Conceptual Content and Related Learning Outcomes

Concept Learning Outcomes

Matter has different properties.

1. Product packaging is designed to take advantage of matter's inherent properties with respect to the product it contains. Cans, for example, are made of either steel or aluminum. Each of these materials is used by manufacturers to fulfill different product packaging purposes. 1a. Students will describe the purposes of packaging.

1b. Students will identify the pros and cons of different types of packaging and explore how packaging affects our decisions as consumers.

1c. Students will differentiate between "natural" and manufactured packaging.

1d. Students will classify packaging in terms of its characteristics (materials), origins (natural or manufactured), and in other ways that make sense to them.

2. Aluminum cans can be distinguished from other packages by their properties (nonmagnetic, corrosion resistant, lightweight, efficient temperature conductor). Aluminum's abilities to chill quickly and keep beverages fresh, as well as its light weight, make it a desirable packaging material. 2a. Students will study metal cans to investigate their properties.

2b. Students will differentiate among steel, aluminum and bimetal cans and record their observations. They will compare cans in terms of weight, magnetism, corrosion resistance and temperature conductivity.

2c. Students will identify advantages and disadvantages of each of these types of metals as a packaging material.

Humans depend on environmental resources. Humans can conserve natural resources.

3. Humans depend on the environment for their survival and can affect the environment negatively or positively. Humans consume products and affect how many resources are available for their use. 3a. Students will give examples of how humans affect the environment through their use of natural resources.

3b. Students will list ways humans deal with the waste they produce.

4. Resources are things we get from the environment. Resources can be renewable (trees) or nonrenewable (metals, gas and oil). Aluminum, found in nature mixed with other elements, is a nonrenewable resource. 4a. Students will give examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources.

4b. Students will identify aluminum as a natural, nonrenewable resource found in bauxite ore.

5. Used products can contribute to waste. Waste can be biodegradable (it breaks down and returns to the environment) or nonbiodegradable (it "lives" forever). Waste can be recycled for future use or disposed of in landfills. Aluminum, a nonbiodegradable natural resource, is one of the more economical materials to recycle. Recycling aluminum is a resource-saving alternative to disposal. Product packaging that relies on recycled aluminum uses less raw material, thereby conserving natural resources. 5a. Students will explain and give examples of cycles in their everyday lives.

5b. Students will define biodegradable and nonbiodegradable waste and explain how the environment is affected by each type of waste product.

5c. Students will define "recycling" and explain the cycle for reusing aluminum cans. Students will explain how an aluminum can is made and how using recycled aluminum to make "new" cans conserves natural resources, such as bauxite.

Aluminum can manufacturing is an example of the matter-energy cycle.

6. It takes energy to make products, such as aluminum cans, that humans use. Cans are among the packaging materials that can be recycled. It takes less energy and fewer raw materials to make a recycled aluminum can than to make a new can. Recycling aluminum saves energy and conserves natural resources. 6a. Students will recognize the impact of recycling on energy and natural resources.

6b. Students will discuss processes and energy sources used to recycle products.

7. Closed-loop recycling means a product is recycled and used again in the same form. Aluminum is an example of closed-loop recycling. An "old" aluminum can is melted into scrap and then combined with mined ore to create a "new" aluminum can. Closed-loop recycling saves energy and conserves nonrenewable resources. 7. Students will explain the pros and cons of closed-loop recycling and show how aluminum cans are an example of closed-loop recycling.

Technology, by improving manufacturing, collecting, and recycling processes, can improve the environment.

8. Industry considers a variety of packaging features (such as chilling, stackability, product freshness, weight) when designing product containers. 8.Students will evaluate the choice of packaging (aluminum can) in terms of its properties and explain the relationship of packaging material choice to manufacturing and transportation goals.

9. Lightweighting, means making less garbage, even from the start. Aluminum cans are made of less material today than they were 25 years ago. Using less material per can (lightweighting) means less waste produced and fewer natural resources consumed, reducing the need to mine for bauxite. 9a.Students will compare can ends and sizes from different years to those of today and evaluate the effect of lightweighting on conservation of natural resources.

9b.Students will describe how mining for raw materials (and using less raw material to manufacture products) affects the environment.

Citizens are responsible for their environment. Citizens affect the environment by the decisions they make with regard to purchasing, consuming, and disposing of products and resources.

10. In most communities, recycling aluminum cans is easy. It reduces negative impacts on the environment and can be a way to earn money. 10. Students will report on what they've learned about aluminum and aluminum can recycling.

11. Environmental responsibility can involve various activities such as choosing "green" products, consuming fewer products, conducting a recycling campaign, or sharing information about environmentally friendly packaging or products. 11. Students will conduct activities of their own choosing that promote environmental responsibility.

Concept	Learning Outcomes
Matter has different properties.
1. Product packaging is designed to take advantage of matter's inherent properties with respect to the product it contains. Cans, for example, are made of either steel or aluminum. Each of these materials is used by manufacturers to fulfill different product packaging purposes.	1a. Students will describe the purposes of packaging. 1b. Students will identify the pros and cons of different types of packaging and explore how packaging affects our decisions as consumers. 1c. Students will differentiate between "natural" and manufactured packaging. 1d. Students will classify packaging in terms of its characteristics (materials), origins (natural or manufactured), and in other ways that make sense to them.

2. Aluminum cans can be distinguished from other packages by their properties (nonmagnetic, corrosion resistant, lightweight, efficient temperature conductor). Aluminum's abilities to chill quickly and keep beverages fresh, as well as its light weight, make it a desirable packaging material.	2a. Students will study metal cans to investigate their properties. 2b. Students will differentiate among steel, aluminum and bimetal cans and record their observations. They will compare cans in terms of weight, magnetism, corrosion resistance and temperature conductivity. 2c. Students will identify advantages and disadvantages of each of these types of metals as a packaging material.

Humans depend on environmental resources. Humans can conserve natural resources.
3. Humans depend on the environment for their survival and can affect the environment negatively or positively. Humans consume products and affect how many resources are available for their use.	3a. Students will give examples of how humans affect the environment through their use of natural resources. 3b. Students will list ways humans deal with the waste they produce.

4. Resources are things we get from the environment. Resources can be renewable (trees) or nonrenewable (metals, gas and oil). Aluminum, found in nature mixed with other elements, is a nonrenewable resource.	4a. Students will give examples of renewable and nonrenewable resources. 4b. Students will identify aluminum as a natural, nonrenewable resource found in bauxite ore.

5. Used products can contribute to waste. Waste can be biodegradable (it breaks down and returns to the environment) or nonbiodegradable (it "lives" forever). Waste can be recycled for future use or disposed of in landfills. Aluminum, a nonbiodegradable natural resource, is one of the more economical materials to recycle. Recycling aluminum is a resource-saving alternative to disposal. Product packaging that relies on recycled aluminum uses less raw material, thereby conserving natural resources.	5a. Students will explain and give examples of cycles in their everyday lives. 5b. Students will define biodegradable and nonbiodegradable waste and explain how the environment is affected by each type of waste product. 5c. Students will define "recycling" and explain the cycle for reusing aluminum cans. Students will explain how an aluminum can is made and how using recycled aluminum to make "new" cans conserves natural resources, such as bauxite.
Aluminum can manufacturing is an example of the matter-energy cycle.

6. It takes energy to make products, such as aluminum cans, that humans use. Cans are among the packaging materials that can be recycled. It takes less energy and fewer raw materials to make a recycled aluminum can than to make a new can. Recycling aluminum saves energy and conserves natural resources.	6a. Students will recognize the impact of recycling on energy and natural resources. 6b. Students will discuss processes and energy sources used to recycle products.
7. Closed-loop recycling means a product is recycled and used again in the same form. Aluminum is an example of closed-loop recycling. An "old" aluminum can is melted into scrap and then combined with mined ore to create a "new" aluminum can. Closed-loop recycling saves energy and conserves nonrenewable resources.	7. Students will explain the pros and cons of closed-loop recycling and show how aluminum cans are an example of closed-loop recycling.
Technology, by improving manufacturing, collecting, and recycling processes, can improve the environment.
8. Industry considers a variety of packaging features (such as chilling, stackability, product freshness, weight) when designing product containers.	8.Students will evaluate the choice of packaging (aluminum can) in terms of its properties and explain the relationship of packaging material choice to manufacturing and transportation goals.

9. Lightweighting, means making less garbage, even from the start. Aluminum cans are made of less material today than they were 25 years ago. Using less material per can (lightweighting) means less waste produced and fewer natural resources consumed, reducing the need to mine for bauxite.	9a.Students will compare can ends and sizes from different years to those of today and evaluate the effect of lightweighting on conservation of natural resources. 9b.Students will describe how mining for raw materials (and using less raw material to manufacture products) affects the environment.
Citizens are responsible for their environment. Citizens affect the environment by the decisions they make with regard to purchasing, consuming, and disposing of products and resources.

10. In most communities, recycling aluminum cans is easy. It reduces negative impacts on the environment and can be a way to earn money.	10. Students will report on what they've learned about aluminum and aluminum can recycling.
11. Environmental responsibility can involve various activities such as choosing "green" products, consuming fewer products, conducting a recycling campaign, or sharing information about environmentally friendly packaging or products.	11. Students will conduct activities of their own choosing that promote environmental responsibility.