Don’t be PLASTIC, be FANTASTIC

Introduction

The world is facing a plastic crisis. Plastic pollution has become a global concern, as our planet is drowning in plastic litter and microplastics. While plastic has many valuable uses, societies have become highly dependent on single-use or disposable plastic with severe environmental consequences. Each year, approximately eight million tons of plastic ends up in our oceans. Some researchers predict that this figure could double by 2025, while others suggest there could be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050.

The world is facing a plastic crisis. This WebQuest aims to help you to understand the effects of plastic in our environment and how you as an individual could contribute to lessen the negative effects of plastic in your respective community. And lastly, we will contribute to the efforts of reducing plastic pollution through recycling and making new things out of the supposed waste products.

Task

Your task in this WebQuest is to learn what plastic is, how it affects our environment and how as an individual could help alleviate the negative effects of plastic in your own community. Finally grouping yourself into ten groups, with each group having five members, you will then make an output made from plastic waste.

Process

Do your own research on the topic and look at the websites listed below for more information on the topic.

What is plastic?

https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic

https://www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/about-plastics/types-of-plastics/what-are-plastics/

What are the effects of plastic in our environment?

https://cleanstreets.westminster.gov.uk/plastic-waste-complete-guide/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2018/04/23/five-ways-that-plastics-harm-the-environment-and-one-way-they-may-help/?sh=2ffb1d6467a0

https://www.ehn.org/plastic-environmental-impact-2501923191/high-bpa-and-phthalate-exposure.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution

How as an individual could we help in reducing plastics?

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution#:~:text=1.,replace%20them%20with%20reusable%20versions.

https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/how-to-reduce-plastic-use

https://www.reefrelief.org/2013/01/51-ways-to-reduce-plastic-use-or-completely-eliminate-it/

http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/nationalgreenweeksub/waste-reduction-tips/tips-to-use-less-plastic.html

https://blogs.worldbank.org/voices/five-things-you-can-do-end-plastic-pollution

https://www.enviroforensics.com/blog/10-things-you-can-do-to-reduce-plastic-pollution/

Now that you are knowledgeable about the topic, you are ready for the next activity. Your next activity will be, you need to group yourselves into ten groups, with each group having five members.
Now that you are grouped, you need to do brainstorming on how to create an output from plastic waste such as water bottles, plastic bags, etc. Since this is a group activity each member should contribute and give their own ideas and opinions on how to carry out the project. You will have one meeting to perform this.
You have ten days to do this project, after ten days you need to present it in class. You only need one output for this project and it should be creative and useful in our daily lives.

Evaluation

	1	2	3	4
Creativity	The students' work shows little or no evidence of original thought.	The students’ work lacked originality.	The students’ work demonstrates originality.	The students’ work demonstrates a unique level of originality.
Effort	The students’ did not finish the work in a satisfactory manner.	The students’ finish the project but lack finishing touches or can still be improved with a little effort.	The students’ completed the project in an above average manner, yet more could have been done.	The students’ gave an effort beyond the requirements of this project.
Skill	The students’ showed poor craftsmanship.	The students’ showed average craftsmanship.	The students’ showed above average craftsmanship.	The students’ showed outstanding craftsmanship.

Conclusion

In the process of completing this WebQuest, you’ve become informed about what plastic is, how it affects our environment and how each one of us could help in reducing the plastic waste. Finally, you have completed a project using only plastic waste. May your learning and efforts to reduce plastic waste do not stop here, remember Don’t be Plastic, be Fantastic in pursuing the best for our environment.

Credits