As they grow up, many children take plastic's current use and disposal for granted. Milk in pouches, use and throw pens, and polythene carry bags to bring purchases in are a part of how they have seen it happening around them. It can often be a discovery for them when they know this was not the case during their parents’ and grandparents’ time.
Plastics, because of their very nature, have, over the years, become an intrinsic part of life. Young people need to understand why people have shifted to plastics and whether there are still some possible alternatives.
- The facilitator should write the names of commonly used disposable plastic items at home on the blackboard. Each participant should be asked to give one name, and once everyone has contributed, anyone can add more names if needed.
- The facilitator should share the Home Survey Sheet with the participants and explain how they should use it.
- The participants should fill out the survey sheet after discussing it with their grandparents, parents, and siblings. The list they made in the class can be used as a reference to discuss with the respondents whether the items in it were the same in each generation or if a different item was used for the same purpose.
- The facilitator should discuss the timeline of these items in class as to when the use of a particular disposable plastic item began and in which generation.
- The facilitator should discuss in groups the possible reasons plastic items replaced natural products or have become such an intrinsic part of life.
Conclusion: At the end of this activity, the participants will be able to understand that plastic use is a relatively new phenomenon and many of the naturally degradable products used earlier that were replaced by non-biodegradable disposable plastic products can still be used in the place of plastics.
Evaluation: Discuss the alternatives and check which one participant thinks can be easily replaced.
