Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: Swirling Seas of Plastic Trash

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the multitude of plastic trash scientists have found on a beach in Hawaii and in the oceans. Explains what a gyre is, and how plastic trash gets trapped in the eye of a gyre. Looks at the serious impact plastic materials have...
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: The Nurdles' Quest for Ocean Domination

For Students 9th - 10th
Nurdles are the tiny, factory-made pellets that form the raw material for every plastic product that we use, from toys to toothbrushes. And while they look pretty harmless on land, they can really wreak havoc on our oceans. Kim Preshoff...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Digital Mapping and Geographic Information Systems (Gis)

For Students 7th - 9th
Geographic information systems (GIS), once used predominantly by experts in cartography and computer programming, have become pervasive in everyday business and consumer use. This unit explores GIS in general as a technology about which...
Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: Cleaning Clothes Dirties Oceans

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes research into the pollution caused by plastics that are hidden in the fibers of synthetic clothing, and eventually end up in the ocean after laundering. Cites other research that discovered plastic pellets found throughout the...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Book Pairings: "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

For Students 9th - 10th
After Noah's dad is arrested for sinking a casino boat he believed was dumping sewage into the ocean, Noah must prove that his suspicions are right and stop the boat from further polluting the ocean. Selected (8) reading passages (grades...
Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Book Pairings: "World Without Fish" by Mark Kurlansky

For Students 9th - 10th
Selected (8) reading passages (grades 6-10) to pair with "World Without Fish" by Mark Kurlansky. Mark Kurlansky discusses how humans treat the oceans and the fish that live in them, and what the world will likely look like if fish...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

For Teachers 7th - 9th
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is an interesting and somewhat publicized environmental problem. A swirling soup of trash up to 10 meters deep and just below the water surface is composed mainly of non-degradable plastics. These...