Physical Science

Developed as a means to educate the next generation about ocean trash and, most importantly, how we all can prevent it. Created through an educational partnership between Ocean Conservancy and the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Flexible curriculum, appropriate for all ages.

This guide is designed for educators in both formal and informal education situations. It is a regional introduction to three main categories of marine debris: litter; derelict or abandoned boats; and lost or abandoned commercial and recreational fishing gear. Appropriate for grades 5-8.

Turning the Tide on Trash is a learning guide on marine debris. This set of lesson plans and background information introduces educators, students and researchers to the topic of marine debris. The interdisciplinary education guide is designed to provide maximum flexibility in the classroom: it can be used as a stand-alone teaching tool or to supplement work in other subject areas.

One of the main types of marine debris that you hear about today is plastic marine debris. In many places, it is the main type of debris that you will see as you walk along a beach, though perhaps not underwater. As common as they are on our beaches and in our homes, how much do you really know about plastics?

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.

Students perform an experiment to learn how different types of debris break down in the environment (degrade) and how weather and sunlight affect the rate of degradation.

Students perform experiments to examine whether or not trash can float, blow around, or wash away. The effects of these characteristics on marine debris in the environment are then discussed.

In this unit, students will examine what marine debris is, where it comes from, and how it enters the marine environment.

Reading and accompanying activity about the importance and challenges faced by diamondback terrapins.

Experiment comparing the breaking points of several weights of fishing line.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->  A listening exercise where students predict and act out the movement of litter from a stream, through a watershed, into the ocean.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->  A listening and matching game where students connect descriptions of debris to the debris type.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->  A simple experiment demonstrating the bouyancy of several common types of debris and their potential behavior throughout the ocean's currents.

A timed activity/game demonstrating the difficulty of distinguishing "food" from plastic debris for marine life like seabirds.

<!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->  Discussion of litter-based sources of marine debris, including a brief look at impacts and prevention strategies, including an anecdote about seeds and litter found on the wrack line, or tidal line, in North Carolina.