“A Trip to the Grocery Store”
Discuss with students the different ways in which the amount of packaging we throw away can be reduced, e.g. careful buying decisions. Remind students that a percentage of the cost of packaged foods purchased goes towards packaging.
Learning Objectives
Students will understand:
a.
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How recycled materials are used in packaging.
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b.
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Which natural resources are used in packaging and how these resources can be conserved through careful buying and recycling.
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Materials
Survey chart on Packaging.
For homework, have students visit a grocery store and list ten different products that have too much packaging. Examine the products chosen carefully and answer the following questions:.
a.
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Which products need special packaging to protect public health?
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b.
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Which products packaging was made from recycled materials? (Look for the recycling symbol)
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c.
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Which products could be bought in a less processed or packaged form?
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d.
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Which products could be bought in bulk or in large containers?
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e.
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Which product’s packaging could be improved to save energy and resources and ultimately reduce waste? Students should be given the opportunity to write to the different companies and share their creative ideas with them about packaging.
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Procedure
1.
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Review the following terms with the students:
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Organic: derived from living organisms.
Renewable Resources: naturally occurring raw materials derived from an endless sources such as the sun, wind, water(hydroelectricity) and trees.
Nonrenewable Resources: naturally occurring raw materials which because of their scarcity, the great length of time required for their formation, or their rapid depletion, are considered exhaustible. That is, when they are gone, they are gone.e.g. petroleum.
2.
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Distribute survey form below on “Product & Packaging Chart” to students. Review the headings on the survey chart with students.
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3.
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Ask students to complete the packaging chart using the
ten
products chosen for their homework assignments.
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