Events

Past Event

K12 Educator Training: Microplastics, Mega Impact

November 16, 2022
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
America/New_York
Online Event
Columbia Climate School's K12 Educator Training:

The Columbia Climate School’s educator training events are designed to provide K-12 educators with cutting-edge tools and content to address climate change, the environment, and sustainability in their classrooms through our world-renowned scientists. We hope to engage students through science learning and teaching that goes beyond textbooks and worksheets.

All K-12 educators (both pre- and in-service), administrators, and district leaders working in formal and informal learning environments, regardless of subject area expertise, are encouraged to attend. There are no prerequisites for these events. All events are currently virtual and participants will need access to a computer in order to join our live-streamed events.

Microplastics, Mega Impact 

The Columbia Climate School will be offering a series of educator opportunities around the theme of microplastics.

Date & Time: November 16th, 2022, 3:30-5:00pm ET

Format: Virtual via Zoom 

Grades: 3rd- 8th 

Background: 

Plastics became a popular material for a wide range of products because they are easy to make from petrochemicals, inexpensive, and resistant to water, chemicals, temperature, and light. There were so many uses for plastics that plastic production growth increased exponentially. Plastic does not biodegrade naturally in our environment, which means that all of the plastic that has ever been created still exists in some form. Instead of breaking down in the environment, it breaks up into tiny pieces of plastic called microplastics.

Learning Objectives: 

  • Be able to define microplastics (primary vs secondary sources & type of plastics)
  • Understand potential environmental risks of microplastics 
  • Explain the impacts of microplastics on the marine ecosystem and on humans
  • Empowerment of youth to make personal to community change to address the plastic problem through both the reduction of plastic usage and clean up efforts
  • Introduce student to various emerging plastic solutions beyond linear municipality recycling

Contact Information

Laurel Zaima-Sheehy
332-330-1855