Alexei Volkov
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects our planet, and it is important that children are educated on this topic from a young age. There are many ways to teach children about plastic pollution and degradation, and how they can make a difference. This can be done through fun, hands-on activities, such as turning a walk in the park into a scavenger hunt for common plastic items, or making a musical instrument out of plastic rubbish. There are also books and videos that can help children learn about plastic pollution in an engaging way.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age group | 11–14 years |
| Activity type | Science lesson |
| Activity duration | Fixed time |
| Materials | Plastic bags, bioplastics, potatoes, knives, borers, gloves, containers |
| Safety considerations | Adult supervision, proper waste disposal, online safety |
| Learning objectives | Plastic degradation, scientific observation, environmental awareness |
| Additional resources | Videos, books, online information |
| Variations | Scavenger hunts, plastic-free challenges, upcycling, music |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic decomposition experiment
Preparing the Materials
First, you will need to gather the materials for the experiment. For this activity, you will require a borer, plastic bags or plastic carrier bags, bioplastic, a potato, and various tools to change the environment, such as a radiator, tape, and compost.
Setting Up the Experiment
Using the borer, remove four cylinders of potato, ensuring they are all of the same length. Cut four squares of the plastic carrier bag and bioplastic, aiming for the same size as the potato cylinders (e.g., 1 cm by 1 cm). Place each potato cylinder into a separate container, and add a plastic carrier bag and bioplastic square to each container.
Creating Different Environments
Now, you will create different environments for each container to observe how the plastic decomposes under varying conditions. You can manipulate factors such as temperature, oxygen availability, and moisture. For instance, place one container near a radiator to increase the temperature, tape one closed to reduce oxygen levels, or put one under compost to change multiple conditions simultaneously.
Observing the Results
After leaving the samples for a fixed period, return to your containers and make your observations. Note any changes in the plastic and potato cylinders. Compare the decomposition between the different types of plastic and the varying conditions.
Extrapolating and Learning
Based on your observations, discuss the differences in decomposition rates and the impact of the environment. Extrapolate your findings to predict how long it would take for the different types of plastic to completely decompose. This activity can spark a conversation about the environmental impact of plastic and the importance of recycling, biodegradability, and reducing plastic waste.
Remember to dispose of the samples appropriately after the activity and ensure adult supervision throughout the experiment, especially when handling knives or borers, and when dealing with rotten potatoes.
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Plastic waste scavenger hunt
Plastic waste is a huge problem, and teaching kids about it can be challenging. Here is a detailed plan for a "Plastic Waste Scavenger Hunt" activity, which can be adapted for different age groups. This activity will help children learn about plastic pollution, its impact, and ways to reduce, recycle, and reuse plastic waste.
Preparation:
- This activity can be done at home, in a park, or on a beach. If done outdoors, ensure the location has plastic waste that can be collected.
- Prepare a list of items for the children to find. This could include different types of plastic waste, such as plastic bags, bottles, bottle caps, yogurt pots, straws, packaging, etc.
- You can also include non-plastic items like paper bags, cardboard boxes, and metal cans to teach children about recycling a variety of materials.
- For younger children, provide pictures of the items instead of a written list.
- For older children, you can assign a time limit, such as 30 minutes, to make the activity more challenging.
Activity:
- Divide the children into teams of 2-4 members each.
- Provide each team with a list of items to find and explain the rules.
- Emphasize the importance of working together and staying safe during the hunt.
- Equip the children with gloves and eco-friendly trash bags to collect the waste.
- Optional: For added fun, provide superhero capes and turn the activity into a "Save the Earth" mission, where each child is a superhero working to protect the planet!
Discussion:
- After the scavenger hunt, gather the children and discuss the activity.
- Count the number of plastic items collected and talk about the impact of plastic waste on the environment.
- Highlight how plastic can take hundreds of years to break down and the importance of reducing, recycling, and reusing plastic.
- Discuss the different types of plastic waste found and brainstorm creative ways to reuse them.
- You can also involve the children in a waste audit by categorizing the collected items and creating a pie chart to understand the composition of the waste.
Extension Activities:
- Using the collected plastic waste, organize a "Trash to Treasure" craft session where children can create art, musical instruments, or fashion accessories from the plastic waste.
- Have a "Recycled Fashion Show" where children can design and showcase outfits made from recyclable materials.
- For a fun science experiment, replicate the University of Plymouth's research on plastic degradation. Cut potato cylinders into equal sizes and place each in a separate container. Add a plastic carrier bag and a bioplastic square to each container. Change the environment for each (temperature, oxygen, moisture) and observe the decomposition over time.
Through this "Plastic Waste Scavenger Hunt" and the follow-up activities, children will gain knowledge about plastic pollution, develop eco-friendly habits, and understand the importance of protecting our planet.
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Plastic-free week challenge
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest challenges faced by our planet, and it is important to educate children about this issue. Here is a detailed plan for a "Plastic-Free Week Challenge" with activities to teach kids about plastic degradation and pollution:
Day 1: Introduction to Plastic Degradation
Start by explaining the concept of plastic degradation and its environmental impact. Use visual aids, such as pictures or videos, to show how plastic pollution affects nature. You can refer to the research conducted by the University of Plymouth, which highlights that plastic bags, made from oil-based polymers, are not widely recycled and can take over 600 years to degrade.
Day 2: Kitchen Cabinet Challenge
For this activity, ask the children to go through their kitchen cupboards and identify items made of different materials such as plastic, cardboard, and aluminum. Then, have them sort these items into recyclable and non-recyclable categories. This activity will help them understand the prevalence of plastic in our daily lives and the importance of recycling.
Day 3: Plastic-Free Spa Day
Today, teach children about hidden plastics in personal care products. Many items, such as baby wipes and face scrubs, contain microplastics (plastic pieces smaller than 5mm). Show them how to make natural alternatives, such as face scrubs from coconut oil, sugar, and salt, and face masks from honey and bananas. This activity will encourage them to make eco-friendly choices.
Day 4: Upcycling Fashion Show
Introduce the concept of upcycling, which is transforming waste materials into something new and useful. Challenge the children to create stylish fashion accessories out of plastic waste. They can get creative and make necklaces, bracelets, or even bags. On completion, organize a fashion show where they can model their upcycled creations.
Day 5: Musical Instruments from Plastic Waste
Today, the children will learn to make musical instruments from plastic rubbish. Provide them with a variety of plastic items, such as bottles, containers, and lids, and let their creativity flow. They can fill bottles with different amounts of water to create a xylophone or use plastic containers and lids as drums. This activity will not only teach them about plastic waste but also foster their musical talents.
Day 6: Boat Race with Plastic Rafts
For this activity, provide children with plastic waste materials, such as plastic bottles and containers. Challenge them to create small plastic rafts or boats that can float. They can then test their creations in a bathtub, sink, or even a local pond if accessible. This activity will teach them about buoyancy and provide a fun way to reuse plastic.
Day 7: Reflection and Social Media Campaign
On the final day, reflect on the week's activities and discuss what the children have learned about plastic degradation and pollution. Encourage them to continue their plastic-free journey and inspire others. Document their experiences and creative solutions through photos, videos, or artwork, and share them on social media platforms using hashtags such as #PlasticFreeChallenge.
Remember to adapt these activities as needed to suit the age group and always supervise children during the activities to ensure safety.
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Make a boat from plastic waste
Making a boat from plastic waste is a fun activity to teach children about plastic pollution. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a simple plastic boat:
Materials
You will need the following materials to make your boat:
- Plastic waste (e.g. plastic bags, plastic containers, plastic bottles)
- Scissors
- Tape (duct tape is recommended as it is waterproof)
- Cardboard
- Chopsticks or straws
- Markers or paint
- Paper cups or plastic cut-outs for sails
Building the Boat
Start by collecting and cleaning your plastic waste. You can use a variety of plastic items such as plastic bags, containers, or bottles. Cut and assemble the plastic pieces to form the body of the boat. Consider using duct tape to join and seal the plastic parts, as it is waterproof.
For the base of the boat, cut out a rectangle of cardboard that is slightly larger than your plastic boat body. Tape the cardboard to the plastic, ensuring that it is secure and watertight.
Adding Features
To make your boat more stable and decorative, add features such as a mast and sails. You can use chopsticks or straws as masts and paper cups or plastic cut-outs as sails. Tape or lace the masts securely to the boat, and then attach the sails.
Customization
Feel free to decorate your boat with markers or paint. You can also add extra features, such as a figurehead or a name for your boat.
Once your boat is complete, test it out in the bath, sink, or a local pond to see if it floats. You can even have boat races with your toys or other homemade boats!
Building a boat from plastic waste is a creative way to reuse plastic and teach children about the importance of reducing plastic pollution.
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Plastic pollution awareness through books and videos
Plastic pollution is a serious threat to our environment, and it is important that children are made aware of its dangers and how they can contribute to reducing it. Books and videos are a great way to educate children about plastic pollution and its impact on the planet.
Books
Books are a great way to educate children about plastic pollution and its impact on the planet. Here are some books that can help children understand the issue:
- 'Saving Tally: An Adventure Into the Great Pacific Plastic Patch' by Serena Lane Ferrari: This book tells the story of Tally, a turtle, and her friend Ara, a lobster, who realise that the most dangerous part of the ocean is not sharks or stingrays, but plastic bags, bottles, and other trash that threaten their undersea world. With beautiful illustrations, the book brings to life the dangers of plastic pollution.
- 'Plastic Ocean: How a Sea Captain’s Chance Discovery Launched a Determined Quest to Save the Oceans' by Capt. Charles Moore with Cassandra Phillips: This book shares the tale of Capt. Moore's discovery of the world's largest collection of floating trash while sailing from Hawaii to California and his efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of plastic pollution.
- 'A Planet Full of Plastic': With lovely illustrations and eye-opening facts, this book shares ideas on how we can save the planet from plastic pollution.
- 'Kids vs. Plastic: Ditch the Straw and Find the Pollution Solution to Bottles, Bags, and Other Single-Use Plastics' by Julie Beer: This book provides easy-to-understand information, stunning statistics, and suggestions on how to live a plastic-free life.
Videos
Videos are a great way to visually show children the impact of plastic pollution and how it ends up in our oceans. Here are some video activities that can help:
- The BBC's KS1 Geography video on 'The plastic problem' shows children taking part in a litter-pick on their local beach, revealing how much plastic waste can be found and how it ends up in our oceans.
- The 'Preventing Plastic Pollution' video by Flipside Science can be used as a starting point for a lesson on plastic pollution. Students can create a graph of plastic in the ocean over time and use it to predict future levels of plastic pollution if it continues at the current rate.
- The University of Plymouth's research on the degradation of different types of plastic can be used as a basis for a lesson on plastic degradation. Students can replicate the research by conducting experiments to observe how different types of plastic degrade under various conditions.
Through a combination of books and videos, children can gain a better understanding of plastic pollution and its impact on the planet, as well as learn ways to reduce their plastic use and contribute to a cleaner environment.
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