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What About All That Plastic?

Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Subjects: 
Language Arts
Science
Social Studies
Keywords & Concepts: 
Cause/Effect
Environment
Personal Response
Pollution

Children learn about the issues of plastic in the ocean. They learn the effects of plastic garbage on the environment, including the lives of animals.

Duration 
PrintOne 45-Minute Session
Objectives 

The learner will:

  • identify issues of pollution in the ocean.
Bibliography 

The Bay vs. the Bag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSD21zp89zM​

Related Resources 

Instructions

Print

  1. Anticipatory Set

    Watch this brief video about the issue of plastic bags in the ocean: The Bay vs. the Bag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSD21zp89zM 

  2. Ask: Is this video real or an exaggeration? Discuss. Why might an artist or writer use exaggeration to point out a real issue? Why does it work?

    What are the real issues the video addresses? What can we do about the problem?

  3. ​

  4. Who do they think is directly affected by this garbage? They may feel that nobody is directly affected by it because it is in the middle of the ocean or scattered around fields. Discuss whether the ocean is a good place for us to store our waste. Discuss some of the following questions.

    • Where does the garbage come from? What could be reduced and how?
    • What ways have people contributed to pollution of the Earth’s water? 
    • What pollution is hazardous to animals?

  6. Define and discuss the concept of the "common good." Keeping in mind that what benefits the "common good" benefits them also, discuss the following questions:

    • Who is responsible for cleaning it up?
    • Who is responsible for preventing pollution in the ocean from growing even larger?
    • Is there anything we can and should do to reduce the use of plastic bags and other single-use plastics in our community, state or nation?

  7. List actions that we can do. Then pick the "next right thing" they can do today to make a difference. Check back with them in a week to see how it is going. 

Philanthropy Framework

  1. Strand PHIL.I Definitions of Philanthropy
    1. Standard DP 01. Define Philanthropy
      1. Benchmark E.3 Recognize that citizens have a responsibility for the common good as defined by democratic principles.
  2. Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
    1. Standard PCS 07. Skills of Civic Engagement
      1. Benchmark E.4 Analyze information to differentiate fact from opinion based on the investigation of issues related to the common good.