Glencoe Science Level Red

Unit 6: Life and the Environment

Manufacturing materials - costs etc.

Project Type: Technology

Introduction:
What do plastic, glass and paper have in common? For one thing, heat is required at some point when they are being made. They also can all be recycled to reduce waste. When we learn more about the manufacture and use of these materials, we can make better decisions about how we use them.

Task:
Have students design a chart to compare the production of plastics, metals, glass, paper, and polystyrene. They should include the following categories:

• Natural resources used
• Equipment and materials needed
• Energy use
• Cost
• Location
• Safety concerns
• Environmental concerns

Students should reflect on each material and consider how recycling affects each of these categories.

Time:
1 class period to conduct research, 1 class period to create chart

Possible Resources:

Plastics

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/plastics.html

http://www.plastics.org.nz/page.asp?id=546

Metals

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/scho-ecol/toc_e.htm

http://es.epa.gov/techinfo/facts/metalmfg.html

Glass

http://www.bsnglasspack.com/html_gb/le_verre/fabrication_verre_gb.htm

http://www.civilization.ca/hist/verre/vemak01e.html

Paper

http://www.tappi.org/paperu/all_about_paper/paperMade.htm

http://www.ptpc.com/papermaking.html

Polystyrene

http://www.plasticseurope.org/Content/Default.asp?PageID=277

Environmental Concerns

http://www.deq.virginia.gov/p2/metalmftg.html

Rubric:
Click here for a rubric to help score this project. (69.0K)