RISORSE

Big Idea: Plastic

Jun 26, 2022

1Plastic is a perfect Big Idea to start your CBL because it is a complex topic that spans science, history, politics, economics, and human behavior. While we are learning more and more that plastic is bad for the environment and our health, it is still ubiquitous in almost everyone’s daily life. From computers, cars and lightweight packaging that has made the safe transfer of food possible, plastics have benefited our daily lives. Plastic has made our lives better and worse at the same time. 

Many of us do not think twice about how much plastic we use, directly and indirectly. And, for those who see the problem, there is a struggle to identify meaningful ways to make a difference.

Starting from the initial Challenge: Eliminate/Mitigate the negative impact of plastic!, Investigate deeply to understand the issue from a wide range of perspectives fully. There is a desperate need for creative and innovative thinking resulting in local and global solutions. Refine the Challenge to something contextual and actionable based on your new findings. Then start digging and thinking to develop sustainable solutions that move the needle.

Plastic is a Big Idea that will take deep thinking and learning to find solutions. So let’s get started as our health and the health of our planet depends on it. 

INGANNARE

Big Idea: Plastic
Essential Question: How do we eliminate the negative impact of plastic?
Challenge: Eliminate/Mitigate the negative impact of plastic!

Esempi di domande guida

Queste sono solo domande esemplificative che ti incoraggiamo a fare il maggior numero possibile di domande personali e contestuali.

  1. What is plastic?
  2. What are the ingredients in plastic?
  3. Where do we find plastics in our daily lives?
  4. What are the problems with plastic?
  5. What are the benefits of plastic?
  6. Why do we use so much plastic?
  7. What is the history of plastic development and use?
  8. What are the substitutes for plastic?
  9. Where does used plastic ends up?
  10. Does recycling work?
  11. Ecc.

*Once you brainstorm all of the questions organize and prioritize them to prepare for an efficient and effective Investigation.

INVESTIGARE

Attività e risorse guida
Questi sono solo una serie di attività e risorse di esempio e gli studenti dovranno valutare la qualità del contenuto. Non sono verificati o necessariamente supportati, solo esempi. Quelli che scegliete dovrebbero essere in relazione diretta con le vostre domande guida specifiche e il contesto. Le attività e le risorse per adulti, adolescenti e bambini più piccoli saranno diverse. L'obiettivo è quello di sviluppare soluzioni che abbiano un significato nella vostra comunità e che siano sostenibili.

Esempi di attività

  1. Starting with the Guiding Resources below develop a foundational understandign of the science, history, economics and politics of Plastics. Avoid jumping to conclusions and only supporting your opinions. Embrace the complexity and work to develop a braod view of the Big Idea and Challenge.
  2. Complete a personal inventory of where you use plastic in your daily life. Using your inventory explore possible options for replacing plastic. Consider what causes a barrier (habit, no options, health codes, etc.)
  3. Explore different industries (technology, health care, automotive, etc.) and learn how and where plastic is used. Consider the costs and benefits.
  4. Trace the lifecycle of plastic from the original ingredients to disposal.
  5. Identify the primary manufacturers of plastic are and find out what they are doing to protect people and the environment.
  6. Explore how plastic is used in your school and identiify if there are any policies or plans in place to replace, reduce or recycle.
  7. Research the effectiveness of recycling in your community.
  8. ecc.

Esempi di risorse

  1. History and Future of Plastics – https://www.sciencehistory.org/the-history-and-future-of-plastics
  2. Politics and the plastic crisis: A review throughout the plastic life cycle – https://wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/wene.360
  3. The Plastic Problem – https://www.nationalgeographic.org/lesson/plastic-problem/
  4. The Problems with Plastics – https://www.publichealthpost.org/research/problems-with-plastics/ 
  5. The Benefits of Plastic – https://cei.org/studies/the-immeasurable-benefits-of-plastics-to-humanity/
  6. The New Plastics Economy – https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_New_Plastics_Economy.pdf
  7. Recycling Plastic Does Not Work – https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/single-use-plastic-chemical-recycling-disposal/661141/

Sintesi

Usando i risultati della ricerca dalle tue indagini, sviluppa una sintesi che dimostri una chiara comprensione della sfida. Per un aiuto nella creazione di una sintesi esplora questa risorsa.

Prototipi di soluzioni - Usando la sintesi della tua ricerca, crea più idee di soluzioni e rivedile per assicurarti che la tua ricerca le supporti. Condividi i prototipi con i vari stakeholder e ottieni un feedback.

Soluzione - con il feedback delle parti interessate sviluppare una soluzione che ha il maggior potenziale di successo.

ACT

Implementare - Sviluppare un piano per implementare la soluzione con le parti interessate e raccogliere dati sull'impatto.

Valutare - Usando misure quantitative e qualitative determinare se la soluzione è valida e cosa può essere migliorato.

RIFLETTERE, DOCUMENTARE E CONDIVIDERE

Durante l'esperienza prendetevi del tempo per documentare gli eventi e riflettere su ciò che sta accadendo per costruire sulla conoscenza precedente e identificare le domande future.

Share what you learned with your local community and the world. Use #challengebasedlearning on social media.