Today's Trash is Tomorrow's Problem
Activity - Classroom
Grades3-12Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation
What it is
- In this activity, students will learn what happens to plastic waste after they throw it away and why it is a huge problem for people and the planet.
- Students will collect plastic items from their backpacks, watch a short video about the plastic life cycle, read how a plastic bottle travels from Houston to the Gulf of Mexico, and discuss how they can reduce plastic waste.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This activity helps students differentiate between single-use plastics and multi-use plastics.
- The video helps students see how the production of plastic is harmful to the environment and society.
Additional Prerequisites
- The video is 4 minutes and 16 seconds long.
- For the "Journey of a Plastic Bottle" story, teachers should click the "Slideshow" button in order to get the full effect.
- To read the explainer for background information, readers must enter their email.
Differentiation
- Before participating in this activity, students can research the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.
- This activity can fit within a larger unit on waste management in the United States, how it has changed over the years, and why waste management is an important environmental issue.
- After viewing the "Journey of a Plastic Bottle" story, students can take a walk and safely collect litter in their environment.
- The animated video can enhance a lesson on environmental racism in the United States.
- After students learn about incineration's environmental impacts, they can research the effect of poor air quality on health.
From the scientist review
This activity informs students about plastic pollution and tasks them with understanding the lifecycle of plastics in their lives. Several excellent sources are linked, notably a Google Earth slideshow that tracks a discarded bottle from a Houston park to the Gulf of Mexico. The resource is well-sourced, and effective recycling is stressed. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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