Practical Action: Plastics Challenge

This is a challenge for students to develop solutions to the problems caused by plastic waste globally. They will learn about how plastic waste impacts people around the world, the different types of plastic, how they are each used, how they are recycled, and how long it takes each type to degrade. They will make bio-plastic and learn how plastics can be reused. They will then undertake a design project where they reuse plastic to make a product and plan how they could market and sell it. The lesson unit includes a teaching guide, student activity sheets, a PowerPoint, and lots of photographs. Some activities, such as ones discussing polymers, may be most appropriate for older students.