Lesson 5 | Plastic Pollution | 5th Grade Language Arts

Lesson Overview

Objective

Analyze how plastic became such a large part of everyday life.

Readings and Materials

Book: Trash Vortex: How Plastic Pollution Is Choking the World's Oceans by Danielle Smith-Llera pp. 20–25 — start from the bottom paragraph

Lesson Notes

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Lesson Map

Lesson

Explain what it means to have a plastic problem.

Materials

“Single-Use Plastics” — Figure 1.2–Figure 1.8

Standards

RI.5.3

Lesson

Explain how plastic ends up in a gyre and what happens to it once it is there.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 4–10 — to the top

Standards

RI.5.3

Lesson

Explain why the author uses the words grotesque, astounding, and dramatic to describe what Moore and his team found.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 10–13

Standards

L.5.4.cRI.5.3

Lesson

Explain how Leo Baekeland invented plastic.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 14–20

Standards

RI.5.3

Lesson

Analyze how plastic became such a large part of everyday life.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 20–25 — start from the bottom paragraph

Standards

L.5.2.aRI.5.3

Lesson

Explain what evidence the author uses to emphasize how much plastic is in the ocean and its impact on the ecosystem.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 26–31

Standards

RI.5.3RI.5.8

Lesson

Analyze how plastic has a negative impact on ocean ecosystems and humans.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 32–40

Standards

RI.5.3RI.5.8

Lesson

Explain what the author means by the quote, "we need to think about the items we are using not just on beaches, but also inland and communities far upstream as well."

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 40–43
“Single-Use Plastics” — Figure 1.2–Figure 1.8

Standards

RI.5.3RI.5.8

Lesson

Writing

3 days

Write two strong paragraphs describing why we have a plastic pollution problem and how plastic pollution impacts the ocean.

Materials

Trash Vortex

Standards

L.5.2.aW.5.2W.5.2.aW.5.2.bW.5.2.eW.5.7W.5.9

Lesson

Writing

4 days

Write an opinion piece defending whether or not single-use plastics should be banned by citing evidence from multiple texts and building an argument.

Materials

All unit texts
“Queensland passes laws banning 'killer' single-use plastics”
“'People need them': The trouble with the movement to ban plastic straws”
“Mythbusting: 5 common misperceptions surrounding the environmental impacts of single-use plastics”
Grade 5 Literary Analysis and Opinion Writing Rubric
Two-Paragraph Outline — (Use outline depending on students' needs)
Three Paragraph Outline — (Use outline depending on students' needs)
Plastic Pollution Note-Taker

Standards

L.5.2.eL.5.3.aRI.5.8SL.5.1SL.5.4W.5.1W.5.1.aW.5.1.bW.5.5W.5.8

Lesson

Explain what strategies the author recommends to help reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean and the pros and cons of the strategies.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 44–48

Standards

RI.5.3RI.5.8

Lesson

Explain what strategies the author recommends to help reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean and the pros and cons of the strategies.

Materials

Trash Vortex pp. 49–55

Standards

RI.5.3RI.5.9

Lesson

Explain what "stealth microplastics" are and what steps we can take to reduce plastic waste from microplastics.

Materials

“Ten 'stealth microplastics' to avoid if you want to save the oceans”

Standards

RI.5.3

Lesson

Describe how Shelby’s actions show that a single person can make a difference.

Materials

“A Girl Scout's letters spurred companies to cut down on using plastic straws”
“Little girl, big difference: 4th grader's idea helps reduce trash at Pikes Peak region-area elementary school”

Standards

RI.5.3RI.5.8

Lesson

Assessment

Content Assessment
Fluency Assessment

Lesson

Writing

5 days

Write multiple paragraphs that describe a solution for reducing the school’s use of plastic after researching different alternatives. Create a presentation to convince others around the school to take part and minimize the school’s use of plastic.

Materials

Grade 5 Literary Analysis and Opinion Writing Rubric

Standards

L.5.2.aL.5.2.eL.5.3.aL.5.3.bL.5.4.cSL.5.4SL.5.5SL.5.6W.5.1W.5.1.aW.5.1.bW.5.2.aW.5.2.bW.5.2.eW.5.6W.5.7W.5.9

Protecting the Earth: Plastic Pollution

Lesson Overview

Objective

Readings and Materials

Lesson Map

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Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

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We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students

Protecting the Earth: Plastic Pollution

Lesson Overview

Are You Sure?

Objective

Readings and Materials

Are You Sure?

Request a Demo

Contact Information

School Information

What courses are you interested in?

ELA

Math

Any other information you would like to provide about your school?

We Handle Materials So You Can Focus on Students