New York Science Grade 6

Unit 4: Interdependence

Technology

Introduction:
What do plastic, glass and paper have in common? For one thing, heat is required at some point when they are being made. They also can all be recycled to reduce waste. When we learn more about the manufacture and use of these materials, we can make better decisions about how we use them.

Task:
Have students design a chart to compare the production of plastics, metals, glass, paper, and polystyrene. They should include the following categories:

• Natural resources used
• Equipment and materials needed
• Energy use
• Cost
• Location
• Safety concerns
• Environmental concerns

Students should reflect on each material and consider how recycling affects each of these categories.

Time:
1 class period to conduct research, 1 class period to create chart

Possible Resources:
Plastics
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/plastics.html
http://www.plastics.org.nz/page.asp?id=546

Metals
http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/scho-ecol/toc_e.htm
http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/metalmfg.html

Glass
http://www.bsnglasspack.com/html_gb/le_verre/fabrication_verre_gb.htm
http://www.civilization.ca/hist/verre/vemak01e.html

Paper
http://www.tappi.org/paperu/all_about_paper/paperMade.htm
http://www.ptpc.com/papermaking.html

Polystyrene
http://www.plasticseurope.org/Content/Default.asp?PageID=277

Environmental Concerns
http://www.deq.virginia.gov/p2/metalmftg.html

Rubric:
Click here for a rubric to help score this project (69.0K)