Density 2
The “Life Cycle” of Plastic
©Sue Boudreau 11.7.2012
How is plastic made? What’s it used for and how is it disposed of? Make a class-constructed PowerPoint, see some
multi-medias and figure out what the costs and benefits of plastics are.
1. Decide which piece of the plastic life cycle you and your partner will research:
1. Title Page – overview of coolness of plastic with pics and statistics.
2. The history of plastic. (Who discovered it? When & how? First plastics).
3. Why is plastic such a great product? The “Pros” of plastic.
4. What are some unusual/cool/life-saving uses of plastic (not just recycled)?
5. What are the biggest differences plastics make in our lives? (Compare to life in the
old days, or life in very poor, developing countries.)
6. What are the kinds of plastic? (ex. Resin #s, names & main benefits of each type.)
7. What is plastic made of? What are the elements in plastic? It’s molecular structure?
Mention ‘polymers’ in your explanation.
8. How is named type of plastic resin manufactured to make “nurdles”?
9. How is a particular, common product made from resin nurdles to the final product?
10. Disposing of plastic – what happens when it’s recycled? Thrown away?
11. Environmental and health effects of plastics. (“Cons” of plastics.)
12. What should we do about plastics in our future – essential uses and alternatives
2. Find information and images for your slides:
a. Research information on your topic. Wikipedia is a great starting point. You can
also see links at the end of the Wikipedia article. Take notes and cite source. Save pictures to
your server folder. Save quotes/statistics to a word document or just take notes.
b. Find the “Life Cycle of Plastic BLANK” with your period # in Google Docs.
c. Your slides should include
 At least 2 pictures or graphics and a statistic (either a number or a graph).
 Short captions for your images.
 Cite your reliable source(s) and your names in small type at the bottom of
the slides.
3. Watch the class Google Doc presentation on the life cycle of plastic and take notes as
below:
4. What is the raw material that plastics are made from? __________________________
5. What are the pros and cons of plastics?
Pros of Plastics
Cons of Plastics
6. Draw and label the “Life” of plastic from petroleum (unrefined or ‘crude’ oil) through
manufacture, shipping, use and disposal. Use a different color to show where some
health/environmental problems can occur.
7. What are some properties of plastics that cause health/environmental problems?
8. What is the most interesting thing you learned about plastic so far?
9. Write a question you have about plastic.
Plastic “Life Cycle” Google Doc Slide Rubric
Names: _____________________________________________________________________Per: _____
Slide(s) # and Title: _________________________________________________________
Points
Comments
Complete?
4
2 pics + relevant info
presented as text or orally.
Correct information?
4
Cited (organization, url)
4
Clear and Cool?
Easy to understand?
Interesting?
Collaboration – did you
share the work evenly? See
me if not.
TOTAL
4
4
/20
Plastic “Life Cycle” Google Doc Slide Rubric
Names: _____________________________________________________________________Per: _____
Slide(s) # and Title: _________________________________________________________
Points
Comments
Complete?
4
2 pics + relevant info
presented as text or orally.
Correct information?
4
Cited (organization, url)
4
Clear and Cool?
Easy to understand?
Interesting?
Collaboration – did you
share the work evenly? See
me if not.
TOTAL
4
4
/20