Marine Debris
Grades 8-12
Marine debris is an environmental problem of global importance, enlisting the concern and action of scientists, policy makers, as well as the general public. This three-lesson kit focuses primarily on plastic marine debris. Students critically examine data and samples and take part in activities that explore the causes, geographical distribution, and biological impacts of marine debris. Each lesson can be completed in about 50–60 minutes, but many of the activities are discrete and can be easily rearranged to fit various curricular objectives and time constraints.
Lesson Materials
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Please contact us at stempre@hawaii.edu to request teacher answer keys for this kit.
- Complete lesson plans (without teacher answer keys; 33 MB PDF)
- Lesson 1 resources:
- PowerPoint: Lesson 1 – Trash Talk (19 MB)
- PowerPoint: Lesson 1 – Trash Talk – NARRATED (71 MB)
- Albatross Necropsy – mini documentary (33 MB .wmv)
- Lesson 2 resources:
- PowerPoint: Lesson 2 – Carried Away! (27 MB)
- PowerPoint: Lesson 2 – Carried Away! – NARRATED (40 MB)
- PowerPoint: Lesson 2 – OSCURS Introduction (3 MB)
- Lesson 3 resources:
- Survey of Underwater Plastic and Ecosystem Response (SUPER) cruise documentary (.mov)
- PowerPoint: Lesson 3 – Plastics and People (10 MB)
- PowerPoint: Lesson 3 – Plastics and People – NARRATED (41 MB)
Having problems? Contact stempre@hawaii.edu.
Additional Resources
For more information and lesson plans on ocean stewardship, seabirds and marine debris, check out Oikonos.