4D - Inquiry Learning

4D have been investigating the Inquiry Question ‘How are Chemicals Used in the World Around Us?’ They have been exploring how different chemicals react and change when combined. This week 4D looked at how plastic is an essential material we use for many different products, but also how it is harmful to the environment. They looked at an alternative to plastic that is biodegradable, creating gelatine plastic out of biodegradable materials. The students discovered how the two chemicals (gelatine powder and water) mixed together to create a gooey, jelly-like substance which then hardened into plastic overnight.  

Student testimonies

We did an experiment where we put gelatine in hot water and mix them to make plastic. We waited till it dried up. The gelatine is biodegradable plastic so it can be better for you to use than the plastic that is not biodegradable. – Indrakshi

We learnt about what plastic is made of and we made biodegradable plastic out of gelatine. We did this to find another way to make plastic that wont cause pollution in the world.  – Mikayla 

We earnt how plastic was made and how it is harmful to the environment. We learnt how to make plastic out of gelatine, using food dye to make it colourful. It was really mushy feeling at the beginning but then it turned thick and hard into real plastic. - Stuti