Physical Science

In this activity, students explore contents of ‘beach boxes’ in groups at tables, sorting contents into “marine debris”, “NOT marine debris” and “not sure”. This activity is available for Grades 4-5, 6-8, and 9-12, within the "Composition and Abundance" unit. 

Students will review key marine debris vocabulary using BINGO. They will explore and discuss different solutions to and prevention for the marine debris problem. Students will also brainstorm new creative solutions through art. Students will be asked to make a commitment to decreasing their plastic consumption by signing a Plastics Pledge.

Students will participate in a hands-on activity where they will be asked to utilize parts of the scientific method including observing, hypothesizing, experimenting (classifying), and conclusion forming. Depending on grade level and ability, this may include graphing/charting and communicating results.

Students are introduced to the subject of marine debris, its composition, its impact on marine wildlife, and the land-to-ocean connection in an informative talk story session utilizing visual aids and activities.

After creating the masks, take the opportunity to spread the message by sharing what you’ve learned. Post the faces in the hall and write out messages, put them on the stage and share their messages with the school, or use them to present what was learned to the larger community at a local event!

Students will explore the concept of packaging, both what it has been and what it is. Then they will consider how modern packaging is affecting the environment and what they can do about it.

Students will create a class definition for single use plastics. Next, students will create T-shirt bags as an alternative to plastic bags and explore the environmental cost of different types of bags.

Students split into teams on opposite sides of a visual barrier in the classroom. Debris will be spread over each team’s side of the barrier. Their goal will be to remove all the trash from their side, and they will win when there is no trash on the ground. Students will find that the only way that they can win is by taking care of their own trash rather than throwing it onto the other side.

Students will use a series of videos to explore modern landfills, recycling, and plastic in the environment.

Washed Ashore, in partnership with the NOAA Marine Debris Program, developed an integrated arts marine debris curriculum to educate school students about marine debris.

Students will explore using texture as a means of communication and begin to work with the materials used in this curriculum.

An exploration into how man-made and natural substances break down when discarded into the environment and how some everyday objects we throw away may not really go away.

Students will conduct an experiment to try and create a polymer of their own using the scientific method. They will also investigate the properties of various manmade polymers.

Students will explore their current understanding of how color can be used to express feeling and emotion and will learn how visual artists use color. Next students will apply their knowledge to create a piece of art that expresses a particular emotion.

In this introductory lesson, slides will show examples of marine debris and also of Washed Ashore sculptures. Whenever possible, actual examples of marine debris and sculpture work will be provided. The lesson will conclude with a brainstorm activity to look at the plastics used in everyday life.

The goal of this lesson is to demonstrate what happens when natural disasters collide with inhabited areas. Students have the ability to interact with scientific models to learn about weather/natural disasters.