Use the news: pineapple drones

Lesson for grades 5-8

Around the world, recycling is getting increased interest as a way to reduce waste and reuse materials. In the southeast Asian nation of Malaysia, scientists have come up with a way to re-use and recycle a large source of agricultural waste in the country. The scientists have developed a process to transform the fiber found in pineapple leaves to make a material that can be used to build the frames for unmanned drone aircraft.

In the past, pineapple leaves were discarded after the yearly harvest of pineapple fruit, which is one of the largest domestic crops in Malaysia. Government and scientific leaders say using the leaves to build drones not only could provide additional income for farmers but also provide a new recyclable product, Reuters News reports. They said if the pineapple fiber drones break, they can be buried underground, where they decompose in a matter of weeks.

Communities all over the world are coming up with new and creative ways to recycle natural and manmade materials.

Activity: In the newspaper or online, find and closely read stories about some of these creative approaches. Use what you read to brainstorm an idea for a short film or video detailing different ideas. Write an outline for your film and give it a title that would make students your age want to watch it. Choose a celebrity to narrate your film, if you like, and explain your choice.