Year 9 - Science
Advantages and disadvantages of plastic food packaging
Climate change and biodiversity
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils learn about the impact of agriculture and deforestation on biodiversity, and to more thoroughly consider the effects of climate change on biodiversity and food production.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe advantages and disadvantages of plastic food packaging.
Key Notes
- Many foods are sold packaged in plastic, which is usually made from non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels
- Plastic waste in landfills and oceans is a pollutant that takes a long time to degrade and can harm organisms
- Biodegradable bioplastics made from renewable resources are a sustainable alternative to traditional plastic packaging
- Plastic packaging helps prevents food spoilage and reduces food waste
- We must weigh up the benefits of using plastic packaging against emissions from production and damage to biodiversity
Vocabulary To Learn
- plastic: a man-made material, usually made from fossil fuels
- pollutant: a substance that can harm living organisms when it is released into an ecosystem
- biodiversity: the range of different living organisms (species) in an ecosystem
- biodegradable: can be broken down by living organisms, including microorganisms
- sustainable: can be carried out over a long period of time with little or no negative impact on the environment
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Thinking that plastic food packaging only has disadvantages, due to its effects as a pollutant in oceans and land ecosystems.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Many foods are sold packaged in plastic, which is usually made from non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels. Plastic waste in landfills and oceans is a pollutant that takes a long time to degrade and can harm organisms.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'plastic'
a man-made material, usually made from fossil fuels. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Thinking that plastic food packaging only has disadvantages, due to its effects as a pollutant in oceans and land ecosystems. Correction: This lesson explores the advantages of plastic packaging in reducing food waste, alongside the risks it can pose to biodiversity.
More Lessons In This Unit
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