Project by: Olivia DeTraglia (9th Grade), Sherlyn Pesantez (9th Grade)
Project Advisor: Peter Heinz
Student(s)’s Advisor(s): Joy and Kelly

Update:

Throughout the process of our project, we did a lot of research that taught us about reasons that laws work specifically for climate change and plastic use. More specifically, we discussed how when you by a plastic straw for 2 cents, you are only paying for the manufacturing cost and not for the rest of the factors that come into play when creating a straw and disposing of it. We discussed how companies should have to take responsibility in the mode of disposal for their products. We began to move towards the idea of companies being responsible for waste and we talked about taxes vs subsidies and which one would help to achieve the overall goal of keeping single-use plastics out of wildlife environments while still not having a negative environmental effect such as adding to climate change, which is something that happens when plastic sits in a landfill and is heated by the sun. We discussed alternatives to plastic straws specifically. After collecting all of this new research, we thought that it would be best to create a poster sharing all of our new knowledge on the topic and sharing it with classmates so that we can make changes ourselves rather than writing an entirely new bill the would totally eliminate single-use plastic.

Please write a description of the project you are proposing. Why do you want to take this on, and what do you hope to learn?

We would like to research the pollution of plastic and how it impacts our earth, all its causes, effects, and solutions. We would also research ways for students to be apart of lawmaking and the passing of bills. We will then try to write our own bill regarding plastic and ways that we can fix it through the help of the people in the government who have the power to make laws that are effective to everyone.

Critical thinking, creativity, citizenship and courage are essential LREI learning values. Explain how you’ll draw on at least one of these values to complete your proposed project?

This project is about trying to cut down on the waste of plastic which in its own helps people all over the world, we are being helpful citizens who are trying to save this world. We will also be able to demonstrate critical thinking and creativity through our new bill through the ideas that we will put into it.

What is your proposed outcome? How will you be able to demonstrate successful completion of this Project? How do you plan to share your learnings with the larger LREI community (e.g., exhibit of work, poster of learnings, performance, etc.)?

At the end of this project, we would like to have researched efficiently and with this research, and then write a bill that limits things such as plastic production because it is so harmful to the environment. Once we have completed this bill we will know that the project is finished. We can share this bill as well as a poster to show our process.

Please provide a general outline that indicates your work plan for the trimester? What are some of the key project benchmarks (i.e., goals that will help to ensure that you finish the project)?

During the beginning of the trimester, we will be focusing on researching the topic and gathering the information that we think will be useful. We will also be learning about how we can get involved in the passing of laws. Once we have all of this information, we will then work on writing our own bill and at this point, we will know that we are able to complete the project. With this project, we are hoping to write a bill that not only follows every criterion for it to become a bill but one that can be approved and be used by everyone in the world/nation.

When do you plan on meeting?
We plan on meeting once a week with Peter Heinz on Wednesday first lunch. But we will do research and work on it along the course of the week.