TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is an interesting and somewhat publicized environmental problem. A swirling soup of trash up to 10 meters deep and just below the water surface is composed mainly of non-degradable plastics. These...
Practical Action
Practical Action: Plastics Challenge
This is a challenge for students to develop solutions to the problems caused by plastic waste globally. They will learn about how plastic waste impacts people around the world, the different types of plastic, how they are each used, how...
![American Chemical Society: The Bakelizer [Pdf] Handout](http://content.lessonplanet.com/resources/thumbnails/456091/large/bwluav9tywdpy2symdizmdeyny0xmte3mdk4lwcwy3uxni5qcgc.jpg?1674856933 "American Chemical Society: The Bakelizer [Pdf] Handout")
American Chemical Society
American Chemical Society: The Bakelizer [Pdf]
Find out all you want to know about the revolutionary development of Bakelite, the first plastic created entirely from chemicals. Included is a biography of the inventor of Bakelite, Leo Baekeland.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Where in the World Can I Find Plastic Polymers. Why Are They Used?
An investigation of where plastic polymers can be found in everyday life. After identifying them, students test them to learn about their properties, then try some online activities.
Society for Science and the Public
Science News for Students: Plant Powered Plastics
Discusses plastic products, what they are made from, their impact on the environment and on human health, and alternative plastics being created using plants, as well as the advantages of these new products.
Other
Leo Hendrik Baekeland
An in-depth look at the life of Leo Hendrik Baekeland, including his creation of the first completely synthetic plastic, bakelite.
Other
Libros Vivos: Los Plasticos
Plastics are obtained by polymerization of compounds derived from petroleum and natural gas. Learn about the different plastics and about the different process of fabrication in this site. You will find a lot of illustrations and...
Other
Petrochemicals Europe: Discovery Timeline
Follow this timeline to learn about the development of the petrochemical industry and significant innovators in the creation of many of the products we take for granted.
Science Struck
Science Struck: Plastic Wars: Thermoplastics vs. Thermosets
Explains what thermoplastics and thermosets are, their properties, and their advantages and disadvantages. Provides lots of examples for each of how they are used in everyday life.
US Energy Information Administration
U.s. Eia Energy Kids: Saving Energy
A look at what you can do to save energy that answers "What can I do to save energy?" and "How can recycling save energy?" Also provides a collection of useful links to more information on energy efficiency, waste, and recycling.
Other
American Chemistry Council: How Plastics Are Made
This resource provides an introduction to plastics chemistry, from the basic elements involved, to bonding, plastic types, and production methods.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Text Sets: Nature and Conservation
Learn about how the natural world interacts with itself and how people impact the planet with this science-based text collection of 46 Grade-Leveled texts (3-12) on the topic of Nature and Conservation. [Free account registration...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
After Noah's dad is arrested for sinking a casino boat he believed was dumping sewage into the ocean, Noah must prove that his suspicions are right and stop the boat from further polluting the ocean. Selected (8) reading passages (grades...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Leo Baekeland
Use this site to learn about how Leo Baekeland invented plastic, and how this simple invention resulted in a "plastic revolution."
Other
American Chemistry Council: History of Polymer and Plastics for Students
This resource presents a brief guide introduces the history, structure, and characteristics of plastics and polymers.
MadSci Network
The Mad Scientist Network: Chemistry
Using a question and answer format, this page addresses the question: "What effect may crystallization have on the optical properties of a material?" Crystalline and amorphous solids are compared and contrasted; their properties are...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: A Century of Plastics
Lesson encourages students look for plastics in ther everyday lives and explore what products require the material.
Other
Business Climate: Texas: Top Industries
This guide to Texas' top nine industries links the reader to articles and other information on each topic.