Learning outcomes (differentiated)MUST Use persuasive devices such as rhetorical questions, emotive language and repetition of a key pointSHOULD Use real life data to build credibility and reliabilityCOULD Use statistics to add factual weight to an argument by anticipating response and adapting delivery accordingly

STARTER

Almost a decade ago, Surfers Against Sewage conducted a Plastic Pollution Brand Survey; a brand audit that revealed that the majority of all beach litter (56%) was attributable to just twelve corporations, dubbed the ‘Dirty Dozen’.Use the PowerPoint to introduce the students to this historical data as well as their challenge and the reasons behind it. Together, explore the data gathered 10 years ago that led to the naming of the ‘Dirty Dozen.’ Speculate about how it may be different 10 years later. As a class, plan the litter pick carefully to ensure good quality and useful data will be gathered.

ACTIVITY 1- (PowerPoint slides 1- 6) Conduct a clean up Conduct your clean up (risk assessments and organisational support is freely available online). Ideally, the class will be split into groups to clean up a specific area thereby gathering different data sets. Either retain all plastic collected for analysis back at school, photograph each plastic item or log items as you go, remember to record the brand!

ACTIVITY 2 - (PowerPoint slides 7 - 13) Crunch the data

KEYWORDSAUDIT

DISCRETE DATACONTINUOUS DATA

PICTOGRAMTALLY CHART

PIE CHARTPERCENTAGE

MEANAVERAGEPERSUADE

Lesson plan: Plastic Persuasion

LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Use real life statistics as a persuasive device.

RESOURCES REQUIREDLitter picking kit (often free to borrow from local council or you can get some equipment of your own by signing up to our Plastic Free Schools programme.)

‘Plastic Persuasion’ Power Point

Persuasive writing word bank (completed and blank)

Persuasive writing Toolkit (completed and blank)

Cameras/Ipads (optional)

ProtractorsRulersWriting paper, envelopes and stamps

ADULT SUPPORTEnsure H&S/risk assessments are adhered to during litter pick

Sourcing addresses for businesses being approached

USEFUL LINKSDirty Dozen SAS CampaignPersuasive Writing Revision by the BBCNo More Plastic – an open letter to AmazonRead about our campaign: Mass UnwrapEveryday Plastic: What we throw away and where it goes

DURATION180 minutes

SUBJECT FOCUSMaths/English

AGE GROUPYear 7

On return to the classroom, ensure each group has their own set of collected items, ask them to work collaboratively to log the data in a tally chart. Next, combine all the data collected into a class tally chart (on PPT). Continue to work though the slides; students will first explore pictograms before moving on to bar charts. Each part is accompanied by probing questions encouraging students to use their hypothesising and reasoning skills before creating their own charts and suggesting their own questions.

ACTIVITY 3- (PowerPoint slides 14 – 18) Campaign for changeAdvise the class that knowledge is power and that we now want to use this data to campaign for change. Using the statistical information gathered, pupils will write a persuasive letter to one or more of the brands identified to be responsible for some of the plastic pollution. Start by agreeing a toolkit for persuasive writing and if time allows consider drafting an exemplar first paragraph together as a class to ensure tone and style is correct. It may also help to read this letter written by No More Plastic to the CEO of Amazon.

PLENARYInvite students to share a phrase or paragraph in which they used statistics to good effect; what was it about the statement that made it so powerful? Is there any way in which the impact could be strengthened even further? Send the letters.

FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIESExplore the other plastic focused lessons created by Surfers Against Sewage. This lesson particularly lends itself to our ‘On the Plastics Trail’ lesson.

Now you’re feeling fired up, participate in Surfers Against Sewage’s ‘Plastic Free Schools’ programme.

Conduct a second litter pick in a different location and compare findings to determine commonalities and differences.

Set up a regular litter picking crew or pledge to join local volunteers on one of theirs.

Share the students letters on social media, tagging one of the brands and an image of the items collected, don’t forget to tag Surfers Against Sewage (@SASCampaigns).

Continue to lobby the big businesses!

CURRICULUM LINKS

Statistics – KS3Pupils should be taught to:

Construct and interpret appropriate tables, charts and diagrams, including frequency tables, bar charts, pie charts and pictograms for categorical data, and vertical line (or bar) charts for ungrouped and grouped numerical data.

English Composition – KS3Pupils should be taught to: write accurately, fluently, effectively and at length for pleasure and information through: writing for a wide range of purposes and audiences, including:

Summarising and organising material, and supporting ideas and arguments with any necessary factual detail

plan, draft, edit and proof-read through: Considering how their writing reflects the audiences and purposes for

which it was intended Amending the vocabulary, grammar and structure of their writing to

improve its coherence and overall effectiveness Paying attention to accurate grammar, punctuation and spelling;

applying the spelling patterns and rules set out in English Appendix 1 to the key stage 1 and 2 programmes of study for English.

Sustainable Development Goal: Goal 14 Life Below Water