PlastiVan® educators are skilled in tailoring the presentation to meet the needs and grade-level expectations of each classroom and teacher. The program is easily integrated into school curricula. A PlastiVan visit typically consists of 5 classes/day for up to 40 students/class or is individually designed for STEM and science fairs.

To request the PlastiVan Program or more information, contact Mark Richardson at plastivan@4spe.org.

Companies that sponsor PlastiVan nurture the development of their future workforce by opening the minds of students to careers in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics (STEM), subjects that are utilized daily in the plastics industry.

Plastic plays a vital role in transportation, health care, agriculture, and electronics—and almost all other industries. In the United States, the industry is experiencing a serious shortage of skilled workers. As the plastics industry continues to thrive, it needs creative, bright, and passionate new minds to steer its course. PlastiVan works to bring those concepts to life for students.

Curriculum Sheets

Program length is dependent on time available in your class, typically 45-70 minutes.

All necessary supplies are included.

Supplemental materials are available for you to use before or after the visit.

Elementary

2-PS1-1 Matter and Its Interactions
5-ESS3-1 Earth and Human Activity
5-PS1-1 Matter and Its Interactions
5-PS1-3 Matter and Its Interactions
5-PS1-4 Matter and Its Interactions

Middle School

MS-ESS3.A: Natural Resources
MS-ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems
MS-ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions
MS-ETS1.C: Optimizing the Design Solution
MS-PS1-3 Matter and its Interactions
MS-PS1-3 Matter and its Interactions
MS-PS1-4 Matter and its Interactions
MS-PS1-5 Matter and its Interactions
MS-PS1. A Structure and Properties of Matter
MS-PS1.B Chemical Reactions Matter
MS-PS2-2 Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions
MS-PS3-1 Energy
MS-PS3-5 Energy
MS.LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems

High School

HS-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-4 Earth and Human Activity
HS-LS2-7 Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
HS-PS1-1 Matter and its Interactions
HS-PS1-2 Matter and its Interactions
HS-PS1-4 Matter and its Interactions
HS-PS1-5 Matter and Its Interventions

We are excited to be back in the classroom! To request the PlastiVan Program or more information, please complete this form.

30-day access to PlastiVideo is sponsored by grants and scholarships. All schools and teachers are welcome to apply for access to PlastiVideo. Check out our sponsors.

Phread Ayres is a retired middle school science teacher living on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. He taught seventh grade science for eighteen years in Wayne, NJ. Phread received an Associates Degree in Science from Bergen Community College, a Bachelors of Science in Education and Environmental Science from William Paterson University and a Masters of Science in Educational Technology from Ramapo College.

Teaching was a third career for Phread. Prior to teaching, he worked as an audio engineer for local bands in NJ. He received a Certificate in Audio Engineering from the Institute for Audio Research. He also worked as the manager of the Camping Department at Ramsey Outdoor Store in Paramus, NJ.

Leslie Cook recently retired from Sealed Air with food, protective and industrial packaging experience. She holds a B.S. degree in Biology and M.S. in Food Science & Technology. Leslie Cook has over 35 years of industrial experience in sustainability, strategic planning, innovation management, product & design development, and market research. She spent most of her my career training our employees, sales, customers and the high school studies on the sustainable benefits of plastic packaging and looks forward to engaging with the next generation on plastics through the PlastiVan.

Elizabeth Egan is a Packaging Engineering with an MBA. She worked for Dow Chemical in the Specialty Plastics, Consumer Products, and Automotive business units as an Engineer and Business Analyst. She serves on her local Board of Education and teaches piano and enjoys bringing PlastiVan into the classroom allowing her to share the exciting and diverse career opportunities in the plastics industry.

John Fellenstein runs STEM outreach for the College of Polymer Science and Engineering at the University of Akron. Previously he taught high school science. “The PlastiVan® Program gives me many opportunities to interact with students, which is so much fun! I like sharing the science concepts along with career opportunities that are available in the plastics and polymer industries.”

Dana Warnez is an alum of Kettering University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and was also a member of Society of Plastics Engineers. She has 8 years of experience in the plastics industry, where she was directly involved with overseeing and improving injection molding and blow molding processes. Ms. Warnez has worked as a safety and ergonomics trainer in the past and is passionate about making education fun and effective.

Mendy Mossbrook has over 24 years of experience in the Plastics Industry with numerous patents in the packaging sector. She holds a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA. She works in the non-profit sector as an advocate and coach for educators and students and enjoys the opportunity to connect what children learn in school to exciting careers in STEM fields through the PlastiVan.

Mark Wolverton is a materials engineer with more than 40 years’ involvement in the plastics industry. PlastiVan® allows him to foster enthusiasm for the development of plastic parts with the next generation. He has experience in product and materials development for the consumer electronics, automotive & transportation, defense & aerospace, personal care and medical industries. Mark is an Honored Service Member of SPE and a member of the Plastics Pioneers.

Eve Vitale, SPE Foundation Executive, was recruited in 2016 to expand the PlastiVan program. She holds a BS in mechanical engineering and an MS in manufacturing engineering. She spent 8 months on the road delivering the program to thousands of students to find ways to increase its impact. She and her husband own an engineering consulting business specializing in plastics manufacturing and sustainability.

To extend the learning experience beyond the PlastiVideo Program, we have provided curated videos and relevant activities. Find them here. Use in the classroom to prepare your students for the PlastiVideo Program or afterward to extend the learning. In addition, check out the HOP Kit lesson plans.

“It’s a simple and powerful program; interactive with hands on experiments for students; allows the students to be curious and understand that science is fun; the program gets the message out there about how plastics enhance the quality of our lives and enhance the image and value of plastics globally.”

- Schulyer-Colfax MS teacher

Curriculum Sheets

Elementary

Middle School

High School

Links

Locations

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