5 activities to teach about plastic pollution # MequedoEnCasa
* with information from the United Nations
Schools and meetings are being cancelled around the world as a result of the outbreak of the new coronavirus covirus 19. Because of this situation, it can be difficult to occupy the youngest with exciting activities for hours, especially when you can also be working from home. Here are some ideas you can make to teach them about the problem of plastic pollution.
Idea 1: hacer un instrumento musical con basura plástica
Every year, 8 million tons of plastic waste enters our oceans. In 2018, shady Rabab of Egypt won the prestigious United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) young Earth champion Award for detecting the opportunity to get children off the streets and preventing plastic from being wasted. He began the garbage Conservatory, touring with his children's band and his instruments made of plastic pollution, showing the world that it is not garbage, until it is wasted.
Encourage your kids to use (clean) plastic trash to make their own instruments. They can even organize a concert for you or for social media. Click here to get inspiration for the instruments you could do.
Idea 2: revise sus armarios y clasifique su contenido, como utensilios, etc., según el tipo de material del que están hechos
Every day we use many plastic products without thinking about their impact on the planet. Go to your kitchen cabinets with your child and ask them to classify everything by type of material (plastic, cardboard, aluminum, etc.).
Ask your children to choose the items that can be recycled and show them where they can see whether it's recyclable or not.
The United Nations Environment Programme educational package, Clean Seas, can help to show children in more detail what different types of plastic exist and how they can reduce their use.
Idea 3: tener un día de spa sin plástico
I may not be able to go to a spa, but that doesn't mean I can't bring the spa to you! From wet wipes to microplastic exfoliants (plastic pieces less than 5 mm), plastic is hidden in many personal care products.
Here you can see some of the sources of plastic contamination in your bathroom. An excellent way to fight hidden plastics is to have a family spa day at home. You can show your kids how to make excellent natural exfoliants with coconut oil, sugar and salt, and you can also make face masks with honey and bananas. Do some homemade treatments, play relaxing music and relax.
Idea 4: hacer un bote con desechos plásticos
A lot of things that look like garbage can soon be given a funny new life. Using plastic that you might otherwise throw away, help your child make a small raft or plastic boat. You can put them in the bathroom or sink to see if they float and even carry their toys on a boat ride! If possible, you could even take them to your local pond or stream and race on a raft.
A recent Clean Seas campaign participated in this activity on a larger scale. A nine-metre long dhow made with 10 tons of recycled garbage found off the Kenyan coast called "Flipflopi" sailed from Lamu, Kenya to Zanzibar to raise awareness of plastic pollution.
Idea 5: organizar un desfile de ropa hecha de basura
Recycling, or "making furniture, objects, etc. New old or used old or waste material", is one of the best fashion trends for the environment. In 2016, American Rob Greenfield used every piece of garbage he created in a month, turning it into a bulky garbage suit. Why not have your child make some fancy fashion accessories with plastic waste? They can organize a fashion show for you with their new creations!
There are many more ways you can teach your children about plastic pollution and its impacts. The UNEP Clean Seas website has tips on how to reduce its plastic footprint and the impact that plastic pollution is having.
For his part, UNEP's head of defence, Atif Butt, points out that "now, more than ever, it is clear that we must work together to solve the world's greatest challenges. By teaching and learning from future generations about environmental problems, we can take great steps to overcome pollution. "
