With that in mind, this “toolkit” includes both material from the first year of this project, and the changes I made to it for the second iteration.

Key Academic skills & Content: Students gain scientific investigation skills including how to gather and interpret data, explain and create models for scientific phenomena and design, evaluate and refine a solution for reducing the amount of plastic waste generated.

Students will be able to:

• Conduct an investigation into the types and quantities of plastic waste in the community
• Investigate the effects of plastics and microplastics on the natural environment
• Observe and describe the physical and chemical changes to the Earth and biological species caused by plastic materials

Final product(s):

• School-wide Campaign
• Campaign Results Presentation to Local Community Members
• Large Display made out of recycled plastic to hang in local university

Suggested duration: 6 weeks

This project was created with the generous support of the Avalon Foundation.

Essential Question: How can we change our use of natural resources to make a positive impact?

Academic Skills & Content: Map making and interpretation, scientific research, creation and analysis of graphs, scientific drawings, identifying patterns in data, natural resource formation, distribution and uses of natural resources, rock cycle

Final Products: Endangered Element Infographic and Video Public Service Announcement

Suggested Duration: 8-10 Weeks

Created with the support of the California Department of Education California Career Pathways Trust