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Description

understanding the impact of plastic on wildlife

Resources

Rubber bands (one for each Beaver)

Instructions

Activity instructions:
1. Discuss with the Beavers the kind of plastics that might end up in our waterways and oceans. This could be
rubbish such as bottles or carrier bags, if they’re not recycled. Or ‘Ghost Gear’ which is the name for
abandoned or lost fishing equipment. Talk with them about the potential damage this can cause, the types of
wildlife that might be affected, and how they might be affected.
2. Ask a Beaver to volunteer so you can demonstrate. Put a rubber band across the back of their hand, using
their thumb and little finger to hold it in place. Ask them to try and remove the rubber band, without using
their other hand, or teeth, or rubbing it against anything.
3. Hand out one rubber band to each Beaver so they can try it themselves. Tell them to pretend that their hand
(and arm) is a fish or bird.
4. Tell them to place the rubber band around their hands and give them 30 seconds to try and free themselves
from the rubber bands without using their other hand (or anyone else’s – no helping!).
5. Have a discussion about how difficult it was to get free and what plastics the rubber bands might represent
for birds or underwater life, such as drink can rings or plastic bags.
6. Explain that plastic pollution in waterways such as canals and rivers affects the animals and wildlife that live
there. Plastic pollution in waterways often reaches the ocean and affects the wildlife there too. The
consequences for animals can be dire – they can suffocate or starve.

Tags

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Badge Links

• Community Impact - Identify
• Community Impact - Learn
• World - Environment
• World - Other