Flipped Classroom - The Majestic Plastic Bag

Activity Introduction

Quick summary: This lesson is designed for a flipped classroom, where students learn new content by watching a video in their own time. This strategy provides the opportunity for students to build their knowledge, attitudes and values by themselves, thereby freeing up class time for hands-on work.

Following this lesson plan is an ideal way for your school to take part in Schools Clean Up Day or a Clean Up on any day of the year. You’ll be joining thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference and creating positive environmental change.

Learning intentions:

Students understand the impact of plastic (especially plastic bags) on our environment
Students understand some of the causes and consequences of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

21st century skills:

Critical Thinking

Australian Curriculum Mapping

Content descriptions:

Year 7 Science

Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (ACSHE120)

Year 8 Science

Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations (ACSHE135)

Year 9 Science

People can use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they should accept claims, explanations or predictions (ACSHE160)

Syllabus outcomes: SC4-11PW, SC5-13ES, SC4-12ES.

General capabilities: Critical and creative thinking.

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.3, OI.8.

Time required: 30 minutes.

Level of teacher scaffolding: Low – allow students to explore the topic independently.

Resources required:

Internet
Devices with earphones
Student Worksheet.

Keywords: Waste, plastic, oceans, Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Cool Australia’s curriculum team continually reviews and refines our resources to be in line with changes to the Australian Curriculum.

Worksheets

Teacher Worksheet

Teacher Preparation

Learning intentions: Students will...

... understand the impact of plastic (especially plastic bags) on our environment
... understand some of the causes and consequences of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Success criteria: Students can...

... work independently to think critically and respond to a series of questions.

The Flipped Lesson

This lesson provides the opportunity for students to explore/build their current knowledge, attitudes and values about the impact of plastic on our environment. While working independently, students are to view the following video and complete tables on the student worksheet.

This visual thinking tool can be useful in examining how and why student thinking has changed based on learning specific content information. It also helps to develop their reasoning abilities and to recognise cause and effect relationships.

Majestic Plastic Bag from Project GreenBag on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/24861329)

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Student Worksheet

Thought starter: Could you live without plastic?

Working independently, watch this video below and answer the questions below.

As you are watching, make a note of the things that you find interesting, important, or insightful.

Majestic Plastic Bag from Project GreenBag on Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/24861329)

When you have finished watching this clip, choose three of the interesting, important and insightful things you noted that stand out for you the most.

For one of these, choose a colour that you feel best represents or captures the essence of that idea.
For another one, choose a symbol that you feel best represents or captures the essence of that idea.
For the other one, choose an image that you feel best represents or captures the essence of that idea.

Use this document to record your colour, symbol and image.

With a partner or group first share your colour and then share the item from the clip that it represents. Explain why you choose that colour as a representati

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Activity: Flipped Classroom – The Majestic Plastic Bag