Activity overview

Run the activity

In this activity, the italic sections marked with the polar bear explain how you can link the children's learning to the Climate Challenge, and support the children to take positive action.

1. Explain that the Fynes family have gone plastic-free for over a year and while they occasionally miss things like chocolate bars, they say the thought of a 'turtle with a plastic bag in its mouth' means they will continue to live plastic-free. Here is a short BBC video about the family's story. 

• Your task is to design a new wrapper that will keep a snack fresh without using plastic. Basic prototyping: Use the playdough to make a life-size model of your snack and the scrap paper to make a template the correct size and shape for the wrap. 

2. Improving: After 5 minutes, show your creation to another group and then review their creation. Is it a good shape for their chosen snack? How could they improve it? Feedback your ideas to each other making sure you balance positive remarks and suggestions for improvement. What have you learned from swapping ideas?  

3. Allow the children to make their own wraps using their group's template. Instructions for the adult helper with the ironing equipment are here. 

Background science

When teaching children about the Climate Challenge, it is important that we give them the facts (age appropriately and sensitively). During your discussion, allow time for children to express their thoughts and feelings and have them validated.

Plastic is a reliable and useful material. Most of our food is wrapped and sealed in plastic because it is lightweight, waterproof, and cheap to produce. Indeed, because plastic is so cheap to make, we often do not value it enough and more than 40% of plastic is thrown away after a 'single-use'. Plastic is entering our ocean at an alarming rate. Because it is lightweight and floats, if it is not disposed of correctly, it is often blown into rivers and washed out to sea. Because it is waterproof and takes a long time to degrade, it's quantities are increasing: estimates are that there are currently about 5 trillion pieces of plastic in our oceans.  

Scientists have found that most plastic pollution is broken up into tiny microplastic through exposure to UV light, salt and wave action. Microplastics, which are pieces of plastic that are smaller than 5 mm in diameter, can be mistaken for plankton and eaten by marine life. Harm is also caused when animals get entangled with our plastic rubbish. As individuals, we can act to reduce the flow of plastic into the ocean- just like the Fynes family! 

The 3 Rs approach can be applied to the plastic pollution problem in this order of priority: 

• We can try to reduce the amount of plastic which we use by switching to alternative materials when we can. For example, we can use beeswax wraps instead of clingfilm for snacks and packed lunches. 

• We can reuse and upcycle plastic items. The Fynes family recommended using all the plastic which you already have in your house. Lots of plastic items can be washed and used again and we might already do this with our drinks bottle and pack lunch box? 

• We can recycle plastic waste which cannot be used again.  

Watch out for... some children may know that only certain types of plastic can be recycled with their household recycling. However, many more types of plastic, including clingfilm and plastic bags, can be recycled when taken to a specialist centre. You can find out where your nearest station is here. This activity gives teachers a chance to listen to small groups of children and check their understanding.  

Take it further

After giving children the information they need about Climate Challenge issues, give them time to express how they feel, empathising with them and validating their feelings before taking it further.  

Activities 

Use this short instructional video to help explain how the wraps are made or take the pledge to use less single use plastic. 

Once the wraps are dry, the children could test their properties. Was the material waterproof before the beeswax was added? Are the wraps waterproof now? Try shaping the beeswax wraps? Does warming them with the heat of their hands help? Why? Would they recommend washing them with very hot water? Why not? 

Try investigating the Big Question Where does our rubbish go? or Biodegradable plant pots for another problem solver. 

Cross-curricular 

Children could write instructions for how to use and care for their beeswax wraps. 

They could create their own posters improving the public’s awareness of single use plastic or write their own campaign speeches, like Greta Thunberg, to highlight the challenges our environment faces. 

Watch 

This short video explains why so much plastic ends up in the ocean and find out here what happens to plastic once it reaches the ocean. 

Discuss with the children what could be done to help and if there is a positive action they can take themselves. Explain that when lots of people carry out small positive changes, it can have a big impact overall.

Positive action

Why not make extra wraps to sell at a school event? Children could donate the money made to an environmental group or use it to invest in making the school grounds more wildlife friendly. You could encourage families to apply for their Green Blue Peter badge because they could use their beeswax wrap instead of plastic film for their Plastic Pledge. For more ideas on small positive steps to help the planet, read our article on The Climate Challenge.