Plastic Planet Quiz

Articles/Websites

Grades8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Civics

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by EARTHDAY.ORG

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What it is

This interactive quiz gauges your understanding of plastic waste accumulation worldwide, how it damages the environment and biodiversity, and how various governments are reducing plastic waste within their jurisdiction.
Students will answer nine multiple-choice questions and receive feedback, explanations, and information on global plastic waste.

Teaching tips

Positives

The quiz is easy to navigate, and students can complete it within a class period.
The quiz challenges students to think about recycling in a more nuanced way.

Additional Prerequisites

It may benefit students to have an intermediate knowledge of mountain ranges and their ecological importance.
It may be helpful if students already know about plastic waste in our oceans.

Differentiation

This resource pairs well with the Plastic Pollution Quiz.
Students can investigate how various environmental organizations have fought to reduce plastic waste and local efforts to reduce plastic use or pollution.
This quiz can support a lesson on the impact of plastic waste on aquatic life and how these animals have adapted to changes in the ocean's composition.
Teachers can use the source articles linked in the explanations for the answers to create a lesson about plastic waste and then use the quiz as an assessment.

From the scientist review

This resource from earthday.org is an interactive quiz about global plastic pollution. The quiz gives a short answer to each question and links sources for each to facilitate further study. This resource is exceptionally well-sourced, with many sources from the UN or NOAA, and a peer-reviewed article is linked. The quiz uses clear language and features photos that juxtapose natural beauty with widespread plastic pollution. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Subjects: Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Civics
Other types: Data, Graphs, and Maps, Assessments, Interactive Media
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: EARTHDAY.ORG
Authors: EARTHDAY.ORG
Published: January 30, 2024
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · D2.Civ.5.9-12 + 6 more

Core

College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards

D2.Civ.5.9-12Evaluate citizens' and institutions' effectiveness in addressing social and political problems at the local, state, tribal, national, and/or international level.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.11-12.10By the end of grade 11, read and comprehend literary nonfiction in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

MS-ESS3-4.Construct an argument supported by evidence for how increases in human population and per-capita consumption of natural resources impact Earth's systems.
HS-LS2-7.Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

Wisconsin Climate Education Hub

English Language Arts

R.11-12.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases, including figurative and connotative meanings. Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning, tone, and mood, including words with multiple meanings. Analyze how an author uses and refines the meaning of technical or key term(s) over the course of a text. (RI&RL)

Science

HS-LS2-6.Evaluate the claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Social Studies

SS.PS3.d.mAnalyze how governments address and solve problems through the public policy process.

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Teaching tips

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