Microplastics

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/microplastics

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary microplastic examples?Microbeads, nurdles (plastic pellets), microfibers from synthetic textiles
2. What is the secondary microplastic sources?Fragmentation of larger plastic items (bottles, bags, fishing nets), tire wear particles
3. How do microplastics get into the environment?They come from tiny beads in soaps, plastic pellets used in factories, and fibers that fall off clothes when we wash them. Big plastic items like bottles and bags break into smaller pieces when waves, sun, and wind wear them down.
4. Why are microplastics bad for animals?Animals can swallow them and get a blockage in their tummy, which can make them feel sick or starve. The plastics can also carry harmful chemicals that can poison the animals.

Microplastics: Plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm, posing a significant environmental pollution threat.
Primary Microplastics: Plastic particles intentionally manufactured to be small, such as microbeads or industrial pellets.
Secondary Microplastics: Microscopic plastic fragments resulting from the physical and chemical degradation of larger plastic items.
Biomagnification: The process by which toxins accumulate and increase in concentration at successively higher levels of a food chain.