Ethan Clarke
Plastic pollution is one of the largest environmental threats facing humans and animals globally, and it's important that children are taught about it. There are many ways to teach children about plastic and its impact on the environment in a fun and engaging way. From turning an ordinary walk in the park into a scavenger hunt for common plastic items to making art out of plastic waste, children can learn about the problem of plastic pollution and find creative solutions to tackle it. By involving children in these activities, they can develop sustainable habits and understand the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Make it fun | Turn the message into an adventure by planning some fun activities, such as a scavenger hunt or a fashion show with clothes made out of rubbish |
| Make it hands-on and creative | Children can make musical instruments or art out of plastic waste, learning that everything around them can have a second life |
| Teach them about the impact of plastic | Discuss how much plastic is used and discarded daily, and how it can harm wildlife |
| Teach them about precycling | Show children how to look for plastics #3, #6 or #7 on the bottom of products and avoid buying them |
| Teach them about recycling | Show children how to identify and sort different types of materials, and where to look on packaging to see if something is recyclable |
| Teach them about alternatives to plastic | Brainstorm alternatives to plastic items, such as reusable water bottles, beeswax wraps, and bamboo straws |
| Teach them about the dangers of plastic | Explain how plastic can harm animals and the environment, and how it contributes to greenhouse gases |
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What You'll Learn
How plastic affects wildlife
Plastic pollution is a major threat to wildlife, and it is important to teach children about this issue so that they can understand the impact of plastic on the environment and take steps to reduce their plastic consumption.
Plastic pollution affects wildlife in a number of ways. Firstly, animals can ingest plastic, mistaking it for food. This can lead to choking, internal injuries, and death. It is estimated that each year, over 100,000 marine mammals and over one million seabirds die from ingesting plastic. Plastic ingestion can also reduce the storage volume of an animal's stomach, leading to starvation. In addition, plastic can release toxic chemicals, which can cause liver and cell damage, as well as disrupt reproductive systems.
Another way plastic affects wildlife is through entanglement. Plastic debris can entangle animals, trapping and injuring them. This can affect a wide range of species, from microscopic animals to large predators. For example, endangered wildlife such as Hawaiian monk seals and Pacific loggerhead sea turtles are among the nearly 700 species that eat and get caught in plastic litter.
Furthermore, plastic pollution can disrupt habitats, making it difficult for some species to live and breed naturally, leading to depletions in populations. Plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and can contaminate soil and water sources, impacting the health of wildlife and the environment.
The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife is devastating and far-reaching. It is important to reduce plastic consumption and properly dispose of and recycle plastics to minimize the impact on wildlife and the environment.
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How to identify different types of plastic
Plastic is a man-made material that can be formed into almost any shape. It is strong, long-lasting, lightweight, and resistant to damage by water, heat, chemicals, and electricity. There are about 50 main types of plastic, and they are used in countless applications.
It is important to learn how to identify different types of plastics to gain practical knowledge about what is safe for your food and products. Some plastics can bottle up harmful chemicals, while others are flexible and can increase capacity. Some plastics are also toxic and need to be carefully handled.
- Recycling symbols: The simplest method to identify plastic is by referring to the recycling symbol usually found at the bottom of the container. These symbols are usually a single-digit number, and by understanding these symbols, we can choose the appropriate recycling method.
- Appearance and feel: Each type of plastic has distinct characteristics, including colour, lustre, transparency, and hardness. We can use our eyes and touch to identify these characteristics and determine the type of plastic.
- Density: Different types of plastics have varying densities, which can be tested using the floating method by putting them in water and observing their buoyancy. Plastics with higher density will sink, while those with lower density will float.
- Reaction to heat: Plastics have different reactions when exposed to heat. Thermoplastic materials soften when heated, melt easily, and become transparent. Thermosetting plastics, on the other hand, do not soften and maintain their hardness. By applying heat, we can observe these differences and identify the type of plastic.
- Combustion: Different types of plastics experience distinct chemical reactions when burned. Some plastics are flammable and continue to burn even after the fire is out, releasing a unique smell. By observing the ease of burning, odour, flame characteristics, and changes in the state of plastic, we can identify the type.
- Solvents: Thermoplastic materials swell or dissolve in hot solvents, while thermosetting plastics do not dissolve and typically do not swell. Elastomers are not soluble in solvents but may undergo swelling.
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How to reuse plastic creatively
Plastic is everywhere, and it is harmful to the environment if not recycled properly. Teaching kids about plastic pollution can be fun and creative. Here are some ways to teach them about reusing plastic creatively:
Scavenger Hunt
Turn a walk in the park or a trip to the beach into a scavenger hunt. Give each child a checklist of common plastic items to look for, such as bottle caps, plastic bags, and food wrappers. As they spot these items, they can mark them off their lists. This activity teaches kids to identify plastic waste and look for reusable alternatives. It also helps them understand how long plastic lasts in the environment and how it can harm wildlife.
Art Projects
Children can turn plastic waste into art, learning that everything can have a second life. This is a great way to talk about how much plastic is used and discarded daily. For example, they can make musical instruments or fashion accessories out of plastic rubbish. They can even put on a fashion show with their creations!
Upcycling
Upcycling is taking plastic or any other recyclable material and turning it into something new without sending it through the recycling process. For instance, old plastic bottles can be turned into small planters for herbs or other small plants, or they can be cut and used as hanging planters. Yogurt containers can be used to start seedlings. Plastic bottles can also be used for storage, such as holding pencils, buttons, or kitchen utensils.
Reducing Plastic Use
Teach kids about the importance of reducing plastic use by seeking alternative packaging when shopping. This includes using reusable water bottles, straws, bags, and containers instead of single-use plastic ones. Show them how to identify recyclable materials and explain the concept of "precycling," which means avoiding certain types of plastics altogether.
By engaging in these activities, kids can learn about plastic pollution and develop a sense of environmental responsibility while being creative and having fun.
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How to recycle plastic
Plastic is one of the most popular and useful materials of modern times. Recycling and reusing plastic items as many times as possible can reduce our need to create new plastic. Here are some ways to teach children about recycling plastic:
Scavenger Hunt
Turn a walk in the park, a trip to the beach, or a stroll around the neighbourhood into a scavenger hunt. Give each child a checklist of common plastic items to look for, such as bottle caps, plastic bags, and food wrappers. As they spot these items, they can mark them off their lists. Once the hunt is over, discuss what they found. Talk about how long plastic lasts in the environment and how it can harm wildlife.
Plastic-Free Challenge
Set up a fun and simple challenge, like going plastic-free for a week. Help children identify the plastic items they use daily, such as plastic water bottles, sandwich wraps, plastic straws, and snack packets. Then, brainstorm alternatives together. Suggest reusable water bottles, beeswax wraps, and bamboo straws as substitutes.
Art Project
Encourage children to turn plastic waste into art. They can create something beautiful while understanding the importance of reusing plastic. This activity can spark conversations about how much plastic is used and discarded daily.
Now, let's look at some practical tips for recycling plastic:
Identify Recyclable Plastics
Not all plastics are created equal when it comes to recycling. Look for the recycling symbol (usually a triangle of three arrows) on plastic items. This symbol indicates that the item is made of a type of plastic that can be recycled. Check with your local recycling guidelines to see what specific types of plastic they accept.
Prepare Plastics for Recycling
Before placing plastics in the recycling bin, make sure they are clean and dry. Remove any residual food or liquid. Also, keep in mind that plastic bags should be returned to special drop-off locations, often found at grocery stores, instead of being placed in curbside recycling bins.
Separate Different Plastics
Some recycling programs may require you to separate different types of plastics. For example, plastic bottles and containers (usually made of PET or HDPE) might need to be kept separate from other plastic items. Check with your local recycling program to understand their specific sorting requirements.
Recycle Plastic Caps
Don't forget about plastic bottle caps! They are typically made from polypropylene plastic and are recyclable. Just make sure the bottles are empty, and twist the caps back on before tossing them into the recycling bin.
Seek Out Public Recycling Bins
When you're out and about, keep an eye out for public recycling bins at parks, sports stadiums, and beaches. If you can't find a bin, bring your recyclables back home and dispose of them in your recycling bin.
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How plastic is made
Plastic is a huge class of materials that are used to make all sorts of things. Plastic is made from polymers, which are big molecules that are shaped like long strings. These polymers are made up of many small molecules called monomers. Monomers are strung together to form long chains, which make sturdy and flexible plastic.
Polymers are made from many monomer-repeating units. These monomers are chemically bonded into chains. There are two ways to do this:
- Addition polymerisation: where one monomer connects to another monomer, and then another, and so on.
- Polymerisation: where light olefin gases (gasoline) such as ethylene, propylene, and butylene (monomers) are converted into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons (polymers).
The "ingredients" of plastic depend on the "thread type", and they come from many places. The most common source is fossil fuels like petroleum. The molecules in the oils burned for fuel are similar to the molecules that make up the "threads" in plastic. These molecules are linked and tangled to form the solid plastic material.
Plastic can also be made using crude oil, which is heated in a furnace and sent to a distillation unit. Here, the heavy crude oil separates into lighter components called fractions, one of which is called naphtha, which is crucial to making plastic.
Plastic can be made from many organic sources, including cellulose (found in plants) and proteins from milk, eggs, and blood. Plastic made from these sources is usually entirely synthetic.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic pollution is one of the largest environmental threats globally, and the problem is growing. Teaching kids about plastic and its impact on the planet will help them make better choices to protect the environment.
Kids love to get creative, so try turning plastic waste into art or musical instruments. You could also organise a fashion show with clothes made out of rubbish or set up a scavenger hunt where kids look for common plastic items in their surroundings.
A good place to start is by helping kids identify the plastic items they use daily, such as plastic water bottles or snack packets, and then brainstorming alternatives together. You can also teach them about "precycling", which means choosing products that don't contain plastics #3, #6 or #7.
Kids should understand that plastic does not break down naturally and can take up space in landfills or end up in the oceans, harming animals. They can also learn about the history of plastic, how it's made, and the different types of plastic, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
The United Nations Environment Programme's Clean Seas campaign offers educational resources to teach children about plastic pollution and how to reduce their plastic footprint. National Geographic's Plastic and Recycling Awareness Curriculum is another resource for teachers to educate students about plastic pollution.
