GBC Lesson Plan From the “Thermal” Group

Our Topic: Packaging of Products

Lesson Objective  Students will be aware of wastefulness vs. necessity in packaging  Students will be able to identify different types of packaging as recyclable, more/less wasteful, etc.

 Have students bring in examples of packaged products from home, in particular, ones that they may consider as being “wasteful”  The teacher can provide other examples of products and/or pictures of large items (i.e. cardboard and styrofoam boards around a big TV) “Before” Collect Examples of Packaged Products

 View multiple examples of different types of packaging (plastic, cardboard, packing peanuts, air bags, food packaging, etc.)  Calculate the ratio of product vs. packaging by measuring surface area, volume, and/or density  Sort packaging materials into paper, plastic, styrofoam, other, etc. “During” Examine Packaged Products

 How efficient or wasteful is the packaging? Give evidence/criteria that describes the packaging as excessive or efficient  How is packaging necessary for this particular product?  Are the packaging materials recyclable? “After” Analyze Results

Suggested Extension Activities  Create a presentation to convey their findings  Re-engineer packaging design to use recyclable materials and be less wasteful  Write to companies, identifying wastefulness in packaging and expressing desire to have less wasteful products  Start a recycling program at home/school Engineerin g ELA ELA and Technology Community Service