Curated OER
Biodegradable Plastics
Sixth graders explore the many uses of corn as a renewable source. In this biodegradable resource lesson, 6th graders investigate how corn is used in manufacturing and as a fuel. Students construct a piece of homemade plastic using...
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# 15 A Search for Automated Plastics Recycling Separation
Learners are challenged to investigate the physical and chemical properties of plastics and use them to design a system that could be used to separate them. 1st year chemistry students use density for separation, learners gathered...
Curated OER
Water and Polymers
Students conduct qualitative and quantitative investigations based on the interaction between water and various polymers. They determine the percent moisture contained in various plastics along with a qualitative procedure to determine...
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Properties and Perfectly Polymeric Sodas
Students examine physical and chemical properties of plastics, interfaces of plastics, and forms of plastics. In three lab activities, students discover the two characteristic responses of plastics to heating, thermoplastic or...
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The Structure and Properties of Polymers
A fifteen-slide presentation helps you teach your young chemists about monomers and polymers. You will find many graphics, some of them colorful, and bullet-point style notes on each slide. Although the presentation is informative,...
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Plastics Crossword
In this chemistry worksheet, students look for the solutions to the crossword puzzle that is based upon the topic of plastics. The sheet is helpful for vocabulary.
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What is Plastic?
Students experiment with plastics. In this what is plastic lesson, students make a simple polymer and discuss recycling. Students identify various types of plastics.
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Egg Walk Challenge
Middle schoolers design plastic shoes to walk on eggs without breaking them. In this pressure lesson plan, students consider all the factors needed to design shoes to walk on eggs without breaking them. Middle schoolers calculate the PSI...
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World of Plastics and Polymers
Students investigate plastics and learn they are giant molecules made of carbon atoms. For this polymers and plastics lesson, students perform 3 activities which all include making polymers from household items such as milk and vinegar,...
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Consider Your Options-Plastics
Students explore plastics and what plastics students use to pack a lunch. In this plastics lesson plan, students observe each other pack lunches and take note of all the plastics used in packing the lunch. They discuss the impact of...
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Plastics by the Numbers
Students investigate plastic resins and their uses. In this plastics lesson plan, students describe major plastic resins and what they are used for, they compare and contrast the properties of plastic resins and they list products that...
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Recycling Plastics
In this plastics worksheet, students read about how important it is to recycle plastics and why sorting the recycle materials is important. Students then complete 4 short answer questions.
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Polymer Basics
In this polymer worksheet, students use an on line site to complete sentences about plastics, their chemical make-up, their uses, their history and information about recycling plastics.
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Integrating Environmental Science: Plastics
In this plastics worksheet, students read about the uses of plastics and their environmental impact. Students answer questions about plastics and their use.
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Plastic Peas
Students consider the life cycle of certain plastics products and propose improved recycling legislation in their own communities.
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Glurch II
Students make glurch using materials provided. In this chemistry lesson, students identify the physical properties of glurch. They compare its properties to commercially prepared ones.
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Materials and Process: Plastics
Students investigate the development of plastics in the twentieth century. For this plastics lesson, students complete image based discussion activities for the pictures and methods of polymers. Students create an object timeline...
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Plastic Parade: Recycling
In this recycling worksheet, students use ten plastic containers, collect data on the recycle number on each one, and conclude if most plastics are or are not recyclable in their town.
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Recycling Relay Race
Students identify the reasons why recycling is important. In this recycling lesson, students practice sorting plastics into categories using recycling bins and types of plastics.
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Making Plastic
Students experiment to create a plastic solution. In this science lesson, students use sodium borax and polyvinyl alcohol to create their solution, then identify, discuss, and chart observations on the end product.
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Exploring the Physical and Chemical Properties of Polymers
Students determine the physical and chemical properties of polymers. For this chemistry lesson, students test them for biodegradability. They collect data and compare their results.
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Designing a Flotation Strategy for the Purification of Recycling
Twelfth graders work in teams to design a method of recycled plastics purification by flotation. They base their design on the concept that different kinds of plastics have different densities and keep overall costs and purification time...
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The Polymer Schoolhouse
Students investigate polymers by discovering and examining plastics and creating a diorama.
DOGO Media
Dogo News: How Mealworms May Reduce Our Pollution Problem
Scientists have recently found that mealworms may be able to break down and degrade styrofoam, a form of plastic previously thought not to be biodegradable. Read how this discovery may affect pollution.