Our group proposes an exhibit that teaches students about the imperfections of recycling and possible alternatives to the recycling process.  In particular, we would like students to learn that recycling is an imperfect process because it requires that all of the materials contained in a product be returned to their raw states, and that this is sometimes impossible or detrimental to the raw material.  Consequentially, it is sometimes more worthwhile or beneficial to reuse products by incorporating them in new products instead of trying to use them over and over in the same application.

Our exibit will demonstrate this by using plaster to create a beam, which will be tested with weight. The beams will then be ground into a powder and re-used in the same application. The re-used plaster has less integrity in bonding in comparison to the original plaster. This is because the original material has chemically bonded and though it seems the material has returned to its original form, it no longer has the same properties. This experiment will show that engineering is necessary in order to re-use materials and that the original application is never the same after it has been recycled.

The plaster casting activity is an appealing and broad activity in which many different types of children can participate. After receiving information about other forms of effective recycling and reuse through the display, the children’s curiosity to further learn about energy and the environment will be engaged through the casting activity. They will see that there are things that they can actually do to make a positive environmental impact.

The materials involved in the plaster casting activity will all be safe and cheap or reusable. We will manufacture the molds for the casting process.

The casting and weight test activity is a good example of an engineering process. The children will need to conduct preliminary research, be creative, follow directions, understand and then apply the concepts of energy, recycling, and material reuse.

The exhibit will consist of a display providing information about recycling and reuse processes, specifications on energy used in the processes, and other pertinent information.

Materials necessary for the exhibit are;

• Molds to make beams
• Pam spray to prevent plaster from sticking to mold
• Plaster to pour into molds
• Water to mix plaster
• Spoons for mixing
• Bowls for mixing
• Dixie cups for measuring
• Latex gloves for participants
• Table cover (clear garbage bags)
• Large red cups for experiment
• Nuts for use as weights
• Blender to break up beams
• Coffee grinder to break up beams
• Heat lamps to dry molds