Can you tell which everyday object is better for the environment: a paper plate or a china plate? You compare pairs of items and decide which one creates less waste. Paper plate versus china plate. Paper towel versus cloth towel. Plastic bag versus paper bag. Then you run a pollution experiment. You stir food coloring into a jar of water and keep adding clear water until the color seems to disappear. It takes about seven cups. The color spreads out but never truly goes away, just like pollutants in a stream. You also stretch a rubber band across your hand and try to remove it without touching anything. This shows how plastic rings from beverage packs trap sea animals that have no hands to free themselves.