How to Help

In this unit, students will learn steps they can take to prevent marine debris, investigate what individuals and organizations are doing about the problem, and explore ways to educate others about possible solutions.

Students will observe and record litter they see in their neighborhood, reflect on how the litter came to be there, then make predictions on how the littered items might make their way to the ocean. Students will compare the litter they have observed with data collected during the International Coastal Cleanup.

Over the span of a week, students keep a log of the types and amounts of trash they generate, and how they dispose of that trash. Students also learn which items were (or could/should have been) recycled, and which items could become marine debris.

Students learn about different trash items and define “marine debris” through a discussion about these items. Students then categorize debris and use statistics and graphing to describe the types and amounts of marine debris that are found each year.

The students will create their own laws and legal consequences concerning marine debris and identify the litter laws and legal consequences of litter in their own state.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->  Students will review and analyze a data set from a local marine debris cleanup. After drawing conclusions about the data, they will use it as evidence for a campaign to prevent marine debris.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->  Simple upcycling activity making a fish mobile out of aluminum cans.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->  Simple maze activity featuring a fish and a recycling bin.

Brief reading passage focused on ways to prevent marine debris (reduce/reuse/recycle).

After gaining a better understanding of types and volumes of waste discarded in the U.S. and how much of that is recovered, students get into groups and create a Public Service Announcement (PSA) designed to educate the public about single-use plastics and mitigating marine debris. The PSA can be a skit, video or poster.

In this lesson, students make observations about what is in their classroom trash receptacle (or various trash items brought by instructor). Students then go outside to collect trash from the surrounding area and record what they find using the NAMEPA Trash Data form.

This lesson includes discussions and activities meant to help students process and analyze their cleanup experience. Students will reflect on the strangest trash item collected and tell the story of its journey to the cleanup site using a medium of their choice (writing, drawing, skits, etc.).

Students will plan, prepare for, execute, and report back on a cleanup in their local area.

Students will begin to understand the impact marine debris has on their own comunities and lives. 

Students synthesize what they have learned about marine debris and incorporate their knowledge into a presentation or display that helps others both 1) understand the problem and 2) take actions that contribute to solving the problem.