Plastic Planet

1. Set Focus
Pose this essential question to guide discussion: Why does plastic pollution matter?

2. List Vocabulary
Share with students some of the challenging vocabulary words in this article (see right). Encourage them to use context to infer meanings as they read..

• accumulating (p. 8)
• ubiquitous (p. 9)
• synthetic (p. 10)
• degrade (p. 10)
• concentration (p. 10)
• implemented (p. 11)

3. Engage
Ask students to list the things they use that are made of or contain plastic. Then ask them if they know what happens to plastic goods after they’ve been thrown away or recycled. Have students revisit this discussion after the lesson and share any new insights they’ve gained.

4. Read 
Have students read the article, marking the text to note key ideas or questions.

5. Discuss
Distribute or project Up Close: Plastic Planet, a close-reading activity for students to work on in small groups. (Note: The questions on the PDF also appear on the following page of this lesson, with possible responses.) Follow up with a class discussion. If you’re short on time, have each group tackle one or two of the questions. Collect students’ work or have each group report its findings to the class.

• What are the central ideas of the article? How does the title support the central ideas? (Central ideas, text structure)(The article discusses how tiny plastic particles called microplastics have infiltrated the environment due to the buildup and breakdown of plastic pollution. The article also discusses the potential health risks that the ingestion of microplastics might pose to humans. The title, “Plastic Planet,” supports these ideas by implying that plastic has become so omnipresent that it’s now part of almost everything on Earth, including the air, water, soil, and the bodies of plants and animals.)

• How did Cash Daniels become known as “The Conservation Kid”? Why do you think the article opens and closes with his story? (Central ideas, text structure)(After Cash Daniels discovered that plastic straws could hurt sea life, he was inspired to start leading river cleanups. He has continued to do cleanups for the past eight years, removing more than 45,000 pounds of trash. Answers about why the article begins and ends with his story may vary, but some possible explanations include the author wanting to connect the article’s ideas to a concrete example or introduce a young person the reader might relate to.)

• What is the connection between plastic disposal and microplastics? What problem might be caused by the presence of microplastics in our environment? (Cause & effect, problem & solution)(The increased presence of plastic waste has led to a buildup of aging plastic which, as it breaks down, sheds microplastics into the environment. Although scientists are still researching their impact, they believe they may cause problems for human health.) 

• How does the data in “Where Ocean Microplastics Come From” support the central ideas in the article? (Word meaning, integrate information)(The data in the box shows the products that are the major sources of microplastics in our oceans. This data supports the central idea that plastic plays a large role in practically every aspect of our lives, and it shows the reader which products people might want to focus on recycling or finding alternatives for.) 

• In the section “Little Recycling,” Matthew Campen says, “Even if we stop making plastics today, we will have a continued increase of micro- and nanoplastics in the environment for generations to come.” Based on details in the article, why does this matter? (Analyze details, integrate information)(According to details in the section “Little Recycling,” researchers found a correlation between the amount of plastic in the environment and the amount inside our brains. In addition, in the section “Taking Action,” it says scientists are trying to determine how much plastic in the body could trigger health issues. From these details, one can conclude that future generations exposed to an increased concentration of microplastics for longer periods of time will be more likely to face health issues, which is why the continued increase of microplastics in the environment matters.) 

• What are some ways people are trying to reduce the amount of microplastics? (Problem & solution) (Students’ responses will vary, but some possible answers include reducing or banning use of single-use plastics, banning the production of certain products, suing polluters, and increasing cleanup efforts.)

6. Writing Prompt
Create a pamphlet to educate the public about the potential health impacts of microplastics and how we can prevent plastic waste.

7. Video
Watch the video about microplastics. What does it add to your understanding of the topic?

8. Classroom Debate
Should single-use plastics be banned?

9. Quiz & Skills
Use the quiz to assess comprehension and the Analyze the Graphs skills sheet to practice data analysis.