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How is plastic made?

How is plastic made?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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This person made an entire house out of used plastic bottles! What do you think is inside?
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Some people have made entire rooms and furniture out of plastic bottles too! Check out that couch!
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These people are collecting bottles and taping them together. What do you think they’re making?
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They made a boat that really works! The boy on the right did too. His has pedals, like a bike has, to move it forward.
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You could try making a tiny plastic-bottle boat for your bathtub! Think like an inventor! What could yours look like?
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Some artists use plastic trash to make sculptures! Check out all the plastic bottles in this alligator!
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This artist made an entire whale! It’s made of more than just plastic bottles. What other plastic objects do you see?
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Its “mouth” is made of plastic straws. Its “chin” is made of plastic bags! What animal would you make out of plastic?
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An adult could help you cut a plastic bottle and color it. You could make an animal planter, or even make a piggy bank!
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This plastic on the street looks like garbage…but it’s actually an amazing work of art. What will happen? Guess.
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Surprise! When the plastic bags are filled with air, they take the shape of an animal! It’s like a balloon made of trash!
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If you have a plastic bag, you can make an air monster! An adult can help you find a fan or blow dryer to fill it with air!
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Here’s another sculpture. What do you think it is? Hint: It’s not JUST a fish…
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It’s a recycling bin on a beach! Its name is Goby. Plastic in oceans is a big problem. An artist made it fun to clean up!
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How could you make YOUR recycling bin more fun to use, like Goby the fish? Here are some ideas!
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Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Overview

In this mini-lesson, students will learn of the many problems the invention of plastic helped to solve, but they also learn how plastic can harm our environment.

Exploration

5 mins

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