Unit 1 - Plastic pollution

Unit 1: Plastic pollution

Vocabulary

​the process of converting waste materials into reusable materials.

​Recycling

a substance or chemical that is biodegradable can be changed by the action of bacteria to a natural state that will not harm the environment

​biodegradable

extremely small pieces of plastic in the environment that come from consumer products and industrial waste

​microplastics

These are items designed to be used once and then thrown away, such as plastic bags, straws, and water bottles.

​single-use plastics

to break down something into smaller and simpler parts; to break a substance down into smaller and simpler parts

​decompose

rubbish or pieces of material that are left somewhere and are not wanted

​debris

made to be thrown away after use

​disposable

an area of land where large amounts of waste material are buried under the earth

​landfill

that can be used again

​reusable

Match

Match the following

recycling

biodegradable

microplastics

single-use plastics

decompose

• recycling

• biodegradable

• microplastics

• single-use plastics

• decompose

Match

Match the following

recycling

biodegradable

microplastics

landfill

reusable

• recycling

• biodegradable

• microplastics

• landfill

• reusable

Listening

Choose the best option that you think is true

​

Before you watch

Poll

1. Based on what you know about plastic, where do you think most plastic ends up after people throw it away?

• Landfills

• Oceans

• Recycling facilities

• Incinerators

Open Ended

Imagine a plastic bottle ends up in a landfill. What potential problems might this cause for the environment?

Multiple Choice

The video shows a seabird mistaking plastic for food. What is one consequence this can have for the bird?

• It might get a colorful new beak.

• It can feel full but starve to death due to lack of nutrients.

• It becomes immune to future plastic encounters.

• It gains superpowers to clean the ocean.

Multiple Choice

What happens to plastic that ends up in a landfill according to the video?

• It breaks down quickly.

• It gets recycled into new products.

• It can release harmful toxins.

• It magically disappears.

Multiple Choice

Where does the video say some plastic trash ends up after it travels through streams and rivers?

• It gets burned in an incinerator.

• It forms giant garbage patches in the ocean.

• It gets composted and becomes fertilizer.

• It gets safely launched into space.

Multiple Choice

The video talks about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. What does it describe this area as?

• A hidden underwater paradise for marine life.

• A massive accumulation of plastic debris in the ocean.

• A hotspot for deep-sea treasure hunters.

• A natural filter that cleans the ocean water.

Multiple Choice

What is one danger the video mentions about plastic pollution in the ocean?

• It can confuse fish and make them eat less.

• It can break down into tiny microplastics that harm wildlife.

• It can create a party atmosphere for sea creatures.

• It can make the ocean water taste better.

Multiple Choice

Besides landfills and oceans, the video mentions plastic pollution impacting what other environment?

• Outer space

• Deep underground caverns

• The Earth's atmosphere

• Animal nesting grounds

Multiple Choice

What is the main point of the video?

• Plastic is a great invention and we should use more of it.

• Recycling all plastic is easy and solves the problem.

• Throwing plastic away has negative consequences for the environment.

• We should blame littering for all the world's plastic problems.

Discussion

Question 1

​

The video focuses on disposable plastic bottles and containers. Are there any alternatives to these products that you could use in your daily life? What challenges might there be in switching to these alternatives?

Audio Response

The video focuses on disposable plastic bottles and containers. Are there any alternatives to these products that you could use in your daily life? What challenges might there be in switching to these alternatives?

Open Audio Recorder

Question 2

​

What are some actions individuals can take to reduce their plastic footprint and contribute to a solution?

Audio Response

What are some actions individuals can take to reduce their plastic footprint and contribute to a solution?

Open Audio Recorder

Writing: Describe a process

Multiple Choice

In the previous lesson, before being discarded, how many steps did the plastic water bottles go through?

• 6

• 7

• 8

• 9

• 10

Reorder

Reorder the following steps to make a plastic water bottle

• Oil and gas molecules are chemically bonded together to make monomers

• These monomers are bonded into long polymer chains to make plastic pellets.

• These pellets are melted at manufacturing plants and reformed in molds to create resilient material that makes up the triplet's bodies.

• Machines fill the bottles with water

• These bottles are labeled and wrapped in boxes ready for use.

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Sequencing words/phrases

​Finally

Choose the correct sequencing word to complete the sentence

Dropdown

Select answer

, oil and gas molecules are chemically bonded together to make monomers

Dropdown

​

Select answer

, these monomers are bonded into long polymer chains to make plastic pellets.

Dropdown

​

Select answer

, these pellets are melted at manufacturing plants and reformed in molds to create resilient material that makes up the triplet's bodies.

Dropdown

​

Select answer

, machines fill the bottles with water.

Dropdown

​

Select answer

, these bottles are labeled and wrapped in boxes ready for use.

Open Ended

Describe this process using the sequencing words