Inquiry Idea: Paper, Plastic, Glass, and Aluminum

Did you ever wonder where certain materials come from, what they are used for, and where they go when we have finished using them?

Consider these items and the materials that they are made from:

Use the following websites to investigate these questions:

• What is it made out of?

• How is it recycled?

• What is a product we use that is made out of that material?

• How long does it take to decompose or become part of nature?

Make notes on what you find for each of the four materials (Paper, Plastic, Glass, and Aluminum):

• What is plastic made out of?
  http://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/uses/plastic.html
  
  
• What is paper made out of?
  http://earth911.com/recycling/paper/what-is-paper-and-how-is-it-made/
  
  
• What is glass made out of?
  http://www.kidcyber.com.au/topics/glass.htm
  
  
• What is aluminum made out of?
  http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-aluminum.htm
  
  
• How is plastic recycled?
  http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4565180_plastic-get-recycled.html
  
  
• How is paper recycled?
  http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/science-paper.html
  
  
• How is glass recycled?
  http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/science-glass.html
  
  
• How is aluminum recycled?
  http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/science-aluminium.html
  
  
• How long does it take for paper, plastic, glass and aluminum to decompose?
  http://extra.mdc.mo.gov/nomoretrash/facts/ for more see: How Long Does It Last?

With many thanks to Mr. Bauer at May Howard Elementary for these links and lesson ideas!

To find out more about how things are made check out the videos from the link below:

Discovery Communications, LLC. (2012). How It’s Made videos available through NeoK12 at
http://www.neok12.com/Industry.htm

What questions or "wonderings" does this activity make you think of? What other things do you want to know?

Record your thoughts at: http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/zbk2KUUnfl