PLASTIC OCEANS EDUCATION COMPONENTS -­‐ UNITS 1 – 5 UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO PLASTIC Unit Objective: What is Plastic and why has it become so prolific over the last 60 years? By the end of this unit you will be able to identify the five different types of plastic and their p roperties,
identify uses, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of plastic. Learning Objective 1: To identify the 5 main groups of plastic materials and their properties. Learning Objective 2: To understand some of the uses of plastic. Learning Objective 3: To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of plastic. UNIT 2: PRODUCTION OF PLASTIC Unit Objective: What are the processes involved in the production of plastic? By the end of this unit you will understand the lifecycle of the p lastic p roducts and the implications with
regards to hazards and non-­‐ renewable resources. Learning Objective 1: To understand the lifecycle of a plastic product and the processes involved in its manufacture. Learning Objective 2: To discuss the problems of using a finite energy resource such as oil. Learning Objective 3: To identify the chemical hazards associated with each type of plastic. UNIT 3: ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS -­‐ LANDFILL Unit Objective: What are the problems of disposing of plastic? By the end of this unit you will identify the p roblems of disposing of plastic due to its persistent and n on-­‐
biodegradable properties; you will discuss the environmental issues surrounding landfill sites and b e aware o f
the costs to both the environment and the economy. Learning Objective 1: To understand that plastic is persistent and does not biodegrade but photo-­‐
degrade. Learning Objective 2: To discuss the problems of landfill sites: the issues of space; the destruction to natural habitats; and the fact they are unsustainable. Learning Objective 3: To understand the economics behind the disposal of plastic. UNIT 4: ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS -­‐ OCEANS Unit Objective: What are the problems of plastic pollution in the oceans? By the end of this unit you will know how and why p lastic pollution ends up the oceans; how it circulates due
to ocean currents and gyres and the detrimental effects it has on the marine wildlife. Learning Objective 1: To understand where plastic comes from and why it ends up in the ocean. Learning Objective 2: To identify the ocean currents and gyres and understand how they contributes to the movement of plastic. Learning Objective 3: To understand the detrimental effects plastic has on marine wildlife; to know the terms entrapment, ingestion and invasive species, and the implications UNIT 5: HEALTH Unit Objective: How is plastic pollution impacting on human health? By the end of this unit you will understand how p lastic is getting into our waterways and food chains and what
consequences this is having on human health. Learning Objective 1: To understand the implications of plastic pollution on society and wellbeing. Learning Objective 2: To know how plastic gets into our waterways and oceans. Learning Objective 3: To understand how chemicals associated with plastic get into the food-­‐chain and the consequences this may have.