Lesson Plan

2. Explore plastics in water

N22_KS3_02

Intent

Lesson Outcomes

  • Learn what the research says about microplastics in water
  • How microplastics are removed
  • The impact of plastic on our water

National Curriculum

  • Earth as a source of limited resources and the efficacy of recycling
  • The production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate
  • L1 – Pupils learn study, organisational, research and presentation skills
  • L3 – Pupils learn to set realistic yet ambitious targets and goals

Working Scientifically

  • Interpret observations and data, including Present observations and data using appropriate methods, including tables and graphs

Resources

Resources: 6 boxes to categorise lunchtime rubbish, pen, pencil

Handout: Handout contains a tally chart for pupils to record their findings.

Rocket words

  • effluent
  • microplastics
  • biofilm
  • pathogen
  • flocculation

Implementation

Starter

Place a plastic 6 pack can holder, plastic bottle and plastic packaged lunch box on the front table and ask students to identify the advantages and disadvantages of using plastic to our environment.

Main Teaching

Tell pupils that they are going to take a look at the rubbish created during a typical lunchtime break and sort the items into wood, metal, paper glass and plastic. Be sure children are briefed not to sort through rubbish but to categorise packaging before it becomes waste. Ask pupils to create a tally chart to record the categories of waste each item of packaging will fall into. Pupils might like to think about how they can encourage the pupil body to recycle their waste by ensuring waste is discarded into the correct recycled collection bin. If recycling bins are not currently used in your schools perhaps you can create 6 boxes labelled appropriately, wood, glass, metal, plastic, paper, and food waste.

Once pupils have collected their data and evidence students are to create a report which summarises their findings. The report might include graphs, and photographs, to show the amount of wood, glass, paper, glass and plastic collected during a typical lunchtime break. Pupils are to analyse and discuss the rubbish generated. How can unwanted waste be reduced?

Career Film: Ellie Henderson works as a Community Education Manager at Anglian Water. Click on the tour to find out more about Ellie's job role. 

Expert Film: Ellie Henderson, a Community Education Manager at Anglian Water, discusses plastic in the water, microplastics and how it affects ecosystems and sewage treatment.

Mission Assignment

Pupils are to conduct a lunchtime rubbish audit by sorting waste items into wood, metal, paper glass.

Create a tally chart to record the categories of waste each item of packaging will fall into.

Create a report which summarises your findings. The report might include graphs, and photographs, to show the amount of wood, glass, paper, glass and plastic collected. Pupils are to analyse and discuss the rubbish generated.

Challenge Task:

Identify how unwanted waste be reduced.

Impact & Assessment Opportunities

Plenary

Ask pupils to share their recommendations of how to reduce the amount of waste generated during a lunchtime break.