1. What is plastic?

2. Why do you think plastic is fantastic?
It saves lives
From medical devices that keep blood flowing, joints moving and hearts beating to impact-resistant vehicle parts and safer infant car seats, plastic saves lives every day. It’s durability, strength and moldability make plastic the material of choice for products designed to protect and improve human health.
It resists heat
Some plastics have been made to deal with extremely hot temperatures and don't melt. So they can be used for LOADS of different things.
It can be recycled
A lot of plastic isn’t biodegradable, and because of that polymers in general have taken a reputational hit. But many non-biodegradable plastics can be recycled and used in other ways.
Loads of things are made of plastic that you don't even think about!

3. How many things can you name that are made of plastic?

4. Is plastic natural or man made? Why?
You will learn more about this tomorrow...

5. The History of Plastic
Can you sequence the history of plastic in the correct order?

6. The History of Plastic 1925 – The word plastic used for the first time
1939 - Nylon was created
1959 – First Barbie doll created
1958 – Tupperware begins to be recognised worldwide and adverts begin to occur
1961 – Plastic bags first begin to be used in shops
1976 – Plastic recognised as the most common material worldwide for the first time
1978 – Most shops using plastic bags instead of paper bags
1990/2000’s – Concern growing with the amount of plastic being wasted every year
2008 – China and America begin to ban plastic bags
2015 – All supermarkets in England stop giving out free plastic bags, instead charging 5p per bag

7. Activity:
Junk modelling from recycling materials
Challenge
Who can make the most creative model out of recycled plastic?