Earlier this month (March), KS2 pupils from Thomas Russell Junior School in Burton-on-Trent were treated to an interactive aluminium recycling workshop, after student Elsie Burgess (8) took home first place in a national competition.

Organised by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro), the competition saw thousands of primary pupils from all over the UK tasked with designing the graphics for a brand new recycling bin. According to the judges, Elsie’s winning entry brought passion and creativity to the challenge of increasing recycling rates.

As her prize, Elsie’s design has been created and delivered to her school. In addition, her classmates were also treated to a hands-on recycling workshop run by social enterprise Casting Innovations.

Demonstrating the aluminium recycling process in a safe and controlled environment, the workshop saw drink cans melted down and cast into moulds. Each pupil took home a recycled keyring to remind them about the importance of recycling.

Claire Boot, education officer at Alupro, commented: “Educating the next generation is an important part of our work here at the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation and we’re delighted to see the continued impact of the Masters of Infinity programme. We were so impressed with this year’s entries, but Elsie’s design really stood out.”

Mrs Kerr-Delworth, teacher at Thomas Russell Junior School, added: “I came across the Masters of Infinity resources when I was looking for a project for my Climate Changers – an inspirational bunch of year 6 pupils who are passionate about their role in looking after our planet – and was immediately drawn to it.

“The resources are brilliant as they have child-friendly graphics and a theme – beat LandPhil – but the language and facts behind this don’t talk down to children and are incredibly informative and engaging. The Climate Changers led an assembly to introduce the rest of the school to the resources and the competition but next time we will be incorporating the work into our PSHE curriculum time to really do it justice. What a find!”

For more information about our educational resources, visit www.learningaluminium.co.uk.

ENDS