Teacher Resources

Teacher Resources Made By Students

Teacher Engagement & Glitter Education Kits

To understand art teacher glitter usage and gauge support for banning plastic glitter in schools, troop member Mackenzie Elliot created a survey aimed toward engaging art teachers district-wide. On October 23, 2025, the team, led by Charlotte Nelson, conducted a formal presentation and consultation session with Anchorage School District art teachers. This session served as a critical data-collection point; we presented the environmental science of microplastics and gathered feedback on classroom needs. The resulting survey showed 100% teacher support for the transition, provided that high-quality biodegradable alternatives were available.

To bridge the gap between policy and practice, Charlotte Nelson developed and distributed 100 BioGlitter Teacher Kits to district classrooms. These turnkey kits provided high-quality biodegradable glitter, lesson plans, and eco-art templates at no cost to schools. Each kit featured QR codes linking to our digital hub, which hosts video tutorials and microplastic science curricula.

A Children's Story About Glitter Polution

To engage the district’s youngest stakeholders, Emily Brubaker authored and self-published All That Glitters Is Not Gold, a children’s book that translates the complex science of microplastics into a relatable, Alaska-based story. The troop distributed 100 physical copies to elementary libraries and teachers. By personifying the impact of glitter on local waterways, the book provides teachers with a storytelling framework to introduce environmental stewardship. https://www.amazon.com/All-that-Glitters-GOLD-microplastics-ebook/dp/B0FWJXY23W

About The Teacher Kits (Downloadable!)

The BioGlitter Initiative provides ready-to-use classroom lessons for grades K–5 that combine science, art, and sustainability. Each kit includes lesson plans, art activities, and video links to help students understand the impact of microplastics on our planet — and what they can do to help.

Perfect for Earth Day week or any environmental unit!

Demonstration: How Much Microplastic We Ingest in a Week

Scientific studies have found that humans ingest roughly the equivalent of a credit card of plastic every week. Microplastics have been found in our blood, brain, and organs.

Use the biodegradable glitter “display vial” as a visual demonstration to show students how much plastic we consume weekly.

Class Activity: Place a small amount of BioGlitter in a jar of water, shake it, and watch how the tiny particles float. Discuss how difficult it would be to remove microplastics from water and how they enter the food chain.

📄 Download “7 Ways to Reduce Microplastics” Handout