“Plastic is wonderful because it is durable. Plastic is terrible because it is durable.”
In today’s society, it is increasingly necessary for young people to be aware of the importance of their actions and their opinions. For this reason, it was decided to carry out a project aimed at raising student awareness of current environmental pollution issues, particularly regarding the oceans.
“Be the change” is our motto: students have the opportunity to be an active part in proposing tangible solutions. Analyzing problems in detail and beginning to take action creates the awareness of being able to contribute and of having a fundamental role in improving certain aspects of the environment in which they live.
Based on the scientific method and using different approaches, the students stepped into the shoes of scientific communicators, journalists, and analysts. They discovered the advantages of cooperative work using the debate formula and carrying out real-world tasks to delve deeper into the issues addressed. All this led the pupils to the awareness of being, even at their age, citizens of the world: people capable of raising awareness in others and making their voices heard because they are a conscious and active part of the system.
Following the theme of the year dedicated to all forms of connection to the world around us, the students identified different communication methods: dissemination, the creation of works of art and protest artifacts, and the study and design of solutions and related prototypes to combat the environmental problems addressed.
The effects of failing to recycle and the unconscious use of plastic, especially single-use plastic, are devastating for the environment and the animals that inhabit it.
Starting from waste plastic produced by the school and families, two permanent installations were created that will be exhibited at the school.
A plastic aquarium is an aquarium made entirely of plastic by the first-year classes. The creatures that inhabit it are made from plastic waste, as is every other element contained within it. If we continue to pour plastic into the oceans, they will turn into a large open-air landfill and the beings that inhabit them will gradually become extinct.
A plastic whale is a 1:1 scale reproduction of an 8-meter-long blue whale calf, made entirely from plastic bottles with the help of the third-year classes. An artifact protesting the waste and excessive use of single-use plastic.
Thanks to their linguistic skills, it was possible to watch the documentary film “A Plastic Ocean“ in its original language and read, with relative analysis, David Owen’s text “Alex Neptune, Dragon Thief”. These were a source of great inspiration for the pupils who, captivated by the adventures of young Alex and the misfortunes of the researchers in the documentary, made this issue their own and decided to be part of the change they want to see in the world, giving back to the oceans with their voices and their work.
