The Plastic Problem: Pros, Cons and Solutions

The Plastic Problem: Pros, Cons and Solutions

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you should understand the topic of plastic, including its history, how plastic is made, what the pros and cons of plastic are, and how these downsides might be addressed.

Introduce the learning objective of the lesson to the students.

What do you already know about plastic?

History of Plastic

Plastic was first created in 1907 by Leo Hendrik Baekeland. It was widely used in World War II for military applications. Since then, plastic has become a ubiquitous material in our daily lives.

Provide a brief overview of the history of plastic and its uses.

How Plastic is Made

Plastic is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. The petroleum is processed and refined to create various types of plastic, such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Explain the process of making plastic and the types of plastic that are commonly used.

Pros of Plastic

Plastic is durable, lightweight, and versatile. It is also inexpensive to produce and can be recycled.

Discuss the advantages of using plastic and its positive impact on the economy.

Cons of Plastic

Plastic is non-biodegradable and can take hundreds of years to decompose. It can also harm wildlife and contribute to pollution.

Highlight the negative impact of plastic on the environment and wildlife.

Solutions to the Plastic Problem

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. These are the three R's that can help reduce the amount of plastic waste. Alternatives to plastic, such as biodegradable materials, can also be used.

Provide solutions to the plastic problem and encourage students to think of ways they can make a positive change.

Impact on the Environment

Plastic pollution has a negative impact on the environment. It can harm wildlife, pollute rivers and oceans, and contribute to climate change.

Describe the impact of plastic on the environment and how it can be reduced.

Quiz

Take a quiz to test your knowledge on plastic and its impact on the environment.

Create a quiz with questions related to the lesson to assess student understanding.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.