Plastics are versatile materials that come in different shapes, sizes, and exhibit different material properties.  Scientist and engineers are working on new ways to create, use, and recycle plastics, so we can use plastics for their many advantages and lessen their effects on our environment. Youth scientists can explore the issues and problem solving through the activities in these curriculums.

• 4-H Polymers: Be a Scientist! Materials in a Green, Clean World (Grades 5K-2)—Be a 4-H Scientist! Materials in a Green, Clean World is an inquiry-based science curriculum focusing on the following concepts: materials; plastics; the three R’s: Reduce, Re-use, Recycle; the work of scientists and engineers. The curriculum is designed to build foundational skills of science and engineering: observation, asking questions, sorting and classifying, and communicating. 
• Sustainable Polymers: Plastics of the Future for a Green, Clean World (Grades 3-5)—The curriculum is designed to build foundational skills of science and engineering: observations, asking questions and defining problems, planning and carrying out investigations, and communicating. 
• Sustainable Polymers: Taking Action to Solve the Challenge of Plastics (Grades 6-8)—This is a youth-driven curriculum focusing on the use and impacts of plastics and sustainability. In each phase, youth will explore polymer science content through a guided activity and then become change agents through youth-driven projects.
• Sustainable Polymers: Confronting the Plastic Crisis (Grades 9-12)—Designed for high school youth focusing on the history, prevalence, impacts, and future of plastics. Plastics are versatile materials that come in different shapes, sizes, and exhibit different material properties. Scientists and engineers are working on new ways to create, use, and recycle plastics, so we can use plastics for their many advantages and lessen their effects on our environment.

Audience: Grades 5K-12