Fishing nets on shallow coral reefs around islands and atolls.

Listen Up! Teaching Marine Debris with NOAA Podcasts

Did you “NOAA” that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) produces a number of informative, high-quality podcasts? NOAA Podcasts cover a wide range of topics, from Sanctuary Spotlights to Hurricane Forecasts to Marine Debris! One recent episode of the NOAA Ocean Podcast featured NOAA Marine Debris Program communications specialist Sophie Maginnes, who discussed the issue of marine debris, where it comes from, and some of the many ways we can all be a part of the solution.

Not only is “Marine Debris - Talking Trash” a great way to learn more about this global issue, but you can also use podcasts like this in your learning environment to help engage students and inspire them to action.

Why Use NOAA Podcasts in the Classroom? 

NOAA Podcasts feature in-depth interviews with scientists and experts on topics from the bottom of the sea to the surface of the sun. Through podcasts, you can hear directly from the researchers, meteorologists, science communicators, and more who are on the ground working toward NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship. Students get real-world information about NOAA science, and learn about NOAA careers and work.

Podcasts also support multimodal learning strategies. You can listen along as a group, individually, or read through the transcript description. Many NOAA podcasts are also accompanied by additional resources like videos, infographics, and background information.  

Talking Trash - Marine Debris

Ready to dive in? Check out “Marine Debris - Talking Trash” to hear all about the issue of marine debris and get your students started in learning (and doing) more about it. We’ve also put together a few discussion questions to get you and your students thinking. 

Listen to the NOAA Ocean Podcast here!

Discussion Questions for Talking Trash:
  • What is marine debris? What are some examples of marine debris items? 
  • What are microplastics? How do they harm our environment? Where might you encounter microplastics? 
  • Does marine debris mostly come from litter? How do you know this? 
  • What is an example of marine debris that can come from activities at sea? 
  • What is a gyre and what does this have to do with marine debris? 
  • What are a few things we don’t know about marine debris? 
  • What surprised you about this topic? 
  • What questions do you have about this topic? 
  • Using evidence from the podcast, design a solution for a marine debris issue that Sophie and Marissa discuss.
 

There are several other NOAA podcasts focused on marine debris. Create a jigsaw-style activity for your class by assigning different episodes to student groups and sharing key takeaways and highlights from each.

Tips for Teaching with Podcasts

Rather than telling a long-form story like a true-crime podcast, NOAA podcasts feature stand-alone episodes focused on scientific topics. Episodes typically run for 20-30 minutes. Some episodes dive more deeply into research projects or recent events, while others focus on the basic facts about certain subjects like marine debris. Here are some helpful strategies to use when introducing NOAA podcasts with your class: 

  • Demonstrate effective listening and note-taking skills before assigning podcasts to students
  • Older students who are more familiar with the medium can listen and respond to the podcast independently
  • Use the information from your podcast listening to inform discussion, explore in-depth topics, or inspire research
  • Follow up on your listening with an action project to prevent marine debris in the community, or allow students to create their own podcast exploring and addressing a local marine debris issue 

Learning Beyond NOAA Podcasts

In addition to the many informative podcast episodes available, you can also explore a wide range of educational resources available from NOAA. Many podcast episodes include “Additional Resource” links directly on the page, but you can also find more resources on specific topics throughout NOAA web pages. 

  • For resources focused on marine debris, check out the Marine Debris Education Resources page, where you can find lesson plans, videos, and more. 
  • For student-driven materials from the National Ocean Service, explore the For Students page. If you’re learning about marine debris or other types of coastal pollution, check out the Coastal Pollution Tutorial!
  • You can explore all of the educational resources from NOAA with the Sea to Sky Database. More than 1,300 lesson plans, activities, multimedia resources, and more are available on this searchable database. 
  • Inspire your students to learn more about careers with NOAA’s National Ocean Service through Career Profiles. 

More Podcasts from NOAA

Finished listening to “Talking Trash”? Try these NOAA Podcasts to keep the momentum going! 

For citation purposes, unless otherwise noted, this article was authored by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

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