Teen Science Change Agents
Transforming Our Relationship with Plastics
This curriculum focuses on youth building leadership skills to effectively serve as agents of change around plastic-related issues. Throughout the leadership learning sections, youth will work together to ask critical questions about our use of plastics and determine how they can become a change agent for the planet and address issues of plastics/plastic pollution.
Youth can choose from two leadership paths: Teens as Teachers or Teens Engaged in Community Action. Each path offers meaningful leadership opportunities for youth to serve as teachers and community leaders. Through discussion and reflective activities, youth will gain knowledge, skills, and confidence to transform their concern for the environment into action. Youth will learn with and about other change agents, including young people who are leading projects to reduce the environmental impacts of plastic waste.
We encourage instructors to collect feedback throughout this module and submit via this evaluation form: 4hpolymers.org/evaluation.
Overview
Facilitator Resources
Importance of Youth-Adult Partnership
Adult Self-Assessment
Youth Roles
Adult Roles
Experiencing Adultism
Partnering with Teens
Teen Sparks
Listening for Sparks
Tips for Partnering With Teens
Tips For Crafting the Learning Environment
Discussion Warm-Ups
Tools For Group Discussion
Youth Learning Outcomes
Change Agent Approach Matrix
Understanding the Plastic Life Cycle
Section 1: Discovering the Power of Why
Activity 1: Teen Sparks
Activity 2: Cultivating Hopeful Purpose
Section 2: Building Leadership Skills in Youth Change Makers
Activity 1: Self-Reflection: Teen Leadership Worksheet
Activity 2: Identity Wheel
Section 3: Choosing A Change Making Path
Activity 1: Exploring Youth and Adult Partnerships
Activity 2: Our Youth & Adult Partnership
Activity 3: Choosing a Change Making Path
Section 4: Teens as Teachers Path
Activity 1: Remembering a GREAT teacher or group leader
Activity 2: Thriving Together
Activity 3: Understanding Ages and Developmental Stages
Activity 4: Leading Learning for Everyone - Draw a Scientist
Activity 5: Experiential Learning and Inquiry-Model It!
Activity 6: Five Essential Teaching Skills
Activity 7: Giving Directions (Optional Activity)
Section 5: Teens Engaging in Community Action Path
Activity 1: Understanding My Community
Activity 2: Discovering the community action project
Activity 3: Planning the community action project
Activity 4: Leading the Community Action Project
Activity 5: Sharing and Reflecting on the action project
Free
Unlock the Full Set (Free Digital Download)
Paid
Need a printed set? The 4-H store will provide a paid option for this module set in the future. The content is the same but the modules are printed, spiral-bound, and sent directly to you - skip the lines and stress of your local copy store.
The Teen Engagement module set is not yet ready in print - please check back soon for availability.