Our plastic world
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Question Sheet: Our plastic world

SCIENCE

Before reading:

1. What do you own that’s made out of plastic?

2. Why do you think those items were not made out of some other substance — such as wood, glass, or metal?

3. What do you think the advantages are of something being made out of plastic?

During reading:

1. What is plastic? Why might some types pose a health concern?

2. What is a plasticizer? How does it work?

3. What are hormones and how can a building block of plastics resemble a hormone?

4. How strong is the evidence that ingredients of plastics might affect health?

5. Are all members of the population at similar risk from plastics’ ingredients? Why or why not?

After Reading

1. Now that you know there are potential risks from using plastics — but that the human risks have not been proven yet — how important do you think it would be to avoid using plastic items?

2. For which plastic items in your home or school do you think there might be good substitutes? For which can you think of no substitutes?

3. Plastic baby bottles have been considered a potentially big concern. Moms used to use glass bottles. What are at least three reasons why modern moms might prefer plastic?

4. The author says these junk pieces travel at breakneck speed. Do you think that would make them more or less of a danger to astronauts in orbit?

5. If you think plastic items may pose a health risk, what should we do with all of those that are in our homes? How would you discard them? What might be the best way to ensure that plastic trash doesn’t become a hazard in the trash?

6. Do you think plastic trash in lakes and streams would pose a risk to fish and other aquatic life? Why or why not?

SOCIAL STUDIES

1. How has the widespread availability of plastics in the last 50 years changed society? To figure out, imagine a world where all of today’s plastics were instead made of wood, rubber, metal, stone or glass.

2. What features of plastic make them better than wood, rubber, metal, stone or glass? Hint: Compare the cost, weight and flexibility of plastic items against similar materials made from wood, rubber, metal, stone or glass.

3. If plastics were totally nontoxic, that is posed no health risk, what aspects of plastic items might make less desirable than similar items made from other materials?

LANGUAGE ARTS

1. Write a short essay on why plastic baby bottles are better or worse for today’s infants. Imagine having to explain to your mom or a neighbor — someone who knows nothing about the science plastics — why concerns have been raised about the safety of plastics. Explain why you think this mom should or should not be concerned about these new studies.

2. Imagine a world in which all plastics were banned. Describe in a 10 sentences or less how this would change your environment? Hint: Consider what things in your bedroom, your game room, your kitchen and your yard might be different.

3. Hold a classroom debate on the value of keeping plastics. Let one group argue persuasively that any benefits they pose would outweigh their risks. Let the other group argue that their potential risks outweigh the benefits.

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