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A C e n t u r y o f P l a s t i c s A Century of Plastics
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A C e n t u r y o f P l a s t i c s



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L e s s o n F o c u s
Lesson focuses on how plastics of all sorts have been engineered in to everyday products
over the past century, with emphasis on materials selection and engineering.

L e s s o n S y n o p s i s
The Century of Plastics activity explores how the development of plastics -- and the
engineering of plastic components into everyday products -- has impacted the world.
Students learn about the history of plastics, what plastics engineers do, and how many
products have been enhanced through the addition of plastic components. Students work
in teams to identify products without plastic, and products they think could not exist in a
pre-plastic world. They work as teams of "engineers" to see if they can redesign a
product to use 50% less plastic components than in current designs.

A g e L e v e l s
8-18.

O b j e c t i v e s


Learn about plastics.

Learn about how plastics have been engineered into so many common products.

Learn about teamwork and the engineering problem solving/design process.

A n t i c i p a t e d L e a r n e r O u t c o m e s
As a result of this activity, students should develop an understanding of:


plastics

materials and plastics engineering

impact of engineering and technology on society

engineering problem solving

teamwork

L e s s o n A c t i v i t i e s

Students learn about how the development of plastics and the engineering of plastics into
everyday products have impacted our world. Topics examined include problem solving,
teamwork, and the engineering design process. Students work in teams to identify
products which they think could not exist without plastics and redesign to use fewer
plastic components to make it easier to recycle, then present to class.


A Century of Plastics
Page 2 of 9

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R e s o u r c e s / M a t e r i a l s


Teacher Resource Documents (attached)

Student Resource Sheet (attached)

Student Worksheets (attached)

A l i g n m e n t t o C u r r i c u l u m F r a m e w o r k s

See attached curriculum alignment sheet.

I n t e r n e t C o n n e c t i o n s


TryEngineering (www.tryengineering.org)

History of Plastics (www.bpf.co.uk/bpfindustry/History_of_Plastics.cfm)

The History of the Pen (www.rickconner.net/penspotters/history.html)

McREL Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks
(www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks) A compilation of content standards for K-
12 curriculum in both searchable and browsable formats.

National Science Education Standards (www.nsta.org/standards)

R e c o m m e n d e d R e a d i n g


American Plastic: A Cultural History by Jeffrey L. Meikle (ISBN: 0813522358)

Plastics Engineering by R J Crawford (ISBN:
0750637641
)

Plastic: The Making of a Synthetic Century by Stephen Fenichell (ISBN:
0887308627)

O p t i o n a l W r i t i n g A c t i v i t i e s


Write an essay or a paragraph describing whether you think spaceflight would be
possible without the introduction of plastics. Give examples to support your point
of view.

Write an essay or a paragraph describing how recycling works in your town. Give
examples of how engineers incorporate recycled materials into new products.









A Century of Plastics
Page 3 of 9

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A C e n t u r y o f P l a s t i c s

F o r T e a c h e r s :
A l i g n m e n t t o C u r r i c u l u m F r a m e w o r k s

Note: All Lesson Plans in this series are aligned to the U.S. National Science
Education Standards (produced by the National Research Council and endorsed
by the National Science Teachers Association), and if applicable, to the International Technology
Education Association's Standards for Technological Literacy and the National Council of Teachers
of Mathematics' Principles and Standards for School Mathematics.

National Science Education Standards Grades K-4 (ages 4-9)

CONTENT STANDARD B: Physical Science
As a result of the activities, all students should develop an understanding of

Properties of objects and materials
CONTENT STANDARD E: Science and Technology
As a result of activities, all students should develop

Abilities of technological design

Abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans
CONTENT STANDARD F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

Types of resources

Changes in environments
CONTENT STANDARD G: History and Nature of Science
As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

Science as a human endeavor
National Science Education Standards Grades 5-8 (ages 10-14)

CONTENT STANDARD B: Physical Science
As a result of their activities, all students should develop an understanding of

Properties and changes of properties in matter
CONTENT STANDARD E: Science and Technology
As a result of activities, all students should develop

Abilities of technological design

Understandings about science and technology
CONTENT STANDARD F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

Risks and benefits

Science and technology in society
CONTENT STANDARD G: History and Nature of Science
As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

History of science






A Century of Plastics
Page 4 of 9

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A C e n t u r y o f P l a s t i c s

F o r T e a c h e r s :
A l i g n m e n t t o C u r r i c u l u m F r a m e w o r k s
( c o n t i n u e d )
National Science Education Standards Grades 9-12 (ages 14-18)
CONTENT STANDARD B: Physical Science
As a result of their activities, all students should develop understanding of

Structure and properties of matter
CONTENT STANDARD E: Science and Technology
As a result of activities, all students should develop

Abilities of technological design

Understandings about science and technology
CONTENT STANDARD F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

Environmental quality
CONTENT STANDARD G: History and Nature of Science
As a result of activities, all students should develop understanding of

Historical perspectives

Standards for Technological Literacy - All Ages

The Nature of Technology

Standard 3: Students will develop an understanding of the relationships among
technologies and the connections between technology and other fields of study.
Technology and Society

Standard 4: Students will develop an understanding of the cultural, social,
economic, and political effects of technology.

Standard 5: Students will develop an understanding of the effects of technology
on the environment.

Standard 7: Students will develop an understanding of the influence of
technology on history.
Design

Standard 8: Students will develop an understanding of the attributes of design.

Standard 9: Students will develop an understanding of engineering design.
Abilities for a Technological World

Standard 13: Students will develop abilities to assess the impact of products and
systems.
The Designed World

Standard 19: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select
and use manufacturing technologies.






A Century of Plastics
Page 5 of 9

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A C e n t u r y o f P l a s t i c s

F o r T e a c h e r s :
T e a c h e r R e s o u r c e s