(Plastic Water Bottles, Google Images, 2013)
Plastic is a part of our everyday lives. So many of our products are packaged in plastic, more specifically plastic bottles. Take a quick moment to think about the contents of your refrigerator. How many bottles of milk, water, soda, juice, or condiments do you have? How many of those are plastic? Now, how many of those plastic bottles are made from recycled material? Most people are not able to answer this last question. Plastic bottles are convenient because they are disposable, but disposable does not mean it has to be thrown in the trash. According to several sources, it can take up to 700 years for plastic to decompose in landfills and/or dumps.
For this reason, it is important to teach our students about the life cycle of a plastic bottle. From production to consumption to disposal, there are many choices to be made. Students should be provided with the appropriate knowledge to make informed decisions, and hopefully help others to make informed decisions. This topic can be explored across the curriculum. It is appropriate for students of all grade-levels and abilities. This is our opportunity to get our students excited about their role in creating a better, more sustainable future. This is our opportunity to "close the loop" in the life cycle of a plastic bottle.
Click here to view related resources for teachers and students.
Click here to view a 5 Day Unit designed for 6th grade.
For this reason, it is important to teach our students about the life cycle of a plastic bottle. From production to consumption to disposal, there are many choices to be made. Students should be provided with the appropriate knowledge to make informed decisions, and hopefully help others to make informed decisions. This topic can be explored across the curriculum. It is appropriate for students of all grade-levels and abilities. This is our opportunity to get our students excited about their role in creating a better, more sustainable future. This is our opportunity to "close the loop" in the life cycle of a plastic bottle.
Click here to view related resources for teachers and students.
Click here to view a 5 Day Unit designed for 6th grade.