content is based on the BNT-education plan (biology, nature occurrences & technology) in Baden-Württemberg (Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, 2016). The aim is to give children a practical and tangible approach to these important topics for the future, such as sustainable consumption, waste pollution and much more.

The stations follow the didactic-methodical concept of the teaching-learning-stations of our student labs “MINT Bewegt Nachhaltig” (engl.: STEM Moves Sustainably) and “MINT in Bewegung” (engl.: STEM in Motion). They include a comprehensive elaboration (incl. factual analysis, material list, methodical-didactical considerations, process plan and further literature), assembly instructions, station- and worksheets as well as solution cards (cf. Wagner & Neher-Asylbekov, 2023). Each station is designed so that it can be completed in 20 - 30 minutes, ideally in groups of 3 or 4. In order to implement the learning circle for whole classes, the stations can be set up twice. For internal differentiation, the search puzzle and a crossword puzzle are available as additional materials to bridge any waiting times for faster and higher-performing pupils (Stübig, 2004). At the end of the learning circle, after the children have completed two or three stations, they receive a waste management license in recognition of their newly acquired knowledge (template to print out yourself below). On the back of the license, the children have the opportunity to reflect on their own waste behavior and note down specific improvements. In this way, the children themselves become little "change agents" and can now actively help shape their environment. We also recommend appropriate preparation and follow-up of the waste management license with a joint reflection on the learning progress in class (Erhorn & Schwier, 2016).