"Plastics Can Be Good for the Environment" by Richard Stein  

      (with permission from the NEACT Journal, Summer- Fall 2002, Volume 21 No. 1, pp. 10-13)

 Polymer Activities for:

Grades K-2

1. Imagine a Day Without Plastics
2. Slimes and Gluep
3. Shrink Wrap With a Vacuum
4. Pop Bead Demonstration

Grades 3-5

1. Imagine a Day Without Plastics
2. Painting with Latex
3. Chewing Gum
4. Slimes and Gluep
5. Shrink Wrap With a Vacuum
6. Alien Challenge

7. Grow Creatures

8. Polymer Models

9. Pop Bead Demonstration

Grades 6-8

1. What Is A Polymer? (background and demos)
2. Imagine a Day Without Plastics
3. Latex Balls
4. Give It Your Best Shot
5.Painting with Latex
6. Chewing Gum
7. Polyethylene Bags
8. Microwave Popcorn
9. Saran Wrap
10. PET Bottle
11. Slimes and Gluep
12. Diffusion of Water With Polymers
13. Fiber Formation (demonstrations)
14. Polyethylene
15. Shrink Wrap With a Vacuum
16. Recycling and Sorting Trash
17. Alien Challenge

18.  Instant Snow Polymer (demonstration)

19. Polymer Models

20. Grow Creatures

21. Food Packaging - A learning Cycle of Activities

(This is about 50 pages in pdf)

Designer Sneakers

(There are two versions of this learning cycle activity.)

Designer Sneakers: Long Version  is written for upper elementary or middle school students (grades 5-9).  This module will take 14-16 class periods to complete.  The culminating activity is a hands-on experience where students make a prototype of a designer sneaker based on their testing results.  The final evaluation may involve PowerPoint presentations.  Designer Sneakers: Short Version  is written for upper elementary or middle school students (grades 5-9).  This module will take 8-9 class periods to complete.  The culminating activity is not a hands-on experience.  The final evaluation is a written report about the creation of a designer sneaker based on their testing results.  It is suggested that these two modules be used after the Hands On Plastics Kit has been introduced to the students.  This kit is available free from the American Chemistry Council at www.handsonplastics.com.  The kit introduces students to the six recycled plastics and helps them learn to identify the plastics using physical and chemical properties.  Revision of this popular kit was made in 2004 and is called HOP 2. The Akron Global Academy has these modules on their  Web site as well as video clips showing Designer Sneakers being used in an eighth grade classroom.  This site also has videos of What is a Polymer? for middle level students. Designer Sneakers - Long Version - Teacher Designer Sneakers - Long Version - Student Designer Sneakers - Short Version - Teacher Designer Sneakers - Short Version - Student

 

Grades 9-12

1. What Is A Polymer? (background and demos)
2. Latex Bands
3. Latex Balls
4. Painting with Latex
5. Happy and Sad Balls
6. Slimes and Gluep
7. Diffusion of Water With Polymers
8. Fiber Formation (demonstrations)
9. Polyethylene
10. Shrink Wrap With a Vacuum
11. Pop Bead Demonstration

12.  Instant Snow Polymer (demonstration)

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