Plastic is not just used for milk jugs and bottles of soda…it’s EVERYWHERE! Watch the video below about the history of plastic and then do some further research on something specific mentioned in the video.

Spark your thinking!

1. Set up your social studies mini spark recording page: #38: History of Plastics

2.  Watch this video.  Record the names of plastics along with dates that they are invented, if mentioned.

3. Choose 2 questions to answer after watching the video. Remind your teacher that the answer key can be found in the social studies mini spark folder.

• Who invented celluloid, and in what year did this invention occur? Describe the characteristics of celluloid that made it unsuitable for billiard balls.
• What two substances were combined to create Bakelite, and why was it considered an improvement over celluloid?
• List at least three types of plastics that were developed after Bakelite and briefly describe their uses.
•  Explain the process of the manufacturing technique was invented that allowed for rapid production of plastic items?  
• How did the production of plastics change during World War Two? 
•  Discuss some of the environmental issues associated with plastic production and usage as mentioned in the video.

4. Check out Jeff Kirschner’s TED Talk. Learn more about the environmental impact of plastics and other litter and how solutions as being spread around the world.

The task for this step is to record every place name mentioned on the video on your recording sheet. After the video, make sure you can locate each of those places on a map. Put a star next to those that you can find easily. Put a check by those that you need to look up. After you look up the location, add a star.

5. Share your social studies mini spark recording page with your teacher/EY coordinator.