Guiding Questions – Grades 4-5

How plastic litter becomes marine microplastic pollution 

1. What facts did you learn about plastic pollution and microplastics?
2. What did the students at PS 15 do to study the problem?
3. Why is collecting data so important?
4. How did the students share their research with their community and decision-makers to try and solve the problem?
5. How did you feel when watching the part about the dolphins and whales? Why is it important to understand how marine mammals are affected by plastic pollution?

Diving deep into the plastic pollution problem

1. How did the students prepare to testify for their hearing at City Hall? How could you tell they were prepared to present their opinion?
2. What are some facts you learned about microfibers from the film?
3. What were some of the solutions presented in the film to slow the flow of microfibers into the environment? What solutions do you think are easy for people to do?

Science, data, and making change

1. What actions did students take to address the plastic problem in their own cafeteria? Can you list the steps that they took? In what ways were their actions successful?
2. What did the students from PS 15 and other schools do at City Hall as agents of change? How did you feel watching these students trying to persuade the decision-makers in our city?
3. What ideas do you have to reduce microplastic pollution in our environment? What ideas for inventions do you have to solve this problem?  What are the actions that YOU can take? What can you do to inspire your family, friends, neighbors and classmates?