Plastics in Perspective.

Illinois Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, ENR Clearinghouse, 325 West Adams Street, Room 300, Springfield, IL 62704-1892.

N

80

Illinois State Dept. of Energy and Natural Resources, Springfield.

Teachers; Practitioners

Class Activities; Consumer Education; Curriculum Guides; Environmental Education; High Schools; Junior High Schools; Learning Activities; Lesson Plans; Middle Schools; Plastics; Recycling; Science Education; Solid Wastes; Teaching Methods; Units of Study; Values; Waste Disposal

The materials in this curriculum supplement, developed for middle school or high school science classes, present solid waste problems related to plastics. The set of curriculum materials is divided into two units to be used together or independently. Unit I begins by comparing patterns in solid waste from 1960 to 1990 and introducing methods for plastics identification. The 11 lessons in the unit explore the raw materials of plastics, leads observations of what happens to plastic litter, and introduces alternatives to dumping, including incineration, reuse, and recycling. A community survey is proposed as a basis for developing a plan for recycling and waste reduction for the community. Biodegradable and photodegradable plastics are studied in unit II as the factors that cause degradable plastics to break down in the environment are explored. The unit describes several degradation tests that allow students to set up projects that monitor the rate of degradation for a variety of plastics. The lessons are specific to Illinois classrooms but may be adapted for other states. (MCO)

1993

ED356968