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Plastics as an Educational Resource for Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Ghana
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This paper proposes using plastics—their production, pollution, and circular economy solutions—as an interdisciplinary educational resource for teaching sustainable development across multiple UN SDGs. The authors outline curriculum frameworks that connect plastic lifecycle concepts to goals including clean water, responsible consumption, climate action, and life below water. By grounding sustainability education in a tangible, everyday material, the approach aims to increase student engagement and real-world problem-solving skills.
The world is going through a climate crisis that is severely impacting the environment and the well-being of the population. The increased consumption of plastics, especially in developing countries, is generating an exponential rise in plastic waste. This article introduces a qualitative investigation in the form of a case study, with data derived from an educational project focused on plastics as a vehicle for environmental education. This project was implemented with a group of 50 children from a Ghanaian school. Our results reveal that the students acquired a high level of knowledge of plastic and its properties, made possible by an active, globalizing, experimental methodology. This knowledge was later reinforced through the fabrication of materials for learning and play made of recycled plastic waste. Through this project, the participating students practiced critical and democratic global citizenship aimed at creating a sustainable world through an ecological perspective.
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Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.