• Present an array of everyday plastic artifacts that were not always made of plastic, or are made from a variety of materials today, such as picnicware, grocery bags, soda bottles, garbage bags, to-go coffee lids, and synthetic clothing.
• Have students discuss what materials might have been used prior to these being plastic.
• Ask students: When do you think these things started to be made from plastic? Record their responses on the board.

2. Show students a video about the history of plastic use in our culture.

• Introduce students to the video by explaining that plastic was fueled by innovation and a desire to improve our way of life. Just as using metal and fabric has changed the way we have lived over time, plastic has served a similar purpose in revolutionizing our lives.
• Show the video A Brief History of How Plastic Has Changed Our World (5:22).  
• As they watch, have students take two-column notes on themes that they notice with plastic use and important dates.
• Following the video, lead a think-pair-share discussion in response to the question: What are some themes that you are noticing with plastic use?

3. Show students a short video to learn about microplastics.

• Transition to this video by explaining that some plastic waste is so small, that it can’t be managed by waste-collection facilities. Explain that some plastic just goes down the drain, and we don’t even notice it. Ask students to think about what kind of strategies would be needed to reduce or remove these kinds of plastic from the waste stream while they watch the video.
• Watch the video How to Cleanse Your Beauty Regime of Microplastics (2:38).
• As they watch, have students take two-column notes, paying close attention to products that they recognize from their homes and daily routines, and any important dates.
• Have pairs engage in a brief discussion: What kinds of microplastics do you think you may use in your daily routine?

4. Have students read to learn about two plastic products that are being banned in some places.

• Explain to students that they are going to take a deep dive into two single-use plastic items through reading articles and teaching each other about different items.
• Distribute From Birth to Ban: A History of the Plastic Shopping Bag to half the class and A Brief History of How Plastic Straws Took Over the World to the other half of the class. 
• With a partner, have students read their assigned articles, taking two-column notes that include all important dates and events.
• After students read their article, distribute the Plastic Timeline Template to each student. Have students sketch a timeline with the important dates and events of their plastic item, either the plastic bag or plastic straw.
• Have students use their notes from the videos to add those dates to their timelines.
• Have student pairs gather with different student pairs who read the other article, forming groups of four.
• Have each pair use their timeline sketch to teach the other pair a summary of the information in the article about their product, including why these items were created and what the environmental impact has been.
• Collect the completed timelines.

5. Lead a brief wrap-up brainstorm discussion about alternatives to different types of plastics.

• Ask students to brainstorm in response to these questions:
• What microplastics might we find in our school (glitter, paint, art supplies, certain hand sanitizers)? What could we use instead of those things?
• What plastics are in the school that are small, but bigger than microplastics (bottle caps, straws, pen caps)? Are there alternatives to these things? What might they be?
• What plastic items are bigger than the small items you just listed that also might be a problem (sandwich bags, plastic wrap, water and soda bottles)? What could be alternatives to those things?
  
• Based on what you learned when creating your timelines, is there a time in history that you think we should have taken action to change our use of these plastic items? When? What would we have done?