As a High School or introductory Undergraduate Environmental Sciences or Chemistry teacher, you can use these computer based tools to teach about environmental pollutants like airborne microplastics and their impact on Earth’s climate.
This lesson plan examines environmental pollutants like microplastics, their sources, their environmental impacts, impact on human health and how airborne microplastics are contributing to climate change. Students will also be able to calculate their contribution to plastic pollution and learn ways to limit their use of single-use plastics.
Thus, the use of this lesson plan allows you to integrate the teaching of a climate science topic with a core topic in Chemistry and Environmental Sciences.
The tools in this lesson plan will enable students to:
Teacher-contributed lesson plan by Dr. Shikha Gulati (Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi), and Dr. Shefali Shukla (Sri Venkateswara College, University of Delhi).
Want to know more about how to contribute? Contact us.Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
Video (7 mins)
Use this video micro-lecture titled “How is it raining plastic?” developed by the American Chemical Society to introduce the topic of plastic rain. It can also be used to explain the main sources/causes of plastic rain, introduction to microplastics, the contribution of airborne microplastics to climate change, and possible impacts of microplastics on human health and the environment.
Reading (20 mins)
Next, use the reading titled “The fundamental links between climate change and marine plastic pollution”, by Ford et al. published in Science of The Total Environment, to describe how plastic contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout its life cycle. It also discusses how an increase in the number of extreme weather events, as a result of climate change, will worsen the spread of plastic in the natural environment. The reading will help students understand the impacts of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.
Classroom/ Laboratory Activity (15 mins)
Use the classroom/laboratory activity created by earthday.org to calculate and assess the students’ contribution in plastic pollution. In order to manage our plastic pollution, we need to measure it and this can be done using the calculator created. This calculator enables individuals to track their daily and yearly consumption of single-use plastics and also helps to explore ways to reduce it. This activity can also be used to provide alternatives to single-use plastic and take part in local clean-up actions to reduce plastic footprint.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading | This research article can be used to help students understand about the
spread of plastic production, its sources and consequences of microplastics in
the atmosphere.
This can be accessed here |
| 2 | Classroom/Labor atory Activity | This activity presents plastic pollution through a myriad of activities such as
word puzzles, surveys, and games, amongst others to help reduce, reuse, and
recycle plastics at individual level.
This can be accessed here. |
| 3 | Video | This video presents different possible ways to eliminate single-use plastics.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Video “How is it raining plastic?!” | Developed by American Chemical Society, powered by Science X Network |
| 2 | Reading “The fundamental links between climate change and marine plastic pollution” | An article by Ford, Helen. V. et al. published in Science of The Total Environment, Volume 806, Part 1, 2022. |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity titled “Plastic pollution calculator” | An article on earthday.org |
| 4 | Reading “Constraining the atmospheric limb of the plastic cycle” | An article by Brahney, Janice et al. published in PNAS April 20, 2021 118 (16) |
| 5 | Reading “Plastic Pollution: Curriculum and Activity Guide” | A curriculum was written and published by 5 Gyres Institute. |
| 6 | Video “How to eliminate single-use plastics on vacation” | A video by National Geographic, 2015-2021 |
Here is a step-by-step guide to using this lesson plan in the classroom/laboratory. We have suggested these steps as a possible plan of action. You may customize the lesson plan according to your preferences and requirements.
1.Introduce the topic by playing a video micro-lecture
Video (7 mins)
Use this video micro-lecture titled “How is it raining plastic?” developed by the American Chemical Society to introduce the topic of plastic rain. It can also be used to explain the main sources/causes of plastic rain, introduction to microplastics, the contribution of airborne microplastics to climate change, and possible impacts of microplastics on human health and the environment.
2. Demonstrate how it is related to Climate Change through this Reading
Reading (20 mins)
Next, use the reading titled “The fundamental links between climate change and marine plastic pollution”, by Ford et al. published in Science of The Total Environment, to describe how plastic contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions throughout its life cycle. It also discusses how an increase in the number of extreme weather events, as a result of climate change, will worsen the spread of plastic in the natural environment. The reading will help students understand the impacts of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.
3. Engage through Classroom/Laboratory Activity to calculate individual plastic pollution
Classroom/ Laboratory Activity (15 mins)
Use the classroom/laboratory activity created by earthday.org to calculate and assess the students’ contribution in plastic pollution. In order to manage our plastic pollution, we need to measure it and this can be done using the calculator created. This calculator enables individuals to track their daily and yearly consumption of single-use plastics and also helps to explore ways to reduce it. This activity can also be used to provide alternatives to single-use plastic and take part in local clean-up actions to reduce plastic footprint.
Use this lesson plan to help your students find answers to:
| 1 | Reading | This research article can be used to help students understand about the
spread of plastic production, its sources and consequences of microplastics in
the atmosphere.
This can be accessed here. |
| 2 | Classroom/Labor atory Activity | This activity presents plastic pollution through a myriad of activities such as
word puzzles, surveys, and games, amongst others to help reduce, reuse, and
recycle plastics at individual level.
This can be accessed here. |
| 3 | Video | This video presents different possible ways to eliminate single-use plastics.
This can be accessed here. |
| 1 | Video “How is it raining plastic?!” | Developed by American Chemical Society, powered by Science X Network |
| 2 | Reading “The fundamental links between climate change and marine plastic pollution” | An article by Ford, Helen. V. et al. published in Science of The Total Environment, Volume 806, Part 1, 2022. |
| 3 | Classroom/Laboratory Activity titled “Plastic pollution calculator” | An article on earthday.org |
| 4 | Reading “Constraining the atmospheric limb of the plastic cycle” | An article by Brahney, Janice et al. published in PNAS April 20, 2021 118 (16) |
| 5 | Reading “Plastic Pollution: Curriculum and Activity Guide” | A curriculum was written and published by 5 Gyres Institute. |
| 6 | Video “How to eliminate single-use plastics on vacation” | A video by National Geographic, 2015-2021 |
