By Kristen Cox from East Cary Magnet Middle School
OVERVIEW OF LESSON: This lesson will allow students to explore the impact of plastic in oceans. They will discuss how this affects life in the water and ultimately impacts humans as well. By the end of the lesson, students will explore ways they can take action locally to work on this global issue. This lesson focuses on United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. However, there are connections with SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
SUGGESTED GRADE LEVEL: 8th Grade
SUBJECT: Science
CORRESPONDING NATIONAL AND/OR STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA STANDARDS:
NC Science Standards:
8.E.1: Understand the hydrosphere and the impact humans have on local systems and the effects of the hydrosphere on humans.
ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
- What are microplastics and how do they affect our world?
- How does plastic in the ocean impact life?
- How can we take action on the issue of plastic in the oceans?
LESSON OBJECTIVES:
- Students will be able to explain where microplastics can be found and how they are impacting Earth.
- Students will be able to explain the impact that plastic is having on life in our oceans.
- Students will be able to explore ways that we can take action in our community to help with the issue of plastic in our oceans and water resources.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE EDUCATOR or RESOURCES TO EXPLORE FURTHER:
- Importance of Oceans
- Life Below the Water
- Microplastics are Everywhere- but are they harmful?
- For the demo, you will need laundry lint. You can get this from local laundromats.
SPECIFIC STUDENT STRATEGIES & ACTIVITIES:
Day 1 |
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Day 2 |
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Day 3 |
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Days 4-6 |
* Have students pick stakeholders to write letters to invite them to come see the presentation of their website. Part of this project also requires students to find ways to get their website to the public.
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ASSESSMENTS: Exit Tickets, Rubric showing students see how they can take action to help
LEARNING EXTENSIONS: The Ocean Awareness 2023 Contest is one option. Another option is to extend Day 4-6 by having students work virtually with students in other countries and connect via Zoom to work on a podcast.
MATERIALS:
- Day 1:
- Will need to display pictures of the Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch from National Geographic website for Slow Thinking Protocol & a place for students to record their thoughts
- SAS Website for Life Below Water (make sure students have the link)
- Video: A Plastic Ocean
- Students will need access to a computer, paper, and writing utensils.
- Day 2:
- Slides of pictures of things asking students about microplastics with definition
- Microplastics in Laundry Lint Demo Instructions for teacher
- Microplastics in Laundry Lint student worksheet
- Materials for Demo: Laundry lint, Ferrofluid, magnets, glass breakers, microscopes, microscope slides, cover slides (if you do not have high quality microscopes at your schools- nearby universities often will take samples and send your pictures to show your students)
- Day 3:
- Days 4-6
- Rubric to Take Action Against Plastic Pollution
- Technology: Wix, Weebly, or Google Sites for students to make their own website
- Access to computers
REFERENCES:
Boudreau, E. (2023, February 9). The Art of Slow Looking in the Classroom. Harvard Graduate School of Education. https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/20/01/art-slow-looking-classroom
Kobilinsky, D. (2023, February 9).All Sea Turtle Species Show Evidence of Microplastic in Gut. The Wildlife Society.https://wildlife.org/all-sea-turtle-species-show-evidence-of-microplastic-in-gut/#:~:text=They%20found%20microplastics%20%E2%80%94%20bits%20of,that%20likely%20came%20from%20tires.
Lim, X. (2023, February 9).Microplastics are everywhere- but are they harmful? Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01143-3
National Geographic Education. (2023, February 9).Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Resource Library. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/great-pacific-garbage-patch
SAS. (2023, February 9). 14 Life Below Water. Global Change Starts with You. https://app.gatheriq.analytics/home
University of Plymouth. (2023, February 9). Are microplastics a big problem? University of Plymouth. https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/
West Ed (2023, February 9).Talking to the Text Inquiry. Reading Apprenticeship. https://readingapprenticeship.org/