Too often we toss trash into blue bins without really considering if it can actually be reused. This short animation introduces young people to plastic recycling symbols by explaining how manufacturing and chemical content affect the disposability of materials. Students will be motivated to become recycling champions who always check symbols before throwing away their waste.
This film supports science and social studies outcomes related to properties of materials, recycling and sustainability. The clip would also make an excellent introduction to an Earth Day activity such as a schoolyard clean up.
The information about plastics could be used as the basis of an action project that involves a class in a school waste audit to determine if trash is being disposed of correctly. If non-recyclables are being placed in the recycling bins then the class could conduct an education campaign to challenge teachers and students to become better waste handlers.
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