Plastic
Where?
Rivers
Problem
Data
Global
Solution
Quiz
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Rivers

Where does plastic go

when you throw it away?

It depends where you put it!

Some plastic might go to a recycling plant. Plastic that isn’t managed properly may end up in a landfill or it might be incinerated, which is bad for our air. But what about plastic that doesn’t end up in these places, like litter? Let’s take a look at one of plastic’s main paths… rivers.

Of the mismanaged plastic that travels through rivers and into the ocean, 90% is carried by just 10 rivers across the world.

Can you identify the 10 rivers that carry the most plastic?

Mini Challenge

Can you figure out which rivers these are? We’ll give you some clues along the way. Why not ask a friend or do some online research with a grown up?1

Let’s Reflect…

Now that we know where plastic ends up in rivers, reflect on these questions.

Which continent are most of these rivers in?
Why do you think these rivers carry more mismanaged plastic than other rivers?
What rivers do you think carry the most plastic in YOUR country, and what do you think your country’s leaders can do about it?

Data Dive

Quantitative vs Qualitative Science2

Quantitative data is data by the quantity. It can be counted, measured, and expressed using numbers such as weight by kilogram.

Qualitative data is high-quality descriptive information. Qualitative data can be categorized based on themes and characteristics, like kinds of plastics.

Quick Facts!

Did you know:

73% of beach litter worldwide is plastic.3

You’ve completed this step of the challenge - congrats!

You’ve learned one way that plastic makes its way into the ocean. You can now move on to the Problem section to see why this is causing such a big problem for our environment.

Where?

Problem

Take it further

Not in a rush and want to take it a step further?

These extension activities will teach you how to code an “answer reveal” animation in Scratch like the Pop Quiz above, and guide you through a data visualization reflection

Keep exploring - Scratch remix!

Answer reveal activity - ‘Plastic Paths’

Learning Objectives

Create an answer reveal activity using Scratch’s ghost effect and costume changes.
Apply a simple coding concept to tell a story.

Recommended ages

Ages 7+

Recommended duration

20-40 min

Introduction

In an interactive way, discover how mismanaged plastic ends up in oceans through certain rivers around the world.

In this Scratch project, you will code a button which will allow you to jump from image to image with a fade-in/fade-out effect. This creates a reveal effect to slowly share information.

Scratch finished project

Lesson plan

Keep exploring - Data stories!

source: Plastic Pollution by Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser4

Use the data visualized in this chart to reflect on these questions:

General

Why does more waste end up in the ocean from some continents compared to others?5

Community

Have you noticed certain areas in your town that have more waste than other areas? Why do you think that is? Who is responsible for reducing this waste?

Ethical

Asia is the continent with the largest and most densely-concentrated population in the world. Many essential household products are only available in single-use plastic packaging, while garbage trucks can’t access narrow streets to collect waste. Who is responsible for fixing this? Can you think of a solution?6

Where?

Problem