We're Drowning in Plastic Pollution. Can We Actually Fix It?
Videos
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences, History
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Be Smart
What it is
- This video from Be Smart thoroughly details the plastic pollution problem including the history of plastic, causes and effects of this pollution, challenges to solving the issue, and potential solutions.
- Greenhouse gas emissions from the production and transportation of plastic, as well as the transportation and cleanup of plastic waste, are highlighted as other ways that plastic pollutes.
- The video emphasizes the complex systemic changes that will be necessary to solve a problem of this scope and scale, far beyond individuals' actions.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The video is very in-depth and covers all aspects of plastic pollution.
- The video is realistic about how difficult this problem will be to solve, while remaining optimistic and providing actionable solutions.
Prerequisites
- An advertisement may play at the start and partway through the video, which can be skipped after a few seconds.
- The video is divided into nine sections that can be played individually instead of playing the entire video at one time.
Differentiation & Implementation
- In a science class, this video can be included in lessons about oceans, water pollution, fossil fuels, or human impacts on the environment.
- This video can be used in a history class as it connects the history of plastic to important historical events like World War II.
- The video briefly discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has increased plastic waste, which can provide an interesting connection between healthcare and pollution or underscore unseen impacts of a global pandemic.
- A chemistry class can utilize this video to discuss the molecular structure and characteristics of plastics that make them so difficult to break down or convert into other forms through recycling processes.
- Other resources about plastic pollution include Why We Need to Stop Plastic Pollution in Our Oceans For Good and Plastic Pollution: How Humans Are Turning the World into Plastic.
- Resources that highlight actions being taken to help solve plastic pollution include Future in the Bag Community Action Guide and #Trashtag: The Online Challenge Cleaning Places Up.
From the scientist review
This resource is a 15-minute video that gives a comprehensive overview of the history of plastics, including when they were invented and used, how many plastic products are produced today, their ultimate fate, and ways in which we can reduce and clean up plastic pollution. This resource has a nice balance between looking at the plastic problem with an unflinching eye and offering actionable solutions. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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