Plastic pollution (L2.1.7)

Plastic Pollution

By Junior Ambassadeurs

Objectives

At the end of this topic students should be able to:

1. Identify plastic pollution

2. Recognise the impact of plastic on the environment. 

3. Identify the many ways that they contribute to plastic pollution.

4. Make decisions that will lead to a reduction in plastic pollution.

Junior Ambassadeur Level 2

1. What Is PLASTIC POLLUTION? | What Causes Plastic Pollution? | The Dr Binocs Show | Peekaboo Kidz - YouTube

2. ​​The Majestic Plastic Bag - A Mockumentary - YouTube

3. POWERFUL VIDEO: Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans FOR GOOD | Oceana - YouTube

​Junior Ambassadeur Level 2

Watch the videos

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​The problem with plastic

Plastic is an amazing man-made material used to make all kinds of important things. Bike helmets, car airbags and many medical supplies made with plastic save lives, and plastic water bottles can bring clean drinking water to people who don’t have it.

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The problem is that most of us use more plastic than we need to, and half of the plastic we produce is designed to be used only once and then thrown away.

The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids (natgeokids.com)

Junior Ambssadeur Level 2

Single use plastic (SUP)

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Plastic that is made to be used only once is called ‘single-use plastic. It is used to make all kinds of items, such as shopping bags, straws, food wrappers and various packaging.

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And because plastic takes over 400 years to decompose (break down), it stays in the natural world, causing damage, for a very long time.

The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids (natgeokids.com)

Junior Ambssadeur Level 2

Plastics do not biodegrade​. The just break into smaller and smaller pieces.

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Plastic pieces smaller than 5 mm are called microplastics and these can be found in the air, in the soil, on our beaches and in our water.

Junior Ambassadeur Level 2

Microplastics

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The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids (natgeokids.com)

​Animals and birds can get trapped, tangled and even strangled by all kinds of plastic waste.

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They also mistake small bits of plastic, such as bottle tops and wrappers, for food and eat them – leaving no room in their swollen tummies for real food.

​Junior Ambassadeur Level 2

Why is plastic waste bad for animals?

The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids (natgeokids.com)

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When plastic breaks down in the ocean, it doesn’t break down completely – it just gets smaller and ends up being swallowed by fish and other marine animals and birds. The tiny particles of plastic absorb toxic industrial chemicals which, when eaten by fish, are absorbed into their tissues and are eventually eaten by humans.

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​Junior Ambassadeur Level 2

Why is plastic waste bad for you?

The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids (natgeokids.com)

1. Practice the 7Rs

2. Rethink how we use plastic

3. Refuse plastic

4. Reduce the amount of single-use plastic you and your family use

5. Drink from reusable water bottles

6. Use reusable shopping bags

7. Ask your parents not to buy things wrapped in plastic.

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The problem with plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids (natgeokids.com)

​What can we do about plastic pollution?

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This activity contributes towards student’s eligibility for receiving a Rethink badge

Student Activity 7

Multiple Choice

Select the image which best describes microplastics

Multiple Select

Select ALL that are affected by plastic pollution

• Turtles

• Fish

• Humans

• Ocean

• Animals

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank space

is the type of plastic that is designed to be used once and then thrown away

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank space

are in our toothpaste

Multiple Choice

Select the correct answer

Animals can die of starvation when they eat plastic because they think it is food

• True

• False

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank space

It is important that we

any plastic that we already have

Multiple Choice

Select the correct answer

The chemicals from plastic can affect humans when we eat fish

• True

• False

Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blank space

It is important that we choose to

items so that we can reduce the amount of waste that we generate

Multiple Choice

Select the correct answer

Which type of plastic creates the greatest damage to the environment?

• Reusable plastic

• Single use plastic

Open Ended

Make a list of 3 ways plastic affects humans