This reading is designed to bring home to the students how relevant polymers are to their lives, as well as to stress the importance of recycling. In addition, the reading gives the students a rundown on the great variety of polymers that we encounter every day. This reading is a good lead-in to the activity Synthetic Search, which also deals with polymers in their infinite variety.

The American Plastics Council has developed a very useful set of inquiry-based activities built around recycling codes. This activity asks the students to identify unknown plastics through a series of physical and chemical tests. It is available online and may be viewed by following the link below:

Hands on Plastics: Plastics Analysis Lab

Note: This set of activities is part of the "Hands on Plastics" kit, that contains activity plans, and the physical materials needed. The kit is FREE and the American Plastics Council web site contains an order form. Just follow the link below to get there.

Kit Order Form

Relevant National Science Education Standards

Physical Science — Molecular structures are given for each polymer discussed.

Science and Technology — The reading involves the technology of common polymers and the responsible use of this technology.

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives — The reading deals with environmental and natural resource issues related to polymers.