National Recycling Week

Recycling Week writing prompts

Stories and arguments about waste, reuse and second chances.

2 free promptsYears 3–9Printable PDFs

Choose a prompt

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Coming up: 9–15 November 2026. 12 days to go.

The 2 prompts in this pack

Narrative A Second Life An old object is about to be thrown away, until someone finds a completely new use for it. Write a story about the object’s second life.
Persuasive Use Less Plastic? Many plastic items are used once and then thrown away. Choose one plastic item people should use less often, and write to convince the school council that a better replacement is worth the change.

The prompts

Turn a week about recycling into stories of second chances and arguments for smarter habits.

01 Narrative Years 3–9

A Second Life

An old object is about to be thrown away, until someone finds a completely new use for it. Write a story about the object’s second life.

Think about

What was the object used for before?
Who finds a new use for it, and what is it?
How does its new life lead to an adventure or solve a problem?

Prompt page

Support: Choose an everyday object and list three surprising new jobs it could do.
Extend: Tell part of the story from the object’s point of view.

02 Persuasive Years 3–9

Use Less Plastic?

Many plastic items are used once and then thrown away. Choose one plastic item people should use less often, and write to convince the school council that a better replacement is worth the change.

Think about

Which plastic item will you choose, and where is it used?
What could replace it, and how practical is that?
Who would need to change their habits, and how would you convince them?

Prompt page

Support: Brainstorm plastic items used in a school day, then choose the one you can say the most about.
Extend: Acknowledge a cost or inconvenience of your replacement and explain why it is still worthwhile.

Original Writing Boost resources, created independently of the event organisers. Print and share with your class.

In the classroom

Follow an object through a change in a story, or argue for one practical change.

A lesson for any of the prompts, a step at a time.

Look again

Bring in an everyday object that usually ends up in the bin. Ask students what else it could become and who might use it.
Choose a way in

For a narrative, follow the object into its second life. For persuasion, choose one plastic item and a realistic replacement for it.
Make it believable

Ask students to test one detail with a partner: does the new use make sense in the story, and would the replacement really work at school or at home?

From the blog Give writing a second life in National Recycling Week Use everyday objects to spark stories about second chances and persuasive writing about smarter habits.

After they write

Writing Boost marks what they write

Each student gets feedback on their draft, and you see patterns across the class.

Feedback they can act on NAPLAN criterion scores come with advice about the piece: what is working and a clear next step.
Revise the next draft Feedback stays beside the writing. Students revisit a passage and compare versions.
Plan the next lesson See patterns across your class and group students with a shared need for focused teaching.