Designing an Experiment

In this lesson, students are presented with background information about marine debris – what it is, its origins, and current statistics. Students will engage in a brief discussion about its impacts. Afterward, students are given handouts to review the scientific process. Students are asked to come up with three research questions about the prevention or removal of marine debris. After instructor approval, the students choose one question and write a hypothesis and procedure for their experiment, as well as assess at least one obstacle to their research. Students should present to small groups about their question, what they hope to learn, how they arrived at their hypothesis, and their procedure. The lesson ends with a discussion about how to reduce marine debris via informed consumer purchases.

An Educator's Guide to Marine Debris was designed as a stand-alone teaching tool or to supplement lessons for educators in both formal and informal settings. Appropriate for students grades K-12, with a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) objectives.