Plastic Pollution Effects in Our Environment and Health

ENL Class

Ms. Rodriguez

INTRODUCTION

Our world is filled with plastic! We use plastic for almost everything. We use plastic to make plastic bags, make decorations, create food containers, bookcases, and even our clothes, which have some plastic material. Although plastic is useful, plastic is a major environmental problem. Plastic is a significant pollutant, and plastic pollutants are causing harmful effects on our environment and health.

TASK

In order to combat plastic pollution, within the next two weeks, you will create a research-based project explaining what plastic pollution is and how it affects people in NYC and create solutions that students in our class can follow to diminish our impact on the environment. By the end of the project, you will create a poster explaining what you learned and provide at least three ideas of what you will do to reduce your plastic pollution impact in school.

PROCESS

Your teacher will divide the class in groups of two, and you will research information about plastic pollution, how it started, what problems it is causing and you will create a plan to reduce the plastic use in our school community.

To better understand the problem and find a solution to our problems, you will use skills used as a Public Policy Analyst (PPA).

1) First you will identify the problem

2) You will gather evidence to demonstrate the problem

3) Determine what is causing the problem and the facts that are contributing to the problem

4) Evaluate existing policies in place in our school

5) Develop public policy alternatives

6) Determine rules and habits that you and the school community can change to diminish our plastic use at I.S. 187

RESOURCES

· What is Plastic Pollution?

· Waste

· Clean and Green Schools

· Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic | Short Film Showcase

· Recycling Rules NYC

· End Plastic Pollution

· Plastic pollution: harmful chemicals in our plastics

· How plastic affects our Human Health

· Microplastics on Human Health: How Much Do They Harm Us?

EVALUATION

	4	3	2	1
Content	The project includes accurate and in-depth information on all important subject matter and includes well developed details and examples. Overall subject knowledge is excellent.	The project includes key information about the topic that is accurate and includes appropriate details and examples. Overall subject knowledge appears to be good.	The project includes some key information about the topic but there are some inaccuracies, irrelevant information or insufficient details. Overall subject knowledge is limited.	There is not enough information presented, the information is irrelevant or there are several inaccuracies. Overall subject knowledge is poor.
Research	There is evidence of thorough research and all information is arranged and presented in the writer's own words.	There is evidence of research and most of the information is presented in the writer's own words.	There is not enough research evident or too much of the information is copied directly from a text.	There is no research evident or the information is completely copied from a text.
Vocabulary	The writer makes extensive use of challenging domain vocabulary in an appropriate manner.	The writer makes some use of domain vocabulary in an appropriate manner.	The writer makes limited use of domain vocabulary, or the vocabulary is used incorrectly, is not relevant to the topic or is not at all challenging.	There is no domain vocabulary evident.
Graphics	All graphics are related to the topic, include captions, and are presented in a way that clearly enhances the content.	All graphics are related to the topic and help explain the content.	All graphics relate to the topic but have limited effect on explaining the content.	Graphics do not relate to the topic.
Presentation	There is a clear and well thought out plan to present information and graphics in a creative way that clearly lifts the overall quality of the project.	There is evidence of a plan to present information and graphics in an organized manner.	There is limited evidence of planning or the project is presented in an unorganized manner.	The presentation is very limited or has insufficient information or graphics.
Mechanics	There are virtually no spelling, grammar, punctuation or capitalization errors.	There are few spelling, grammar, punctuation or capitalization errors.	There are errors but they do not seriously interfere with the ability to read the narrative.	There are many errors that seriously interfere with the ability to read the narrative.

Sofiya D. Social Studies/Science Research Project Rubric Upper Elementary. Teachers Pay Teachers. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-StudiesScience-Research-Project-Rubric-Upper-Elementary-4600386. Retrieved on January 1, 2024.

CONCLUSION

You have completed a research-based project about plastic pollution. In this project you were able to understand what plastic pollution is, how it affects our society and health, and you created a solution to reduce our plastic pollution in our class and school community. Now that the project is over, continue to think about ways that you can continue to reduce plastic pollution inside school and outside our school community.

STANDARDS

6W1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.
6W1a: Introduce a precise claim, acknowledge and distinguish the claim from a counterclaim, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.

6W5: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Apply the grade 6 Reading Standards to both literary and informational text, where applicable.

6SL1: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others.

6W6: Conduct research to answer questions, including self- generated questions, drawing on multiple sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.

6W5: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. Apply the grade 6 Reading Standards to both literary and informational text, where applicable.