Featured Resource: The Reality of Plastic (KQED QUEST)
Plastic. It’s super useful but it’s also a big problem for the environment. Get a quick overview of the scope of the plastic problem and what some people are doing to try to solve it.
Do Now
How many different plastic items do you use in a day? How many of these are disposable or single-use? How do you think our reliance on plastic affects the Earth? #DoNowPlastic
How to Do Now
Post a video response to the Do Now question in this week’s Flipgrid. You can also post your response on Twitter, Instagram, or in the comment section below. Be sure to include #DoNowPlastic and @KQEDedspace in your tweet or Instagram post.
Try one of these activities along with your response:
- Upload a photo of all the plastic items in your backpack (including your backpack if it’s nylon!).
- Collect all the single-use plastic you use in a day. Share a photo of it along with one way you will cut back on your own plastic-waste footprint.
- Make an infographic of the plastic items in your classroom. How many are recyclable? How many aren’t? How many are disposable or single-use?
Go here for more tips for using Do Now, using Twitter for teaching, and using other digital tools.
Plastics!
Plastics are everywhere. This light, durable material helps keep our food fresh and is used in everything from clothing fibers to medical supplies to paint. But the characteristics that make plastic useful also make it damaging to the environment. Most plastics are made from fossil fuels and contain chemicals that leach into the water supply, posing a health risk to humans and animals. Plastics also pollute the ocean, pile up in landfills, and don’t biodegrade. Instead, plastic breaks down into tiny particles that can be deadly to marine life.