Quick Start Guide

Everything you need to prepare and run your first WeCoExist investigation. Most teachers are ready to begin in less than five minutes.

Get Started

What is WeCoExist?

WeCoExist (WCE) is a smart bin in your classroom with a small sensor under the lid. The sensor measures how full the bin is and sends the reading over the internet to a WeCoExist dashboard your students can view. Your class uses this real data to learn measurement, graphing, averages, percentages and fair testing — while actually reducing the waste they create. You do not need to understand how the sensor or the website works. Every investigation document tells you exactly what to click and what to say.

Smart Bin

A small sensor measures how full your classroom bin is.

Classroom Dashboard

Students enter their device ID to explore current and recent classroom waste data.

Real Learning

Use authentic data to teach measurement, graphs, percentages and sustainability.

What You'll Need

Before your first lesson, gather these four things. Most teachers are ready in less than five minutes.

WCE Smart Bin

A council-style wheelie bin (recommended) with the WCE device installed

Device ID

Your class device ID, written on the device or provided during setup.

Display Screen

An interactive whiteboard or
Projector or classroom screen to show the dashboard.

Worksheets and Tools

Printed worksheets for each student. Investigation 1 also uses rulers, tape measures and calculators.

The Three Investigations

Complete the investigations in order. Each builds on the previous one and requires very little teacher preparation.

How Big Is Our Bin?

Measuring, Volume, Estimation,
Unit conversion

90 minutes
(2 lessons)

How Full Is Our Bin?

Percentages, Graphs, Averages, Prediction

60 minutes +
5 mins next day

Reduce Our Waste Challenge

Students investigate ways to reduce classroom waste and use evidence from the dashboard to measure the impact of their actions.

3 × 45 min over 2–3 weeks

Planning your term

Choose normal school weeks for Investigation 3 — avoid excursions, carnivals, and holidays.
Start daily readings the day the device is installed, so Investigation 2 has its 5 days of data.

Accessing the Dashboard

Students can access their classroom dashboard in four simple steps.

Step 1

Open WCE

Go to the WeCoExist website and open Search Device

Step 2

Enter Device ID

Type the device ID written on your classroom smart bin

Step 3

View Your Bin

See the current fill level and recent waste data.

Step 4

Start Investigating

Use the dashboard alongside the investigation worksheets.

Your First Lesson Checklist

Complete these simple tasks before running your first investigation.

✓ Found my device ID and opened the classroom dashboard

✓ Printed one worksheet for each student

✓ Read the Investigation 1 overview

✓ Emptied the bin

✓ Gathered rulers and tape measures

That's it! You're ready to begin Investigation 1.

Ready to Begin?

Start with Investigation 1 and guide your students through their first WeCoExist activity.