Polymers, Giant Molecules with Properties: An Entertaining Activity Introducing Polymers to Young Students

In this activity, polymer materials are introduced to 13–16 year old students. The activity is aimed at students with no or little knowledge of polymers. An engaging lecture covering the basics of polymer technology and sustainable development in the plastics field is presented. Important polymers such as polyethylene (PE), cellulose, and polylactide (PLA) are presented, and examples of their everyday use are shown. Quiz questions are employed in the introductory lecture to engage the students, to start discussions, and to evaluate the learning progress. The students are then engaged in two entertaining activities involving a natural polymer alginate and superabsorbent polymers. Alginate spaghetti is produced using different salt solutions enabling the students to create and destroy materials just by playing around with the chemistry, which helps them understand the polymeric material. The second activity has an application-based approach where the ability of superabsorbent polymers in diapers to retain water is investigated. The overall quiz results and discussions after the activities show an improved understanding of polymers and their applications and properties, making this activity useful for teaching polymers to young students.