EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

This activity was developed by New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. Students will identify the six basic types of plastics (based upon the designated recycling codes printed on them) and learn about how their various densities cause them to either sink or float in the oceans. Using a simple ultraviolet light technique, students will examine samples of sand/sediment and water to discover whether there are microplastics in the samples. Activities illustrating various aspects of plastics are designed for grades 2-12, and may be done either as a class or by dividing students into small teams to enable all team members to fully participate in the hands-on activities. Access the activity here. 

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/discover-issue/trash-talk

This popular assortment of puzzles, brain-teasers and coloring activities helps children understand the problem of marine debris while having fun at the same time. Suitable for all ages. Access the activity book here.     

An article written specifically for elementary - high school students on microplastics. Abstract: Scientists have discovered that microplastics are polluting many environments worldwide, including our oceans and coastlines. Some of these plastics will make their way into a particularly important environment—coastal sediments, or the layer of mud below the water. This sediment is home to diverse bacterial life, which plays a key role in nutrient cycles of the ecosystem. These bacteria are critical for healthy environments, but are also easily affected by environmental pollution. Unfortunately, little is known about how the bacteria respond to microplastic pollution. We studied the effects of different microplastics on bacteria living in marine sediments, as well as the subsequent impacts on nutrient cycling. We found, for the first time, that different microplastics can significantly alter these bacterial communities and the nitrogen cycle, which should be studied further to understand lasting impacts on our natural environments. Access the full article here. 

Working in collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary, Ocean Conservancy created Good Mate, a public outreach program aimed at reducing and eliminating marine pollution and environmental degradation. The program provides simple, easy-to-follow guidelines for green boating and in recent years has expanded to include free resources to support marinas, boaters, and paddlers as they conduct shoreline or on-the-water cleanups. There are also posters, brochures, and other cleanup resources available via the Ocean Conservancy website link or contact Ocean Conservancy directly. www.OceanConservancy.org/goodmate

Plastic debris in aquatic and marine environments often breaks up into fragments that are smaller than 5 millimeters, which are then classified as microplastics. While there is not yet a standardized and validated methodology for characterizing microplastics, the protocol developed in this study uses methods for isolating and observing microplastics and for the investigation of how they interact with organisms present in biofilms from urban waterways. Project-based learning (PBL) has been proven to be a successful strategy in K–12 science education; the implementation of PBL provides opportunities for student-driven inquiry and provides teachers with a means to integrate curriculum with current research and to consider the effects of human impacts on the environment. This paper describes the protocol developed for high school teachers to educate students about microplastics and how to successfully isolate and observe them. Access the journal article here. 

​An education experience geared for youth in formal and informal education settings, exploring marine debris composition, transportation, cleanup and most importantly, prevention. Created by Ocean Conservancy with guidance from the NOAA Marine Debris Program and inspired by 35 years of International Coastal Cleanup data. If you are interested in hard copies of the materials (guide, posters, etc), please contact Ocean Conservancy skollar@oceanconservancy.org. www.OceanConservancy.org/ed

This activity was develped by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium. In this activity, students investigate how microplastics are biomagnified in the environment. Students will play a simple board-based game in which they take on the roles of various fish in different trophic levels in the ocean to model biomagnification of microplastic within each trophic level. Students analyze data collected from the game to observe biomagnification and discover how concentration increases in each higher trophic level. Students also evaluate the game as a model for biomagnification by discussing its strengths and limitations. The lesson concludes with student groups creating public service announcements that communicate the concept of biomagnification of microplastics and the dangers this imposes to our ocean, even becoming a human health concern. Access the activity here.

Activites and curricula for all ages and audiences are available at the NOAA Marine Debris Program's website. These resources focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) standards and were developed or funded by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Both formal and informal educational resources are available. https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/activities-and-curricula

Maryland Sea Grant, and partners, developed resources for educators as part of their Biofilms and Biodiversity education programming, which now includes resources on the observation and isolation of microplastics from biofilm samples. The development of a Content Primer on microplastics provides the necessary background on this global issue of concern. Access all the materials here. 

Oceanic Global's NYC Hub created this book to serve as a reminder that artistic expression and creative communication play a crucial role in the ocean conservation movement, and that our next generation of ocean leaders is engaged and dedicated to finding solutions. Use this book as an engaging educational tool to teach young people about marine plastic pollution and how we all can be a part of the solution. The Book is available for sale at the Oceanic Global website and available to educators for free. https://shop.oceanic.global/ 

The NOAA Marine Debris Program funded a study with Abt Associates to better understand the economic impacts of marine debris on beaches. The results of the study showed that the varying amounts of marine debris on beaches can have an impact on the number of days visitors spend on those beaches, resulting in changes to the amount of tourism dollars spent, the number of local jobs, and the value of beach recreation. You can access the infographic here.

These colorful, engaging activity books were created by Prince George’s County, Maryland, with funding from the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Follow along as Spencer the Sprout learns about how litter becomes marine debris and ways to make a difference in your community. Each book features content and activities ideal for a different age group, from kindergarten through high school. Dive into the world of Spencer the Sprout by downloading activity books appropriate for grades K-12, and learn more about the work of Prince George’s County at the Spencer the Sprout website.

Wave of Plastic, developed by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Sciences, is a curricular unit helping middle school students make sense of the core ideas related to issues of plastic pollution (particularly those relevant to the Chesapeake Bay watershed) by engaging in authentic interdisciplinary practice culminating in comprehensive, student-driven, informed action projects.  The unit has been designed to support the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Maryland Environmental Literacy Standards, Maryland Service Learning Graduation Requirements, and the Student Outcome of the Environmental Literacy Goal of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement. Access the curricular unit at UMCES website.