Ocean Plastic Unit
Explore the world of sea turtles to see what makes them so important to our oceans - and to us!
Understand the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans and planet!
Design & engineer eco-friendly, plastic-capturing prototypes in our STEAM lesson plan!
Become part of the pollution solution right now on our outdoor “field trip”!
How to Use This Unit
This unit is divided into two sections: Video Segments and Lesson Plans. Each video segment corresponds to a lesson plan, allowing you to teach one section at a time (e.g., watch the Meet the Boneheads videos and then do the corresponding lesson) or watch all the videos first and then choose the lesson plans that work best for your class. The tools are flexible—use them in the way that best fits your teaching style and your students’ needs.
Video Segments
An engaging and educational resource designed to inspire K-8 students to explore the critical issues of plastic pollution and its impact on marine life.
This unit blends captivating videos with hands-on lesson plans to help students understand the science behind plastic waste, its effects on the environment, and the innovative solutions being developed to address these challenges. With a focus on fostering environmental stewardship and critical thinking, this unit empowers students to become problem-solvers and advocates for a cleaner, healthier planet.
This unit offers an immersive and interdisciplinary approach to learning, aligning with NGSS and NCAS standards while providing age-appropriate content for students across all grade levels. Perfect for fostering environmental awareness and creativity, the Ocean Plastic Unit is a valuable resource for classrooms seeking to inspire the next generation of changemakers.
Unit Standards Alignment
K-2-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Students will recognize the role of engineering in solving environmental problems by proposing simple solutions to reduce plastic waste in their surroundings.
K-2-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design): Through discussions and activities, young students will analyze different ways to collect and recycle plastics, learning how these methods can help the environment.
2-ESS2-1 (Earth’s Systems): Students will explore how water transports materials, including plastics, through small-scale models and discussions about water flow and its ability to carry waste into different environments.
3-LS4-4 (Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity): Students will understand the consequences of environmental changes, such as plastic pollution, on living organisms by observing how these changes can affect local wildlife, including sea turtles.
3-5-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Students will define a problem—plastic pollution—and develop possible solutions, focusing on innovative ways to remove or prevent plastic waste in their communities.
3-5-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design): This standard encourages students to compare multiple solutions aimed at reducing plastic pollution, considering the strengths and weaknesses of each approach in terms of environmental impact.
3-5-ETS1-3 (Engineering Design): In this lesson, students will plan and carry out fair tests, such as experimenting with different materials to simulate the cleaning of plastics from water bodies, to determine the most effective methods for waste removal.
4-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Students will delve into how human activity contributes to environmental problems and solutions, focusing on waste management systems and their effectiveness in preventing plastic pollution.
5-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Students will understand the impact of human activities on environmental health by directly engaging in a cleanup activity that prevents potential marine pollution.
5-PS1-3 (Matter and Its Interactions): By exploring how plastics degrade and transform into microplastics, students will learn about the conservation of matter and the chemical processes involved in the breakdown of materials.
MS-ESS3-3 (Earth and Human Activity): Middle school students will evaluate human impacts on Earth’s systems, specifically focusing on the environmental effects of plastic waste and the societal responses to this issue.
MS-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Students will define criteria and constraints for design solutions to environmental problems posed by plastic pollution, applying scientific research to develop practical, sustainable innovations.
MS-ETS1-4 (Engineering Design): This involves applying the engineering design process to develop and test technologies that can prevent or clean up plastic pollution, encouraging iterative testing and redesign to optimize solutions for environmental health.
1. Meet the Boneheads! Ocean Plastic & Sea Turtles (UNLOCKED)
This engaging adventure is designed to teach your students about the fascinating world of sea turtles, and the critical issue of plastic pollution in our oceans. Through a captivating animated documentary, thought-provoking activities, and hands-on lessons, students will explore the impact of plastic pollution on sea turtles and learn about innovative solutions to tackle this global problem.
Video 1: Plastic Muddled Ocean Turtles - Part 1
Join host Bobby Donohue at HOPE Headquarters as he explores the impact of plastic pollution on ocean life, especially sea turtles. Apparently, JP Rothbone plans to dump plastic bags into the ocean, thinking sea turtles will consume them. However, the vigilant Boneheads intercept to thwart his plan, protecting the turtles.
Video 2: Unraveling the Plastic Threat to Sea Turtles
In this video, we uncover the journey of plastic waste from our daily uses to its unfortunate destination in the ocean, where it becomes a perilous threat to creatures like the leatherback sea turtles. These turtles, mistaking plastic bags for jellyfish, face severe health risks from ingestion and entanglement. As plastic breaks down into microscopic pieces under the sun's relentless rays, it becomes nearly invisible, entering the food chain at every level and affecting all ocean inhabitants. This video not only highlights the challenges but also emphasizes the importance of our actions and choices in preventing further damage to marine ecosystems. Through engaging storytelling and insightful research, we'll explore why it's crucial to rethink our plastic usage and discover how we can contribute to a positive change, ensuring a safer environment for sea turtles and other marine life.
After the Video:
What are some properties of plastic that make it dangerous to marine life? Talk about how plastic breaks down into microplastics and why it is not biodegradable.
How does plastic pollution affect sea turtles and other ocean life? Discuss the problem of ingestion and entanglement.
2. It's Your Planet Too! The Plastic Problem (PREVIEW ONLY)
This documentary segment delves into the numerous threats sea turtles face in their natural environment, with a particular focus on the dangers of plastic pollution. Leatherback sea turtles, for example, often mistake plastic bags for their favorite food, jellyfish, leading to significant health problems. As the documentary progresses, it explains the critical role sea turtles play as keystone species in their ecosystems, how they contribute to the well-being of planet Earth, and why it is essential for humans to protect them. The film also explores the nature of plastic, how it ends up in our oceans, the challenges of removing it, and the innovative efforts by organizations like The Ocean Cleanup and Clear Blue Sea to combat plastic pollution.
Video 3: Sea Turtles and Ecosystem Balance
Discover the vital role of sea turtles in marine ecosystems, where they act as keystone species influencing their environment profoundly. This video shows how their dietary habits benefit other marine life and ocean health, highlighting their impact on jellyfish populations and seagrass beds. Learn about sea turtles' symbiotic relationships and their crucial contribution to marine biodiversity. The video also tackles the threat of plastic pollution, emphasizing the need to protect sea turtles to preserve ocean well-being and, by extension, human life. Join us to understand the importance of sea turtles in maintaining ecological balance and how we can contribute to their conservation.
After the Video:
Why are sea turtles important to the ocean ecosystem, and how does their health affect humans? Discuss the concept of a keystone species.
Video 4: Plastic's Path From Convenience to Crisis
This video delves into the world of plastic, revealing its journey from everyday use to the ocean, where it becomes a lasting pollutant. Students will learn about plastic's non-biodegradable nature and its breakdown into harmful microplastics, contributing to vast oceanic garbage patches and threatening marine life like sea turtles. The story of a single plastic bag illustrates the broader issue of plastic pollution, highlighting its impact from the ocean's surface to its depths.
After the video:
How can plastic used by humans in our neighborhoods and parks end up in the ocean? Brainstorm ways to prevent this from happening.
What are gyres, and how do they contribute to plastic pollution in the ocean? How does this phenomenon affect marine life?
Video 5: Plastic Muddled Ocean Turtles - Part 2
Now that Bonehead and T-Bone understand why it's important to stop JP and save the sea turtles, they're faced with the question of how to do it. Pa Fossil outlines the mission details for our heroes, but as usual, Bonehead is too preoccupied with daydreaming about fame and glory to pay attention. Even worse, the duo don't know how to sail back to land!
3. Think Like Engineers! Ocean Plastic Solutions (PREVIEW ONLY)
The “Think Like Engineers” video and STEAM lesson plan introduce students to engineering solutions for combating plastic pollution. The video showcases technologies like the Interceptor and FRED, inspiring students to design their own solutions. The accompanying lesson plan engages students in the engineering design process, from brainstorming to prototype testing, emphasizing practical application and collaborative problem-solving in addressing environmental challenges.
Video 6: Innovative Solutions for Ocean Plastic Cleanup
This video showcases innovative technologies like the Ocean Cleanup's Interceptor and FRED, the robot dedicated to removing debris from our waters, alongside BeBot, designed to clean up beach litter. These technologies are not just presented as solutions but as catalysts to spark the imagination of young viewers, encouraging them to conceptualize their own strategies to fight plastic pollution.
After the Video:
How can engineering and science be used to develop solutions to the problem of plastic pollution in the ocean? Discuss the importance of STEAM topics in addressing environmental challenges.
Video 7: Plastic Muddled Ocean Turtles – Part 3
The reality of Bonehead's mission is radically different than his heroic daydream, but he and his team still manage to board JP's airship and stop his cronies from dumping the plastic bags into the ocean. As usual, T-Bone gets all the credit, much to Bonehead's chagrin.
4. You Have the Power! Take Action to Prevent Ocean Plastic (PREVIEW ONLY)
The “You Have the Power” segment includes a music video and an outdoor activity lesson plan. The video inspires students to combat plastic pollution, while the lesson plan involves them in a practical cleanup event, directly applying the concepts learned and fostering a sense of environmental responsibility.
Video 8: "Hey No More Ocean Plastic" Music Video
"Hey No More Ocean Plastic" is an upbeat song that reinforces the importance of taking care of our environment by reducing plastic waste. Through relatable lyrics and a catchy tune, the song encourages kids to be mindful of their plastic usage and disposal, and emphasizes the consequences of plastic pollution on marine life, such as sea turtles. By taking simple actions like recycling and reusing, kids can work together to create a cleaner, healthier future for our oceans and the planet.
After the Video:
What can kids do at home and at school to help reduce plastic pollution and protect sea turtles? Share examples of actions students can take in their daily lives.
Lesson Plans
Meet the Boneheads! In the art lesson plan, students will use recycled materials to create eco-collages that illustrate the journey of plastic waste and its impact on the environment.
It’s Your Planet Too! This segment is paired with a social justice lesson plan, where students research and write about the broader impact of pollution on human communities and the environment.
Think Like Engineers! is complemented by a STEAM-focused engineering design lesson plan, where students will brainstorm, design, and prototype their own solutions to clean up plastic waste.
You Have the Power! Wrapping up the unit, this segment features an inspiring music video and an outdoor cleanup activity that empowers students to take action in their local communities.
Eco-Collages - Visualizing Plastic’s Journey — Art Lesson Plan (UNLOCKED)
In this art lesson plan, K-8 students explore the pressing issue of plastic pollution and its impact on marine environments through the creative medium of eco-collages. Using recycled materials, students of all ages will develop unique artworks that not only foster artistic skills but also enhance their understanding of environmental stewardship. This project encourages students to express their insights into the consequences of plastic waste and the importance of sustainability, tailored to each grade level’s understanding and ability. Through this activity, students are inspired to think critically about their role in protecting the planet and are empowered to convey powerful conservation messages through art.
Materials
Recycled plastics (e.g., bottles, bags, wrappers)
Additional recyclable materials (e.g., paper, fabric scraps)
Cardboard or large paper sheets for the collage base
Glue, scissors, markers
Paints (optional, for background or details)
Cleanup supplies (paper towels, trash bags)
Access to online or printed images for inspiration (optional)
Activity
Introduction and Planning: Begin with a discussion about plastic pollution, its journey from human use to the ocean, and its effects on marine life, especially sea turtles. Students will brainstorm and sketch ideas for their collage, thinking about how different materials can symbolically represent elements of this journey, such as ocean waves or plastic waste.
Material Preparation: Students will clean and cut their chosen recycled materials into usable pieces for their collages. Teachers should emphasize the importance of safety while handling scissors or sharp materials.
Collage Creation: Using the prepared materials, students will assemble their collages, combining textures, colors, and shapes to tell a visual story of plastic pollution. Teachers can encourage students to include imagery of sea
Presentation and Reflection: Students will present their collages to the class, explaining the environmental significance behind their artistic choices. The lesson concludes with a reflective discussion or short written assignment about what they learned from the activity and how art can be a tool for environmental advocacy.
Lesson Standards Alignment
Creating:
K-2: Younger students focus on exploring basic collage techniques and using simple shapes and colors to represent environmental themes. They work with easy-to-handle materials, such as paper and fabric scraps, to create collages that illustrate basic ideas about keeping the ocean clean and protecting animals like sea turtles.
3-5: Students in this grade group build on these foundational skills by incorporating symbolic elements into their collages, such as using blue materials to represent water or wavy shapes to symbolize ocean currents. They are encouraged to think more deeply about the story their art is telling and how it reflects the journey of plastic pollution.
6-8: Middle school students develop more complex compositions, integrating mixed media and detailed symbolic elements. They focus on creating collages with layered textures and more nuanced messages about sustainability, such as how individual actions can contribute to global change.
Presenting:
Students share their eco-collages with an audience in ways that align with their developmental abilities, fostering communication skills and confidence.
K-2: Younger students participate in a simple classroom display where they explain their collages in their own words. Teachers guide them to talk about what they created and why protecting the environment is important.
3-5: Students in this group deliver structured presentations to their peers, explaining the symbolism in their artwork and how it communicates an environmental message. They practice organizing their thoughts and answering questions about their creative process.
6-8: Older students present their artwork more formally, including digital documentation such as photos or videos. They explain their artistic choices, discuss their process, and relate their messages to broader environmental and social issues, such as sustainability and plastic pollution.
Responding:
Students reflect on their own artwork and provide feedback on their peers’ creations, building skills in interpretation and critical thinking.
K-2: Younger students focus on sharing what they like about their peers’ use of materials and colors. Teachers encourage them to express appreciation and ask simple questions about the artworks.
3-5: Students evaluate how effectively the artworks communicate environmental messages. They discuss elements like the use of symbols or how the materials represent pollution and its impact on marine life.
6-8: Middle school students analyze how the artwork connects to environmental advocacy, considering how it could influence public perception or encourage behavioral changes. They engage in deeper discussions about how art can drive social and environmental progress.
Connecting:
Students connect their art-making process to real-world issues and explore the role of art in addressing societal challenges.
K-2: Younger students make connections by discussing why it’s important to care for the environment, such as keeping sea turtles safe and oceans clean. Teachers facilitate simple conversations about how their art reflects these ideas.
3-5: Students explore real-world actions they can take to reduce waste, such as recycling or using less plastic. They discuss how their collages represent these actions and inspire others to do the same.
6-8: Older students investigate the global impact of plastic pollution and explore how art can be used as a tool for social change. They connect their work to larger movements for environmental justice, considering how their collages could raise awareness or inspire advocacy efforts.
K-2-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Through the art project, young students will engage in developing simple tools or methods that utilize recycled materials to create art, thereby understanding the role of engineering in reusing materials to reduce waste.
K-2-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design): Students will analyze how various materials can be reused creatively in art, understanding the importance of reducing waste through practical sorting and repurposing activities embedded in the art project.
2-ESS2-2 (Earth’s Systems): While creating art, students explore how different environments affect the dispersal and degradation of materials, such as plastics, and discuss the importance of preventing waste materials from entering natural habitats.
3-LS4-3 (Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity): By using art to depict how plastic pollution impacts various species, students understand the importance of biodiversity and the interdependence of organisms within ecosystems.
3-5-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Students are tasked with designing artistic pieces that communicate solutions to environmental issues. They will define the problem of plastic pollution and brainstorm visual representations that encourage conservation and sustainability.
3-5-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design): This standard is engaged when students evaluate and refine their artistic representations of environmental solutions, considering feedback to enhance the communicative power of their art.
3-5-ETS1-3 (Engineering Design): In crafting their artworks, students plan and implement tests to determine which materials and messages most effectively convey their ideas about sustainability and environmental protection.
4-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Students explore how human actions impact the environment and represent these impacts through art, learning about responsible waste management and its importance for environmental health.
5-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): The art project enables students to express how human activities contribute to environmental problems like plastic pollution and to consider how art can play a role in raising awareness and prompting action.
5-PS1-3 (Matter and Its Interactions): Through the creation of art using different materials, students explore the properties of materials used in art, such as plastics, and understand their impact on the environment when not disposed of properly.
MS-ESS3-3 (Earth and Human Activity): Middle school students evaluate the implications of plastic pollution through art, discussing and representing both the negative impacts and the societal responses to improve environmental outcomes.
MS-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Students define the criteria for effective environmental communication through art, considering factors like audience engagement and clarity of message regarding plastic pollution and its solutions.
MS-ETS1-4 (Engineering Design): Students use the engineering design process to explore how artistic expressions can influence public perception and behavior regarding environmental issues. They experiment with various mediums and messages in their art projects to determine which are most effective at conveying the urgency of combating plastic pollution. This approach allows students to iteratively refine their art to better communicate their environmental message.
Conclusion & Assessment
Grades K-2:
Focus on fostering basic environmental awareness and artistic expression. Assess young students on their ability to use recycled materials creatively in their art projects. Encourage them to share stories about their artwork, explaining what their creation represents about their understanding of plastic pollution. Enhance the lesson by incorporating storytime with books about pollution and conservation, allowing students to make connections between the stories and their artwork.
Grades 3-5:
Emphasize the importance of conveying environmental messages through art. Assess students on their ability to integrate the concepts of plastic pollution and environmental responsibility into their art projects. Have students write brief descriptions for their artworks, explaining how their creation raises awareness about the issue. To deepen understanding, facilitate a class discussion where students can propose personal actions they can take to reduce plastic waste, inspired by the insights gained through their art-making process.
Grades 6-8:
Challenge students to critically analyze and reflect on the effectiveness of their art in communicating environmental issues. Assess their ability to use artistic expression as a tool for social change, focusing on the clarity and impact of their environmental message. Encourage students to research and include quantitative data about plastic pollution in their presentations to add depth to their narrative. As an enhancement, students could collaborate on a larger, group-based art installation that addresses a specific aspect of plastic pollution, planning and executing a project that could be displayed in the school or community to educate others.
Pollution and People: Writing for Change — Social Justice Lesson Plan (PREVIEW ONLY)
In this thought-provoking social justice lesson plan, students from kindergarten through eighth grade will explore the profound connections between environmental responsibility, human activity, and social equity. Through age-appropriate research and creative writing projects, students will examine how pollution impacts both natural ecosystems and human communities, particularly those disproportionately affected by environmental issues. By fostering a sense of empathy and responsibility, this lesson empowers students to think critically about their role in protecting the planet and advocating for fairness and sustainability for all living beings.
Lesson Standards Alignment
Identity:
Grades K-2: Students recognize their role as stewards of the environment, learning that their actions, such as picking up trash or recycling, can positively impact their community and local wildlife.
Grades 3-5: Students explore their identity as active participants in addressing environmental challenges, understanding that their choices and actions can contribute to a healthier planet.
Grades 6-8: Middle school students deepen their self-awareness as global citizens by examining how their actions and those of their community can influence larger environmental and social systems.
Diversity:
Grades K-2: Students learn to value the diversity of animals and plants in their local environment and understand how protecting these organisms supports a balanced ecosystem.
Grades 3-5: Students appreciate the interconnectedness of different species, exploring how biodiversity is essential to the health of both natural environments and human communities.
Grades 6-8: Students analyze the global impact of environmental issues on diverse communities, emphasizing the importance of equitable solutions that address the needs of all living beings.
Justice:
Grades K-2: Students begin to understand fairness by discussing how pollution can harm animals and people who cannot protect themselves, reinforcing the need to act responsibly.
Grades 3-5: Students identify the unfair consequences of pollution on vulnerable populations, both human and animal, and discuss how advocating for environmental change promotes justice.
Grades 6-8: Students investigate environmental injustice, focusing on how pollution disproportionately affects marginalized communities, and discuss solutions that promote equity and long-term sustainability.
Action:
Grades K-2: Students take simple, tangible actions, such as cleaning up litter or recycling, to demonstrate how even small efforts can make a difference.
Grades 3-5: Students engage in written reflections or creative projects advocating for community action, such as starting recycling initiatives or raising awareness about plastic pollution.
Grades 6-8: Students develop and share comprehensive plans to address environmental issues, combining research, advocacy, and action to influence positive change locally and globally.
K-ESS3-3 (Earth and Human Activity): Kindergarten students will explore the concept of environmental responsibility by understanding how keeping the environment clean affects the community and local wildlife. Discussions will focus on simple actions they can take, like recycling, to help protect the Earth.
1-LS1-1 (From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes): First graders will discuss the role of different organisms in their local environment and how pollution, particularly plastic waste, can disrupt these organisms and their habitats.
2-ESS2-2 (Earth’s Systems): Second graders will learn about the movement of water in the environment and how it can carry pollutants like plastics to different parts of the world, impacting ecosystems far from the pollution source.
3-LS4-4 (Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity): Students will evaluate the effects of environmental changes such as pollution on animals’ survival and reproduction, understanding how human actions can impact biodiversity.
4-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Fourth graders will assess the impacts of human activities on natural resources, discussing how sustainable practices can reduce negative effects on the environment and improve community health.
5-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Fifth graders will identify and evaluate the ways in which human activities contribute to land degradation and how these actions can be modified to prevent environmental damage.
MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4 (Engineering Design): Middle school students will apply their understanding of scientific principles to create practical solutions to environmental issues discussed in the social justice context. They will design and evaluate these solutions based on criteria like sustainability and effectiveness in improving community and environmental health.
Plastic Cleanup Engineering & Design — S.T.E.A.M. Lesson Plan (PREVIEW ONLY)
In this STEAM-focused lesson plan, part of the Ocean Plastic Unit, students from kindergarten through eighth grade delve into the challenges of plastic pollution and its harmful effects on marine life, including sea turtles. Through a combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, students across all grade levels will learn about and develop innovative solutions to combat plastic waste in our rivers and oceans. This engaging lesson encourages students to apply the engineering design process, enhance their problem-solving skills, and creatively integrate art and technology to design practical devices that help preserve marine ecosystems.
Lesson Standards Alignment
Creating:
Grades K-2: Students use basic materials and tools to construct simple models that represent solutions to plastic pollution. This helps them learn the fundamentals of creating with purpose and expressing their ideas through building.
Grades 3-5: Students design and create more complex models or prototypes that address specific aspects of plastic pollution. They are encouraged to think innovatively about how to use materials to build effective pollution-cleaning devices.
Grades 6-8: Middle school students undertake advanced projects that integrate art and engineering, creating detailed models or prototypes that demonstrate sophisticated solutions to environmental issues. Their creations are expected to reflect a deeper understanding of design principles and material properties.
Presenting:
Grades K-2: Young students showcase their models to the class, describing what they built and how it helps solve the problem of plastic pollution. This introduces them to the concept of presenting technical projects in an understandable way.
Grades 3-5: Students prepare structured presentations that explain their engineering solutions, focusing on the design process and the functionality of their prototypes. They learn to articulate the purpose and mechanics of their creations clearly.
Grades 6-8: Middle school students engage in formal presentations that include technical descriptions and theoretical underpinnings of their designs. They are encouraged to discuss the science behind their solutions and potential real-world applications.
Responding:
Grades K-2: Students give feedback on peer projects, focusing on what they like and what they think makes the designs effective. This fosters early critical thinking and appreciation for diverse solutions.
Grades 3-5: Students evaluate each other’s projects, providing constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. They learn to assess the practicality and environmental impact of different solutions.
Grades 6-8: Students conduct in-depth critiques of peer solutions, analyzing the efficiency, sustainability, and innovation of each design. Discussions also explore the broader environmental implications of the proposed solutions.
Connecting:
Grades K-2: Students relate their projects to their everyday experiences with waste and recycling, connecting the dots between personal actions and environmental health.
Grades 3-5: The connection between technology, art, and environmental stewardship is emphasized, with students exploring how their projects can make a real difference in combating plastic pollution.
Grades 6-8: Students connect their designs to global environmental challenges, considering how engineering and technological innovations can be scaled up to address widespread issues. They discuss how interdisciplinary approaches can lead to more effective solutions.
K-2-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Young students will design simple machines or tools that could help collect or recycle plastic waste. They learn to express their ideas through models or drawings, understanding the basic concept of how engineering can solve real-world problems like plastic pollution.
K-2-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design): Students evaluate the effectiveness of their designs in a classroom simulation, using items like paper clips or straws to represent plastic waste. They learn about the engineering design process by testing and refining their simple prototypes.
2-ESS2-2 (Earth’s Systems): Students understand how water can move objects and apply this knowledge by designing a model that shows how plastic can be carried to the ocean. They explore how barriers or filters might be used in rivers or streams to catch plastic waste.
3-5-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Students identify a real-world problem—plastic pollution—and develop solutions by designing devices or systems that could help mitigate this environmental issue. They use criteria and constraints to guide their designs, focusing on practicality and environmental impact.
3-5-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design): Students compare multiple solutions aimed at reducing plastic pollution. They evaluate each design based on its effectiveness, environmental friendliness, and feasibility, promoting critical thinking and decision-making skills.
3-5-ETS1-3 (Engineering Design): Students plan and carry out tests of their designs, such as a classroom simulation of a river cleanup device. They use the results to make data-driven improvements to their designs, learning about iteration and optimization in engineering.
4-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Students investigate how human activities contribute to plastic pollution and explore engineering solutions that reduce this impact. They discuss the role of community practices and policies in managing waste and encouraging recycling.
5-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): By engaging in a design challenge to minimize plastic waste, students see the direct connection between human activities and environmental health. They consider how innovative technologies can prevent plastic from reaching marine environments.
MS-ETS1-1 (Engineering Design): Middle school students define problems more precisely, considering the economic, environmental, social, and technical aspects of potential solutions to plastic pollution. They use research and scientific principles to underpin their design choices.
MS-ETS1-2 (Engineering Design): Students evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem. They consider various factors like cost, materials, and potential environmental impact.
MS-ETS1-3 (Engineering Design): Students plan and execute a series of tests to evaluate the performance of their environmental engineering solutions. They analyze data from the tests to identify strengths and weaknesses in their designs, learning about the importance of empirical evidence in engineering.
MS-ETS1-4 (Engineering Design): Middle school students use computer simulations or physical models to test their solutions for reducing plastic pollution. This standard encourages the application of digital tools and technologies to enhance the design and evaluation process.
Elements of S.T.E.A.M.
Science:
Grades K-2: Students learn fundamental concepts about pollution and its impact on ecosystems through interactive storytelling and simple experiments that demonstrate how pollution spreads in water.
Grades 3-5: Students explore the science of plastics, including their environmental impact and degradation process. Discussions include how plastics affect marine life and the ecosystem.
Grades 6-8: Engage in advanced topics such as the chemical composition of different plastics, their long-term environmental impacts, and scientific strategies for mitigating plastic pollution in ecosystems.
Technology:
Grades K-2: Introduce simple tools and machines that can help in cleaning up small-scale pollution. Students learn about basic uses of technology in environmental conservation.
Grades 3-5: Students research existing technologies used for pollution control, like water filtration systems and recycling processes, understanding how these technologies help mitigate environmental issues.
Grades 6-8: Explore sophisticated technological solutions for environmental challenges, such as the engineering behind waste management systems and innovations in biodegradable materials.
Engineering:
Grades K-2: Focus on building simple models using everyday materials that mimic devices helping to collect or recycle waste, fostering a hands-on understanding of how things are made.
Grades 3-5: Students design and build more complex models or prototypes of devices that could realistically be used to reduce plastic pollution, applying the engineering design process.
Grades 6-8: Undertake comprehensive engineering projects involving the design, construction, and testing of solutions to address plastic pollution, emphasizing the integration of practical and theoretical engineering skills.
Art:
Grades K-2: Use art to express ideas about cleanliness and the environment, creating posters or simple crafts that highlight the importance of keeping our surroundings clean.
Grades 3-5: Incorporate art to visualize pollution solutions, with students creating detailed diagrams or models that aesthetically represent their engineering projects.
Grades 6-8: Engage in sophisticated artistic expressions that convey complex messages about environmental sustainability, using mixed media to enhance the presentation of their engineering solutions.
Mathematics:
Grades K-2: Basic counting and measurement activities related to sorting recyclables and understanding quantities of pollution.
Grades 3-5: Apply mathematical skills to calculate the efficiency of pollution cleaning methods, using data to improve designs.
Grades 6-8: Utilize advanced mathematical concepts such as geometry, algebra, and statistics to optimize designs, analyze data, and model environmental impacts quantitatively.
Pollution Cleanup — Outdoor Activity Lesson Plan (PREVIEW ONLY)
In this outdoor activity, students in grades K-8 will participate in a hands-on field trip to clean up plastic debris within their community. This exercise aims to underscore the importance of environmental stewardship and illustrate how local actions can prevent plastic pollution from reaching the oceans, thereby protecting marine life such as sea turtles. Through this interactive lesson, students will learn about the impact of plastic waste, engage in responsible waste disposal, and explore the significance of community involvement in ecological conservation.
Lesson Standards Alignment
K-PS3-1 (Energy): Kindergarten students will observe how sunlight warms the Earth’s surface and discuss how this energy contributes to the breakdown of materials, including plastics left outdoors. They’ll learn the basics of energy from the sun and its effects on different materials during their outdoor activity.
1-LS1-1 (From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes): First graders will identify and classify materials collected during the cleanup based on their observable properties, learning about different materials and how they interact with the environment.
2-ESS2-1 (Earth’s Systems): Second graders explore how water can move objects and apply this knowledge during the cleanup activity by observing how plastic debris might have traveled to their local environment via water systems.
3-LS4-4 (Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity): Students will make connections between the presence of plastic waste and the potential threat it poses to local wildlife. They’ll discuss how the environment supports various forms of life and the impact of pollution on biodiversity.
4-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Fourth graders will analyze the effects of human activities, such as littering, on land degradation and water pollution. They will discuss the role of responsible waste disposal and personal actions in preventing pollution.
5-ESS3-1 (Earth and Human Activity): Fifth graders will discuss the broader implications of plastic waste on the environment and human health, exploring solutions that can minimize waste and prevent its negative impacts on ecosystems.
MS-ESS3-3 (Earth and Human Activity): Middle school students will evaluate and debate various community strategies for waste management, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices and pollution prevention in maintaining environmental and human health.
3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3 (Engineering Design): Students in grades 3-5 will engage in an engineering challenge to design a method or tool to make their cleanup activity more efficient. They will define problems, develop solutions, and optimize their designs based on the results of their outdoor activity.
MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4 (Engineering Design): Middle school students will undertake a more rigorous design process to create sophisticated solutions for environmental cleanup. They’ll research, design, test, and refine their projects, applying engineering principles to address the challenge of plastic pollution effectively.
