Topic: Environmental issues being a consequence of packaging use

Target group

High school / technical school student

Core curriculum:

New core curriculum:

High school and technical high school. Chemistry – basic level:

XXI. Chemistry around us. Pupil:

10) gives examples of packaging (cellulose, glass, metal, plastic) used in everyday life; describes their pros and cons;
11) justifies the need to manage waste from various packaging.

High school and technical high school. Chemistry – extended level:

XXI. Chemistry around us. Pupil:

10) gives examples of packaging (cellulose, glass, metal, plastic) used in everyday life; describes their pros and cons;
11) proposes methods of waste management; describes commonly used methods disposal.

Old core curriculum:

High school and technical high school. Chemistry – basic level:

XXI. Chemistry around us. Student:

9) gives examples of packaging (cellulose, glass, metal, plastic) used in everyday life; describes their advantages and disadvantages;
10) justifies the need to manage waste from different packaging.

General aim of education

The student classifies plastics depending on their properties and points out the risks associated with the combustion of plastics

Key competences

• communication in foreign languages;

• digital competence;

• learning to learn.

Criteria for success
The student will learn:

• classify plastics depending on their properties (thermoplastics and thermosets) you classify the packaging;

• point out hazards related to gases generated as a result of burning PVC and discuss them;

• justify the need to manage waste from different packaging;

• save the reaction equations for obtaining materials such as PP, PVC, PS, PMMA;

• discuss different ways of waste management.

Methods/techniques

• activating

  • discussion.

• expository

  • talk.

• programmed

  • with computer;

  • with e‑textbook.

• practical

  • exercices concerned.

Forms of work

• individual activity;

• activity in pairs;

• activity in groups;

• collective activity.

Teaching aids

• e‑textbook;

• notebook and crayons/felt‑tip pens;

• interactive whiteboard, tablets/computers.

Lesson plan overview

Introduction

1. The teacher hands out Methodology Guide or green, yellow and red sheets of paper to the students to be used during the work based on a traffic light technique. He presents the aims of the lesson in the student's language on a multimedia presentation and discusses the criteria of success (aims of the lesson and success criteria can be send to students via e‑mail or posted on Facebook, so that students will be able to manage their portfolio).

2. The teacher together with the students determines the topic – based on the previously presented lesson aims – and then writes it on the interactive whiteboard/blackboard. Students write the topic in the notebook.

3. Health and safety – before starting the experiments, students familiarise themselves with the safety data sheets of the substances that will be used during the lesson. The teacher points out the need to be careful when working with them.

Realization

1. The teacher introduces students to the subject matter of classes, stating that the most numerous products of modern civilization are rubbish. The average European family annually throws out as much paper as can be obtained from six trees, as well as more than 500 cans, about 50 kg of plastic, 32 kg of metal, 45 kg of organic waste and 47 kg of glass. In Europe, we produce almost 10 times more waste than we weigh ourselves. It is estimated that about 145 million tons of rubbish is produced every year in Poland, of which 12 million tons are municipal wastes from which a pyramid could be created, with a base equal to 1000 m and a height of 190 m (for comparison, the largest pyramid - Cheops Pyramid, whose the base is 230 m long, 140 m high). A statistical inhabitant of our country throws about 300 kg of municipal waste during the year. Will the mountains of rubbish fall asleep? - discussion. The teacher displays the illustration „The most important criteria for the division of waste”.

2. Presentation of illustration „Plastics consumption in Europe according to application segments” and „Demand for plastics in Europe according to types of materials” - analysis on the forum.

3. The teacher displays on the multimedia board the reaction equation for obtaining polypropylene and discusses it. It presents the illustration of „Polypropylene - properties and examples of packaging” - discussion.

4. The teacher displays the equation for the polystyrene polymerization reaction on the multimedia board and discusses it. Next, it presents an illustration of „Polystyrene - properties and examples of packaging” - continuation of the discussion.

5. The teacher recommends students to prepare an observation journal in an abstract (or give out work cards / recommends to write in the notebooks). He informs that they will watch the film „How to reduce the amount of waste from expanded polystyrene”. Before this happens, they are to formulate a research question and hypotheses and note them in the indicated place. After the screening, they set together observations, then conclusions, and write them down as well.

6. As before, the teacher displays on the multimedia board the reaction equation for obtaining poly (vinyl chloride) and discusses it. It presents an illustration of „Poly (vinyl chloride) - properties and examples of packaging” - discussion.

7. The teacher discusses the equation for the reaction of obtaining poly (methylmethacrylate). It presents an illustration of 5 „Poly (methyl methacrylic) - properties and examples of packaging” - continuation of the discussion.

8. At the end of the lesson, the teacher asks students to do interactive exercises - individual work.

Summary

1. The teacher asks the students to finish the following sentences:

   • Today I learned ...

   • I understood that …

   • It surprised me …

   • I found out ...

   The teacher can use the interactive whiteboard in the abstract or instruct students to work with it

Homework

1. Develop a lap book containing issues learned during the lesson and bring your work to the next class.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Environmental issues being a consequence of packaging use

Waste is an inseparable part of human life and economic activity. Their quantity and variety are constantly increasing along with development of our civilisation. It is estimated that about 145 million tonnes of waste are generated annually in Poland. Municipal waste accounts for 12 millions. It could be used to construct a pyramid with a base side of 1000 m and height of 190 m (for comparison, the largest Egyptian pyramid – the Pyramid of Cheops, with a base side of 230 m – is 140 m tall). A statistical inhabitant of our country throws about 300 kg of municipal waste into the container during the year. Packaging and clothing constitute a significant part of this waste.

The most important criteria for the division of waste

Plastics are one of the most versatile and multifunctional materials used in global economy. They constitute about 15% of weight and 70% of volume of all waste generated. They have become the basis of modern life, and they are mostly used to produce packaging.

The following materials are used to produce packaging: polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polymethyl methacrylate. Polypropylene exhibits similar properties as polyethylene and is likewise obtained as a result of polymerisation:

Polystyrene is another type of polymer:

In everyday life we often encounter foamed polystyrene, the so‑called styrofoam.

Polyvinyl chloride is a material systematically withdrawn from the production of food packaging for ecological reasons, but it is still very popular in other branches. It is formed as a result of the polymerisation of chloroethene (vinyl chloride) which is a carcinogenic compound:

Polymethyl methacrylate, often called acrylic glass or Plexiglas, is less frequently used to manufacture packaging:

The first plastics – parkesine – was obtained in 1862. Although a lot of time had passed since that time, at every step we realize that we cannot live without plastics.

• Waste is produced from used and unnecessary materials and items as a result of human existence and economic activity. Municipal waste is the one generated at households.

• Packaging accounts for the largest percentage of municipal waste.

• Plastic waste constitutes the largest type of waste in terms of its volume.