ReMA Recycling Collection: Resources for K-12 - DEV    >   Grade Level Activity Collections

Bag It!

The average American uses more than 300 plastic bags every year. This activity challenges students to monitor their plastic bag usage, and explore where plastic bags come from and the energy it takes to make them. Finally, students create their own messaging to encourage their communities to re-use and recycle plastic bags in an environmentally friendly way.

Resource Title:

Bag It!

Description:

The average American uses more than 300 plastic bags every year. This activity challenges students to monitor their plastic bag usage, and explore where plastic bags come from and the energy it takes to make them. Finally, students create their own messaging to encourage their communities to re-use and recycle plastic bags in an environmentally friendly way.

Target Grade Level:

Grades K-4

Discipline or Course (Audience):

Science

Time Frame:

Two 90-minute class periods without extensions

Suggested Grouping:

Individual

Key Vocabulary:

Fossil fuel

Educator Prep:

Preparation Directions:

  • Gather materials.
  • Print student activity sheets (one for each student).
  • Using your newsletter or electronic communications, ask parents to help students keep track of the number of plastic bags used over the course of the week.
  • Generate a map of your community. You can go directly to Web Link - Google Maps for simple maps and type in your city or town. By zooming in or out, you can obtain the desired level of detail and print (Alt + PrtScr will print an image of the window you have open). You can also obtain maps at the town hall, library, or AAA.
  • Collect various HDPE plastic bags from local stores that kids will recognize.
Optional: For the extension activity, collect crochet hooks.

Part 1: Count Your Plastic Bags Teacher Directions

Conduct the activity with students. Students should record their family’s plastic bag usage every day for a week. At the end of each day, or at the end of the week, have students help complete the class data sheet.

You might project this on your computer and have students come up to add their information, or you might have them report while you or another student types. You might also have the class data on a clipboard to pass around to the class and have them fill in by hand.

Some families might not use any bags during the particular week you conduct this activity, so it is important to have students use the collective data set as well. Consider including a discussion of how collecting data for one week may not be the most accurate way to determine actual usage.

For the mapping activity, you may need to orient students to scale and how to determine distance. Students can use a string (especially if they are not travelling in a straight path) to map out their routes. 

Have students discuss why and how to improve methods if they wanted to collect more reliable data.


Remote Learning Adaptations:

This resource is appropriate for remote learning; no adaptations or modifications are necessary.

STUDENT CONTENT BELOW:

 



Did you know that the average American uses more than 300 plastic bags every year? These bags can be harmful to people and the environment. The good news is that plastic bags can be reused and recycled. This saves energy, too.

Plastic bags are made from oil, similar to the material that heats your home in the wintertime! Oil is a type of fossil fuel, meaning it takes millions and millions of years for it to form and is made from the remains of dead animals and plants buried deep beneath the ground. To get oil in the first place, you need to go underground where it is stored. Then, the oil must be changed through heat and chemical processes. It takes about as much energy to make fifteen plastic bags as it takes to drive a car one mile!

Recycled plastic bags can be made into new products like building materials, fencing, and trash cans. Making things from recycled plastic bags takes less energy than making things from scratch!

In this activity, you will find out how many plastic bags you and your family use in a week. Then, you will explore your local community to find places where plastic bags can be recycled and help make a map to share with your schoolmates, friends, and family.

Materials:

  • Device with internet access
  • Map of local community (one per student)
  • String
  • Ruler
  • Calculator
  • Markers
  • Poster board or paper to create a flyer

Safety Notes:

There are no anticipated physical safety risks associated with this Activity.

Part 1: Count Your Plastic Bags







Table 1: Bag It! Class Data


Student

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Total
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 

Part 2: Create a Map of Recycling Locations

  1. Plastic bags can be recycled at many store locations. How could you find out where these recycling bins are located? Over the course of the week, try to find as many local plastic recycling centers as possible and report these locations to your teacher. There are some useful websites that can also help you learn more about where local plastic bag recycling drop-off sites are such as Web Link - Bag and Film Recycling Drop-off Directory .
  2. Using the information you and your classmates collect, mark the places where you can recycle your plastic bags on your map. Help students mark the places where they can recycle plastic bags on their maps. It helps if you can also project the same map and show locations.
  3. Using the map you created, make a poster or flyer that will help your family and neighbors find places to recycle their plastic bags and remind them of the importance. Provide guidance as needed as students make a poster or flyer that will help their family and neighbors find places to recycle their plastic bags. End products might be displayed throughout the school as well.

Reflect and Apply:

  • How could you reduce the amount of plastic bags you use?
  • List 2-3 things you should not do with your plastic bags and explain why.
  • List 2-3 ways to get rid of used plastic bags that are friendly and safe for the environment.

Extension:

  • Oil is a “non-renewable” resource. Using the internet and any other resources you may have available to you, research the term “non-renewable”. How does the production of plastic bags impact the environment?
  • Journal Question: Why is it important to recycle your plastic bags?
  • Create a memory bracelet from used plastic bags. Use the directions provided. Or create a recycling project of your own with your used plastic bags. What other projects or artwork could you make? Share projects with your class. (GRACE: EMBED STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET by linking DIRECTIONS PROVIDED--Page 7 of the original PDF. This will not need to be printed by the students, just opened and followed)



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