Storytelling for the Future

When we can imagine it, we can create it. The first step is sharing your vision, and storytelling is a wonderful way to do that! 

There are no limits to imagination. Let your ideas for a plastic pollution free future run wild. 

Watch this video about the story of a young girl in the future who learns about plastic’s past. 

Then, draw a picture or write your own sequel to tell the story: “how did the humans live without all that plastic?”

To get your imagination going, think about what the mom in the story tells her child: “Humans created reusable containers, composting sites, stores with dispensers instead or single-use packaging, and so much more!” What else did they do? Can you imagine a cafeteria without plastic? How about a classroom? What do playgrounds look like without plastic play structures? Do kids climb on trees, and play in the grass instead? What about at home – what would toys without plastic look like? How do grocery stores and restaurants function without plastic?  

Your story can take many forms – you can draw one picture, or a little series, comic strip style. You could enact a short play or scene and film it or record just the audio. You could also go old-fashioned and handwrite or type out a story. You could even create a picture book! Stories can be simple or complex, long or short, fictional or non-fictional, funny or serious. They can be first person (“I once had a thought..”) or third-person (“Joe Mo once had a thought..”). Do what feels right to you.

Because plastic is everywhere in our world it can be really tricky to imagine our world without it. But don’t let reality get in the way of a silly, weird, or outrageous idea. Many of the best ideas in history were ridiculed by people, until they realized how great they were!!  

• Take a look and try to find all the plastic around you. Some things are obviously plastic, like a plastic bottle, but plastic is a material that can be many different shapes and colors. It is often disguised in other objects like computers, furniture, etc. (Check out this article about hidden plastics). Pick one of the items you found that is plastic. Imagine it wasn’t made out of plastic – what would it be made out of instead? 
• Pick a plastic item you’re identified. What function does this plastic item serve? Could a different process, shape, system, or item be used instead? 
• Do some research about what people are already doing to replace plastics. 
• Find out how people lived before plastic was invented – then imagine how we would adapt that to the future! 
• Take a leaf out of nature’s book and learn how nature has solved lots of problems without the use of plastic.  

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