Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Can Plastic Be Composted? Instructional VideoCan Plastic Be Composted? Instructional Video
Publisher
American Chemical Society
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
9th - Higher Ed
Subjects
Science
1 more...
Resource Type
Instructional Videos
Media Length
4:55
Audiences
For Teacher Use
1 more...
Instructional Strategy
Direct Instruction
Technology
Video
Internet Access
Accessibility
Closed Captions
1 more...
Year
2019
Usage Permissions
Fine Print
Instructional Video

Can Plastic Be Composted?

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Some plastics market as green, but are they really? Turns out, the question is a complicated one. A video lesson describes how these new plastics may have some decomposing properties but need a little boost from industry. The lesson comes from a larger Reactions series and provides descriptions of the chemical composition of the different plastics.

3 Views 2 Downloads
CCSS: Adaptable

Concepts

plastic, biodegradability, composting, polymers, renewable resources

Additional Tags

science

Instructional Ideas

  • Incorporate during an environmental science unit with a focus on conservation
  • Have learners make Venn diagrams to compare and contrast the two types of plastic in the lesson

Classroom Considerations

  • Consider monitoring YouTube comments if making the video available for independent viewing
  • This video is hosted on YouTube

Pros

  • Provides a link to another video on a similar topic
  • Uses strong images to provide clarity to the explanations

Cons

  • None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2 RST.9-10.7 RST.11-12.7

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

A Century of Plastics

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
After reading about polymer materials, engineer trainees examine how plastics have been integrated into everyday products. In groups, they compile a list of products made entirely without plastics and then, as a closing activity, try to...
3rd - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Molecular Gastronomy - Science in the Kitchen

Mascil Project
Some say cooking is an art—and a science! Scholars scope out the savory subject of molecular gastronomy with a series of related activities. The teacher's guide contains printable worksheets and helpful tips for implementing the lesson.
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

Teacher's Guide to Science Projects

Chemical Education Foundation
Do you find the idea of having a science fair with all of your students intimidating? Use a guide that provides everything you need to know to make project-based learning manageable. The resource includes options for four...
6th - 12th Career & Technical Education
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

Gorongosa: Making Observations Activity

Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Do you have young scientists wanting to make new discoveries rather than just completing the same experiments? Young scientists use their observational skills to identify animals and patterns in animal behavior. Through tracking...
6th - 12th Science
CCSS: Designed
Lesson Plan

Citizen Science to the Rescue!

National Wildlife Federation
You don't have to be a scientist or even out of high school to contribute to scientific research. In the 12th lesson in the series of 21, scholars use this opportunity to add to the growing body of scientific knowledge and consider the...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

How Plastic Recycling Actually Works

American Chemical Society
Those recycled plastic bottles end up as some pretty interesting things in their second lives. A lesson explains the process of recycling plastic. Scholars learn about the different products of recycled plastic—including t-shirts!
4 mins 9th - Higher Ed Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Peer Review Meets D.I.Y.: Publishing a Student Science Journal

Curated OER
Peer review of science laboratory reports? You bet! First, learners work in pairs to review a scientific article. Then they trade lab reports for peer review. The end result is the publication of a classroom scientific journal!
7th - 12th Science
Instructional Video

What Really Happens to the Plastic You Throw Away

TED-Ed
Inspire environmentally conscious young minds with an exceptional video, which traces the life cycles of three different plastic bottles after they are thrown away and move through the earth with different journeys through a...
4 mins 6th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Video

Preventing Plastic Pollution

California Academy of Science
While plastics don't biodegrade, they do photodegrade, creating issues in Earth's oceans. The final video in the Healthy Oceans series explains why plastic in oceans causes so many issues. the narrator explains the impact of plastic...
5 mins 6th - 10th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Interactive

The Anthropocene: Human Impact on the Environment

Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Will human existence define an epoch? Many scientists think we are in a new epoch, the anthropocene, defined by humans and our impact on the environment. An online interactive demonstrates the immense impact humans have had on every part...
9th - 12th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use