Before Reading
What do you know about the effects of plastic products and especially plastic bags on the environment?
What do we mean by "single use" plastics? What do you use that would be "single use" plastic?
What is being done to help the environment to reduce plastic use?
Watch the following video about plastic use on the environment. It is a story from the US but it still applies to Australia. It is made by Shedd Aquarium and available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=526gMLHDVLg
What do we mean by "single use" plastics? What do you use that would be "single use" plastic?
What is being done to help the environment to reduce plastic use?
Watch the following video about plastic use on the environment. It is a story from the US but it still applies to Australia. It is made by Shedd Aquarium and available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=526gMLHDVLg
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Look at the front cover
Let's Read
Read the book together. As it is being read try and identify the messages that the author, Pamela Allen, is trying to get across to the readers.
Questions for discussion:
Questions for discussion:
- Is the message in the story as simple as "put your rubbish in the bin"?
- What is Pamela Allen trying to say to us about the environment?
- What is the danger of the plastic bag for the bird? How might the outcome have been different if it hadn't been rescued?
- What other issues do plastic bags cause for our environment?
- How can we avoid the destructive outcomes of using plastic bags? Is putting them in the bin the only solution?
- Who has she written this book for? Would this story help very young children to understand how bad plastic bags are for animals in our environment?
- When people use plastic bags they don't think about what happens to them after they have been thrown out or left lying around. The consequences of our actions are often far reaching and effect other people, animals or the environment. The man in the story was brave in trying to save the bird. How could that situation have ended differently if he hadn't been successful? What is Pamela Allen trying to show us about the consequences of using plastic?
- On a positive note, the man in the story who saved the bird is a good example of humans making a difference by taking action. What could be our role in helping to reduce the amount of waste (Especially plastic) that we need to dispose of?
- Discuss the amount of plastic bags and plastic wrap used by the students.
- Are there opportunities to avoid using plastic bags at home or at school? Make a list of all the ways we can find alternatives to using plastic bags. What would be the impact on the environment of using alternatives?