
Plastics
Levels 3 and 4

NZC Achievement Objectives

Te Mātauranga o Aotearoa
Properties and Changes of Matter: Classify materials by observing and measuring their properties such as electrical or thermal conductivity or acidity.
Ngā Āhuatanga me ngā Panoni Matū: Ka whakarōpū i ētahi matū mā te mātakitaki me te ine i ngā āhuatanga ōkiko, kawekawe hoki, pēnei i te kawe hiko, te kawe pōkākā, me te waikawatanga.

Learning Intentions

Integration Ideas
Learning Intentions are from the Ministry of Education
Integration ideas are from the Ministry of Education
Level 4
Investigating and grouping common plastics, using physical and chemical properties.
Technology: Identify and consider different views and feelings of people in relation to some specific technological developments or effects eg. noise pollution
Technology: Describe and identify the positive and negative effects of some instances of technologies on people’s lives and the environment eg. the effects of fast ferries on shorelines.

Related Topics
Resources

Colouring In! Humans have flooded the planet with plastic, and now we’re seeing its dangerous effects. Let’s send plastic packing from our oceans.
Level
1-4
Type
Art Activity
Be fantastic – use less plastic!
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Colouring In! Humans have flooded the planet with plastic, and now we’re seeing its dangerous effects. Let’s send plastic packing from our oceans.

From your toothbrush to your television, plastic products are absolutely everywhere. It’s difficult to imagine life without these synthetic compounds.
Level
4
Type
Book
Connected 2013 Level 4: ‘Accidental Plastics’
Ministry of Education NZ
From your toothbrush to your television, plastic products are absolutely everywhere. It’s difficult to imagine life without these synthetic compounds.

Raise awareness of the problem of by-catch, caused by aggressive fishing methods, and learn how you can help stop more plastic microfibres getting into our deepest ocean trenches.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Don’t forget deep sea marine
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Raise awareness of the problem of by-catch, caused by aggressive fishing methods, and learn how you can help stop more plastic microfibres getting into our deepest ocean trenches.

This activity encourages students to explore various aspects of complex issues. It encourages students to consider the interaction of science and diverse community views.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity
Establishing priorities for solving problems
Ministry of Education NZ
This activity encourages students to explore various aspects of complex issues. It encourages students to consider the interaction of science and diverse community views.

It’s time to talk trash with Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELDw2kjr1J4
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Garbage
Bill Nye The Science Guy
It’s time to talk trash with Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELDw2kjr1J4

Nanogirl, Emma and her friends from Breens Intermediate visit ESR in Christchurch where they meet expert Olga Pantos and find out all about microplastics.
Link to experiment: https://youtu.be/b-2s-g8_JHU
Level
1-4
Type
Podcast
How does microplastic get into the sea?
Nanogirl
Nanogirl, Emma and her friends from Breens Intermediate visit ESR in Christchurch where they meet expert Olga Pantos and find out all about microplastics.
Link to experiment: https://youtu.be/b-2s-g8_JHU

Did you know plastics can be made from lots of different things? Try this easy experiment at home to make your own plastic from milk!
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Make plastic from milk!
Nanogirl
Did you know plastics can be made from lots of different things? Try this easy experiment at home to make your own plastic from milk!

Enjoying making plastic while learning about its interesting properties with this great chemistry project and lesson plan for kids..
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Making Plastic
Science Kids
Enjoying making plastic while learning about its interesting properties with this great chemistry project and lesson plan for kids..

In this episode Dr Michelle Dickinson will cover the different types and properties of materials, carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about nanomaterials with Associate Professor Nicola Gaston from The MacDiarmid Institute.
Level
3-4
Type
Video
Materials: BREAKING IT DOWN Episode 4
Nanogirl
In this episode Dr Michelle Dickinson will cover the different types and properties of materials, carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about nanomaterials with Associate Professor Nicola Gaston from The MacDiarmid Institute.

Lots of things around us are made of plastic. But what is plastic? Does it grow on a plastic plant?
Suzy uses milk to investigate! She even manages to sneak some jelly beans in too :D
Level
1-2
Type
Video
Plastic: What is plastic?
Suzy's World
Lots of things around us are made of plastic. But what is plastic? Does it grow on a plastic plant?
Suzy uses milk to investigate! She even manages to sneak some jelly beans in too :D

Dr Michelle Dickinson will cover the basic science of making plastics to have different properties as well as recycling plastics, carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about bioplastics with Dr Florian Graichen from Scion.
Level
3-4
Type
Video
Plastics: BREAKING IT DOWN Episode 3
Nanogirl
Dr Michelle Dickinson will cover the basic science of making plastics to have different properties as well as recycling plastics, carry out a hands-on experiment and talk about bioplastics with Dr Florian Graichen from Scion.

This episode doesn’t stink, even though it’s about pollution.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h3kjFRLpWs
Level
1-4
Type
Video
Pollution
Bill Nye The Science Guy
This episode doesn’t stink, even though it’s about pollution.
Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h3kjFRLpWs

This activity encourages students to explore various aspects of complex issues. It encourages students to consider the interaction of science and diverse community views.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity
Ranking environmental problems
Ministry of Education NZ
This activity encourages students to explore various aspects of complex issues. It encourages students to consider the interaction of science and diverse community views.

We all have a rubbish monster – are you looking after yours? Use the tick boxes to assess how you’re doing, or to make some important changes.
Level
1-4
Type
Poster
Responsible Owners Manual: Rubbish Monster
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
We all have a rubbish monster – are you looking after yours? Use the tick boxes to assess how you’re doing, or to make some important changes.

Frame up pictures of your most loved NZ places, plants, and animals with rubbish you’ve collected just by walking around your community. It will inspire you to reduce your waste and/or manage your waste properly for sure!
Level
1-4
Type
Art Activity
Rubbish Frames for Treasured Places
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Frame up pictures of your most loved NZ places, plants, and animals with rubbish you’ve collected just by walking around your community. It will inspire you to reduce your waste and/or manage your waste properly for sure!

An activity to explain the feeding relationships of marine animals and plants and to investigate the results of human intervention on these relationships.
Level
3-4
Type
Activity
Trails and Trials of Marine Toxins
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
An activity to explain the feeding relationships of marine animals and plants and to investigate the results of human intervention on these relationships.

Establish your own waste minimisation project at home or school. There is lots of scope for us to better reduce waste and to reclaim useful resources from our waste too.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Waste Minimisation Challenge
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Establish your own waste minimisation project at home or school. There is lots of scope for us to better reduce waste and to reclaim useful resources from our waste too.

Our Waste Warriors Award Scheme is a way for kids to form better habits around waste, and to be recognised positively for their efforts and progress.
Level
1-4
Type
Activity
Waste Warriors Award Scheme
Kiwi Conservation Club - Hakuturi Toa
Our Waste Warriors Award Scheme is a way for kids to form better habits around waste, and to be recognised positively for their efforts and progress.