Lesson 4

1. Lesson 4 How does plastic affect the environment? Ocean Plastics Science | Ages 11-14

2. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? These items are often found washed up on beaches. Order them from most to least common. Cigarette butts Plastic cups & plates Glass beverage bottle Aluminium beverage can Plastic beverage bottle Bottle caps Other plastic bags Food wrappers Plastic straws Plastic grocery bags Source: Ocean Conservancy 2014

3. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? These items are often found washed up on beaches. Order them from most to least common. • Cigarette butts • Food wrappers • Beverage bottles • Bottle caps • Straws • Other plastic bags • Grocery plastic bags • Glass beverage bottles • Beverage cans • Plastic cups and plates Source: Ocean Conservancy 2014

4. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? • Order most common types of plastic waste. • Describe how plastic waste impacts the environment. • Predict how plastic waste impacts a variety of organisms. • Formulate solutions to plastic waste issues.

5. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Find out how different plastic waste harms marine life

6. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? What has the turtle got up its nose? VIEW VIDEO

7. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? You will see a series of statements. When you see each statement you must order your marine organisms from those most effected to those least effected. How does this impact marine life?

8. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? When you see each statement you must order your marine organisms from those most effected to those least effected. Statement 1: “Some estimates place the number of microplastic particles in the ocean at 51 trillion.” How does this impact marine life?

9. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? When you see each statement you must order your marine organisms from those most effected to those least effected. Statement 2: “In 2018, 5 trillion plastic bags were produced.” How does this impact marine life?

10. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? When you see each statement you must order your marine organisms from those most effected to those least effected. Statement 3: “640,000 tons of fishing nets are lost or discarded every year.” How does this impact marine life?

11. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Change happens at different scales. Individuals can change their own behaviour. Campaigns and initiatives can change behaviour or decisions at a local level. Governments can pass laws to create change at a national or international scale. Scales of change

12. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Individual What can we do to reduce the plastic problem? Write your ideas on a post-it note and put on the board.

13. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Use metal products instead of single use plastic Buy large containers instead of smaller ones Buy concentrated products that last longer No recycling bin? take your waste home to be recycled What can we do to reduce the plastic problem?

14. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? When we want to create a change bigger than ourselves, we do not have direct control. Instead, we use something called advocacy, where we ask and persuade others to make a change as well. Our own change can then become a ripple that influences others. How can I make a bigger change?

15. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Advocacy tools An advocate is someone who uses advocacy to create a bigger change. There are different advocacy tools that can be used. Can you name any more? Option 1: Letter writing Write a letter to your local government suggesting solutions to reduce plastic pollution. Option 2: Campaign poster Make a poster, to show in your community, suggesting solutions to reduce plastic pollution.

16. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Have you seen any posters that changed your mind? Has a poster persuaded you to act differently? How can science help to create a persuasive poster? What makes a good campaign poster?

17. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Are you writing to someone who has the power to make a change? What change would you like to make and why is it important? How does science provide evidence to support change? What makes a good letter?

18. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? A turtle A drinks manufacturer A fisherman Describe what you would think of this lesson if you were

19. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Home learning Complete your Plastic advocacy task. This will involve redrafting your letter or poster to a professional standard. Where possible, complete on a computer and print out.  

20. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? Image credits All other images are courtesy of Encounter Edu

21. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? 1. Cigarette butts Cigarette filters are made up of tiny plastic fibres. They are not not widely recyclable. These fibres absorb the toxins from cigarettes and can pass them into the water. Studies suggest that one cigarette butt in a liter of water is enough to kill fresh water and marine fish. Reference: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3088407/

22. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? 2. Beverage bottles and bottle caps Plastic bottles are often made of Polyethene (PET), the most common type of plastic. It is 100% recyclable. When the plastic is degraded over time, the chemical additives can enter the water. These can reduce the growth and kill the crustacean and phytoplankton which other animals feed on. Reference: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653509000927r

23. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? 3. Straws Most straws are made of polypropylene (PP), which is recyclable. Many find their way into oceans. These can leach (release) chemicals into water, break down into microplastics, or be eaten by marine animals. Some sea turtles have been discovered with straws stuck in their throats and nasal cavities.

24. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? 4. Plastic bags Plastic bags are often made from polyethylene (PET), which is widely recyclable. They leach toxins into the water, degrade into microplastics, and can be eaten by animals when mistaken for food such as jelly fish. When animals ingest plastic bags, they accumulate in the stomach. Here they are not broken down. The animal feels full so eats less food. This can result in premature death.

25. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? 5. Fishing lines and Nets Up to 600,000-800,000 tonnes of fishing nets are abandoned or lost in the ocean each year. It is estimated that every year more than 100,000 whales, dolphin, seals, and turtles become entangled in these nets. Charities are currently working with fishing industry to change behaviors and encourage collection of abandoned nets. Reference: https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/how-banish-ghosts-dead-fishing-gear-our-seas

26. Lesson 4: How does plastic affect the environment? 6. Microplastics Microplastics are pieces of plastic smaller than 5mm. They can be released into the environment through cosmetics, or by the break down of larger plastic items over time. They are ingested by animals. Some researchers believe that these may help toxins enter animals blood stream faster. Reference: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330075176_Microplastics_in_the_Environment