Educators sort trash in a box that is also filled with sand and other natural debris during a workshop.

For Educators

Explore our marine debris resources designed to support your needs and learning for students of all ages.

See Also:

  • Spotlight

    Explore some of our most popular marine debris resources for educators.
    • Curricula
      Beach covered with debris.
      Download an assortment of disciplinary lesson plans, units, and full curricula for Grades 1-12. All curricula and lesson plans are available for download and print!
    • At School
      Students around a desk.
      The first step to solving a problem is learning more about it. Learn what you can do to create change at school.
    • Marine Debris Tracker App
      Kids on the beach are picking up debris.
      Interested in citizen science efforts but not sure where to start? This easy-to-use app will help you collect and analyze data about marine debris in your area. The Marine Debris Tracker App is managed by the University of Georgia.
    • Marine Debris in the Great Lakes Display Cards
      Cover of Marine Debris in the Great Lakes Display Cards.
      Dive into these colorful fact sheets to learn about the types, sources, impacts, and solutions to marine debris throughout the Great Lakes.
    • Trash Shouldn’t Splash Toolkit
      Trash Shouldn't Splash logo.
      This toolkit provides strategies, best practices, and examples of successful, student-driven campaigns to reduce single-use plastics.
    • Plastic Pollution and You: An Interdisciplinary Curriculum to Explore Our Role in Plastic Pollution
      Cover of Plastic Pollution and You.
      This hands-on, standards-aligned curriculum helps students to think about types, sources, and impacts of plastic debris, as well as potential solutions.
    • One Cool Earth Zero Waste: How To Start School Waste Sorting Stations
      Recycling and waste bins on a schoolyard.
      Get helpful tips to reduce school lunchroom waste and support student responsibility through waste sorting stations in this video from One Cool Earth.
    • Prince George’s County Clean and Beautiful Activity Books
      Cover of Prince George’s County Clean and Beautiful activity book.
      Kids of all ages can learn about marine debris with these colorful, character-focused activity books from Prince George’s County, Maryland.
    • Marine Debris Interruptions
      A bag of yellow rope pieces.
      Students explore debris types of concern and identify ways to interrupt their escape into the environment with these lessons from Oregon Sea Grant.
    • Marine Debris Prevention Best Practices Manual
      Cover of the Marine Debris Prevention Best Practices Manual.
      This Marine Debris Prevention Best Practices Manual is a comprehensive guide to help establish lasting change on school campuses.
    • Earth Genius Lesson Plans
      Earth Genius Lesson Plans.
      Engage students in marine debris prevention with standards-aligned, project-based lessons from One Cool Earth.
    • Activities
      Fish illustration.
      Download an assortment of puzzles, brain-teasers, and coloring activities for Grades 1-12. All activities are available for download and print!
    • Education at Home
      A student looking at her Climate Action Plan at a youth summit.
      A special collection from the NOAA Office of Education with materials for anyone working with students at home: Distance learning educators, homeschool teachers, and parents.

  • Classroom Resources

    Explore a variety of resources available to use in class or virtually.
    • Garbage Patches
      Oversimplified graphic of "garbage patches" in the North Pacific Ocean.
      What and where are garbage patches, anyway? Find out more about this important marine debris topic.
    • Posters
      Part of a Garbage Patches poster.
      Our poster collection is available to help spread awareness of marine debris and highlight some of the most important issues we’re trying to address through prevention, removal, and research.
    • Regional Emmy® Award-Winning TRASH TALK
      Trash Talk
      View our Regional Emmy® Award-winning TRASH TALK video series. Each short video covers a marine debris topic. Here you’ll also find a TRASH TALK Webinar for Educators featuring fun and informative activities to pair with the videos for all age levels.
    • NOAA Live! Alaska: Talking Trash: Marine Debris Research in Alaska
      A person overlooking a large pile of marine debris.
      Learn about marine debris of all shapes and sizes, as well as marine debris projects that NOAA and community partners are conducting in Alaska.
    • Not Just Talking Trash: Marine Debris and What We Can Do About It!
      Silhouettes of marine debris and the title "Not Just Talking Trash: Marine Debris and What We Can Do About It!".
      Learn how to talk about and connect to the problem of marine debris, resources to help you, what we’re still learning, and how to be part of the solution.
    • Trash in the Deep
      A food container, seen resting at 4,947 meters on the slopes of a canyon leading to the Sirena Deep.
      During a dive along the Mariana Trench wall, the NOAA Okeanos Explorer team saw multiple pieces of marine debris.
    • NOAA Ocean Podcast
      NOAA Ocean Podcast banner.
      Learn about interconnected ocean issues with the NOAA Ocean Podcast, covering topics including microplastics, citizen science, and garbage patches.
    • NOAA Planet Stewards Program
      NOAA Planet Stewards logo.
      NOAA Planet Stewards supports educators to carry out hands-on action-based stewardship projects with participants of all ages.
    • Turtle Trash Collectors Program Activities Guide and Resources
      People using the stuffed turtle to demonstrate debris ingestion.
      Use these stuffed turtles to educate youth about the impacts of marine debris and encourage behavior changes that would reduce the generation of marine debris in the future.
    • Fact Sheets
      Part of a Microplastics fact sheet.
      Download and print fast information on marine debris, storm preparedness, and other hot topics.
    • Infographics
      Earth's continents.
      Learn more about garbage patches, microplastics, and more with these condensed visual resources.
    • Discover Marine Debris
      underwater photo looking up through marine debris floating on the surface.
      You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Explore some of the most frequently asked questions and topics related to marine debris.
    • Videos
      Marine debris videos.
      Watch videos for information on marine debris and NOAA’s work to address it.

  • Student Voices

    Check out the amazing projects and opportunities featuring students around the country working to keep our sea free of debris.
    • Artwork
      Sea turtle.
      Explore drawings, paintings, sculptures, and more created by students and stewards spreading awareness and seeking change for marine debris.

  • Additional Resources

    Looking for more? Here is a selection of additional resources and opportunities available for educators.
    • Educator Opportunities in NOAA
      People sitting at desk with multiple activities.
      Find information about opportunities available to educators throughout NOAA, including professional development, online resources, and grant opportunities.
    • Photos
      A crab entangled in a yellow net.
      Check out our photo gallery for images of marine debris types, sources, solutions, research, prevention, and impacts.
    • Multimedia
      Plastics in the Ocean Infographic.
      Multimedia resources from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, including photos, videos, posters, infographics, marine debris artwork, and more!
    • Marine Debris Blog
      A person removing debris near a large chick on the beach.
      Here you can learn about all things marine debris! Our blog promotes the work of our dedicated partners, announces new marine debris products and events, and shares information on how you can help.
    • NOAA Marine Debris Program Education Newsletter Archive
      NOAA Marine Debris Education Newsletter banner.
      The NOAA Marine Debris Education Newsletter highlights marine debris lessons and educational resources and features upcoming events, art contests, and fun crafts.
    • In Your Region
      A map of the regions of the NOAA Marine Debris Program.
      Marine debris impacts every U.S. coastal state and territory. Find state or region-specific information on current marine debris projects and activities.