BeMED 9. Largest to smallest – the story of a plastic particle
Title |
Largest to smallest – the story of a plastic particle |
Author |
Neville Dimech |
Age Guide |
Year 4 |
Subject Area |
Science, Geography, English language |
Preparation Time |
10 minutes to collect resources needed.5 minutes to familiarise oneself with the PowerPoint presentation. |
| Estimated Duration | 45 minutes |
| Site | Classroom with interactive board. |
| Educational objectives | To create awareness of the issue of plastic litter which ends up in the seas, oceans, seabed and ocean floors as well as sandy beaches. |
| Learning Outcomes | – I can classify materials as natural or man-made. |
| Link to SDGs | SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production
SDG 14: Life below water |
| Educational resources required | plastic items such as a plastic cup, a plastic straw, a small plastic toys used on the beach, balls, buckets, spade, plastic water bottles, empty sun cream bottles, empty yogurt cups, plastic and cotton ear buds, cigarette butts, and more.
Appendix 9.1 – Powerpoint PLASTY Interactive whiteboard Internet Connection |
| Planning Considerations | At the end of the lesson the students are told that the resources used in this lesson will be stored and reused by other students/during other lessons. |
| Method | Introduction
Engage (10 minutes) The teacher places on the table some plastic items such as a plastic cup, a plastic straw, small plastic toys used on the beach: balls, buckets, spade, plastic water bottles, empty sun cream bottles, empty yogurt cups, plastic and cotton ear buds, cigarette – butts, and more. The teacher asks the students to look carefully at the items. Ask: Where do we find these? A round of ideas and opinion is taken. These can be written on the interactive or white board or on a large flip chart. Development Inquire (25 minutes) Ask: What happens to plastic when it is out in the natural environment? A round of ideas and opinion is taken. These can be written on the interactive or white board or on a large flip chart. Where does plastic come from? A round of ideas and opinion is taken. These can be written on the interactive or white board or on a large flip chart. Watch the interactive Power Point (Appendix 9.1). Largest to smallest – the story of a life particle. The Story of the life of a plastic particle, “Plasty” from its birth in a plastic manufacturing factory to microplastic fragments ending at the bottom of the ocean floor. The learners will direct the story of “Plasty” and note that from whichever route and life-story they choose, “Plasty” will still end up at the bottom the sea. As they trace the life of the plastic particle they realize that it is not on its own in the end… The students choose what the plastic raw material will become. They follow what happens to the plastic. They conclude that many different plastic items eventually find their way to the sea. The plastic items end up as very small pieces – “micro-plastics.” Conclusion Evaluate (10 minutes) The students come to the conclusion that plastic materials will end up in the sea, seabed, and sandy beaches. The students are shown pictures of “plastic islands” and are encouraged to look up pictures and videos about them using their tablets or as a class using the interactive whiteboard to enhance further learning. (Search for pictures – Plastic in the sea, Plastic islands) |
| Background information for educators | The following weblinks explain the real life issue of plastic islands which deteriorate into small particles which end up in the sea, seabed, and sandy beaches.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html Clearing up the confusion around marine plastics – EURACTIV.com The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Is Not What You Think It Is | The Swim – YouTube |
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