In this challenge, students try to adopt as many plastic-free habits as possible.
Changing our relationship with single-use plastic starts by changing our habits. Sometimes we don’t realize the impact of our daily life on the environment. In this challenge, students try to adopt as many plastic-free habits as possible.
Print & Copy:
• Student handout: My Plastic-Free Habits, (one per student)
Printables
Instructions
- Using one of the additional resources below or any other resource, discuss the impact of plastic on the environment with your class.
- Explain to the class that there are things we can do to make a difference and one way is by taking on a plastic-free for a week challenge.
- Introduce the five plastic-free habits of this challenge.
- Distribute the handouts and explain how to fill them out.
- At the end of the week, collect all the handouts.
- Make a full class tally and talk about the results with the class.
Discussion Questions
REFLECTION ON THE ACTIVITY
- Which habit was the most difficult for you?
- Which other habits could we add to the challenge?
- Why do you think it is difficult to use less plastic?
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
What can you do to help decrease the use of plastic?
Teacher Tips
Check in with the students daily to see how it is going and answer any questions
Additional Resources
For a downloadable version of the Plastic-Free for a Week Challenge, click here
To introduce the topic of plastics, Earth Rangers has a created an interactive quiz about plastics:
How long till it’s gone: https://www.earthrangers.com/EN/CA/all/how-long-till-its-gone/
Earth Rangers’ Journey of a Plastic Bag information sheet gives more details about the environmental impact of plastic bags.
Video: The Problem with Ocean Plastic (Canada Geographic, 2020) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68iBPAI7zMk
This short video can help introduce your students to the problem of plastics in the ocean.
Book: One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon (2015, Millbrook Press)
This inspirational illustrated storybook tells the true story of an initiative by women in the Gambia to recycle plastic bags. Supporting material can be found on the book’s website.