On February 26, Chaminade research scientists and undergraduate students visited the Kindergarten classes at Waiau Elementary School in Pearl City to teach them about polymers and recycling.

Plastic products are everywhere. While plastics can be very useful they can also be very damaging to our environment. During our visit, the students learnt about polymers and how plastics are recycled and manufactured.

Students used #6 recycled plastic (polystyrene) to demonstrate the properties of a polymer. They drew a design on a 2 inch circle of #6 plastic. Our instructors placed it in an oven to heat. The students watched as the plastic curled, shrank and flattened into a hard 3/4 inch circle with their design miniaturized.

Students also learnt how to tell the different between the various types of plastic products they encounter (see Plastic Resin Codes at City & County of Honolulu’s Department of Environmental Services, http://www.opala.org/solid_waste/curbside_plastics.htm). We discussed recycling, reusing and reducing to minimize the plastic waste we produce.

Click here to visit the Waiau Elementary School photo gallery