Learning intention
To understand what nurdles are, how they connect with metals and their effect on the environment and ecosystems
Curriculum links
Interactions between organisms can be described in terms of food chains and food webs and can be affected by human activity (VCSSU093)
Justification
This activity sets up the understanding for students, as in later activities they will be required to use this to explore food webs, the effect of heavy metals and human factors. To understand the connection between organisms and human factors first students need to understand what these factors are and why they occur.
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Background information
To understand what nurdles are
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpVpJsDjWj8
The effects of plastics on humans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS7IzU2VJIQ
Activity guide
Part 1
You should write students responses on the board for each question, if students seem to have a good understanding it would be good to ask them about what solutions they think there are.
You do not need to provide an answer they will be explored in later activities
Sample answers
Why do we need nurdles?
In order to transport plastic, nurdles are the most efficient form of transporting plastic due to their small size and surface area.
What is the effect on life?
Nurdle spills kill marine life as they ingest the nurdles that accumulate in their bodies which are not digested making organisms not feel hungry and hence they starve. These accumulate a one organisms eats the other and so significantly affect ecosystems. Dangerous heavy metals stick to the plastic and so are ingested along with these.
What could their effect be on humans?
Fish will absorb contaminants into their body’s which will travel up the food chain and affect us as we eat the fish.
Part 2
All you need to do for this is to facilitate their research and provide suggestions for how they could display their findings. If students are keen to make a video you could give them it as homework and show the class next lesson.
Facilitating questions
Where could you go to get more information?
What are some organisations that are already taking action towards the issue?
What do you find the most interesting?
Part 3
This activity is used for you to see what students have learnt from the lesson.
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Formative assessment
Use the final activity to gauge what students have learnt since the learning from this activity is mainly students teaching other students if a topic seems poorly explained in the reflection you know you will need to go over this at a later time.