1
Plastic Detectives Educator!
Curaçao
Plastic Detectives Educator!
Curaçao
Content
This playlist supports teachers, guest educators, and facilitators in delivering the GreenKidz: Plastic & Recyclen lesson with confidence, creativity, and local relevance. It offers ready-to-use tools, educational strategies, and reflective practices to ensure impactful, student-centered learning. By earning badges, trainers build up their confidence and credentials as eco-educators.
The playlist provides a hands-on, student-centered framework to inspire young learners to become active “Plastic Detectives.” With real-world examples and fun activities, it aligns with sustainability goals and the Curaçao Island of Learning framework.
This badge forms the basis of environmentally conscious behavior and is in line with sustainability education in elementary education. Through interactive and playful learning, youth workers will become real “Plastic Detective Educators” equipped with knowledge and actions to train students to reduce plastic pollution in their community.
By completing this activity, you will
- Actively participated in the delivery of the first part of the GreenKidz lesson “Plastic and Recycling”.
- Guide students through multimedia content, discussions, and interactive tasks.
- Understand where plastic comes from and its long-term environmental impact.
- Recognize the difference between waste disposal, reusing, and recycling.
- Identify the effects of plastic pollution on Curaçao and the oceans.
- Reflect on personal choices and changes they can make to protect the environment.
Get inspired
This badge recognizes youth workers ability to understand and teach about plastic waste, decomposition time, and how to sort and manage plastic responsibly. Curaçao Island of Learning & GreenKidz value youth workers contributions and actions to teaching students how to reduce pollution and issue this badge after reviewing the submitted evidence.
The GreenKidz “Plastic en Recyclen” lesson plan was developed to help children in Curaçao learn about the serious impact of plastic waste—and how small changes can lead to big results. It uses real-life examples, hands-on activities, and colorful visuals to make learning fun and practical.
From understanding the difference between recyclable and non-recyclable plastics to discovering how long different materials stay in nature, this lesson helps you teach students to become part of the solution.
Take action: activities for different roles
Explore the role-specific badges below to access activities designed to enhance your understanding and support young people in the area of recycling.
Claim open badge recognition
Upon completing the activities, participants can claim digital badges recognizing their competence in:
- Searching and evaluating digital content (DigComp 1.1)
- Environmental awareness (Digital Youth Work)
- Responsible Consumption (UN SDG 12)
Who created this resource
Greenkidz Curaçao, Curaçao (Project Lead) Curaçao Innovation & Technology Institute (CITI)
Next steps
Discover more activities and videos in the GreenKidz Plastic Detective program. Think about how topics like plastic pollution, recycling, and environmental awareness connect with each other. Consider how you can help young people become eco-smart citizens by supporting them in building essential environmental and life skills.
Get activity badge
Plastic Detectives Educator! Get this badge
This badge recognizes that the Youth Worker has actively participated in the delivery of the first part of the GreenKidz lesson “Plastic and Recycling”. The GreenKidz “Plastic en Recyclen” lesson plan was developed to help children in Curaçao learn about the serious impact of plastic waste—and how small changes can lead to big results. It uses real-life examples, hands-on activities, and colorful visuals to make learning fun and practical.From understanding the difference between recyclable and non-recyclable plastics to discovering how long different materials stay in nature, this lesson helps you teach students to become part of the solution.
By guiding students through multimedia content, discussions, and interactive tasks, you will help them:
- Understand where plastic comes from and its long-term environmental impact.
- Recognize the difference between waste disposal, reusing, and recycling.
- Identify the effects of plastic pollution on Curaçao and the oceans.
- Reflect on personal choices and changes they can make to protect the environment.
This badge forms the basis of environmentally conscious behavior and is in line with sustainability education in elementary education. Through interactive and playful learning, youth workers will become real “Plastic Detective Educators” equipped with knowledge and actions to train students to reduce plastic pollution in their community.
Skills and experiences gained
This badge aligns with LifeComp and DigComp competence frameworks and supports the development of:
- Searching and evaluating digital content (DigComp 1.1 )
- Environmental awareness (Digital Youth Work)
- Responsible Consumption (UN SDG 12)
You have to finish 1 task to get the badge
Tasks
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Before teaching this lesson, ensure you:
- Review the GreenKidz Lesplan “Plastic en Recyclen.”
- Print or prepare digital access to the Afvalkaart, Afbreektabel, and infographic "Where Does Plastic Go?”
- Queue up the animated video “The Plastic Journey” or YouTube link.
- Prepare materials for both digital and offline versions of the three student activities.
- Familiarize yourself with the badge criteria and evidence collection process.
Complete the following tasks and activities to earn the Plastic Detectives Educator badge.
Evidence verified by: one activity organizer.
Trainer-Led Activities & Instructions
Activity 1: The Plastic Problem
Objective: Introduce students to global plastic issues.
- Show the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2CV7FW2zPs
- Facilitate a class discussion on what they saw.
- Choose format:
o Digital: Students complete Kahoot quiz individually or in pairs.
o Offline: Distribute printed worksheet quiz.
Claim the badge
Task: Encourage reflection questions: “What surprised you?” and “How can we fix this?”
Evidence: Submit a screenshot or photo of quiz completion by students
Task no.2
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Activity 2: Trash Timeline Challenge
Objective: Understand plastic decomposition times.
- Set up:
o Digital: Use a Genially or H5P timeline activity.
o Offline: Distribute printed waste item cards and prepare a large timeline on the floor or wall.
- Guide students to place items based on decomposition estimates.
Claim the badge
Task: Discuss how long plastics stay in nature compared to organic materials.
Evidence: Submit a photo or screenshot of the students doing their timeline work.
Task no.3
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Activity 3: Waste Sorting Relay
Objective: Practice waste sorting.
- Set up:
o Digital: Use an online sorting game or presentation.
o Offline: Organize a relay race using real items or printed cards and labeled bins.
- Debrief with a discussion on why sorting matters and how it affects recycling.
Claim the badge
Task: Make this competitive and fun, then use mistakes as teaching moments.
Evidence: Take a short video or photo of the students during the sorting activity.
Location
Curaçao
Skills
ESCO
#develop a recycling program
ESCO
#checking recycling procedures
ESCO
#advising about pollution prevention
ETS-TR
#Свядома забяспечвае прастору для дыялогу і ўзаемадзеяння з улікам каштоўнасцей і перакананняў навучэн_ак і прапануе прастору для разважанняў над імі ў адукацыйным кантэксце
Organisers
Digital Youth Work Resource Hub
Awero not-for-profit organisation manages this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact support@awero.org.
Platform
Change to another language:
