More Lesson Plans – Microplastics and Waterways
Topic Key
Biological Consequences
Marine Debris Concepts
Pathways
Sources of Marine Debris
Strategies for Mitigation
An Educator's Guide to Marine Debris
"Despite its prevalence, marine debris is a problem that each individual citizen can help prevent. Education is the first crucial step in mitigation. Through the use of this guide, we can help foster environmental stewardship and create advocates for the marine environment. With every person that participates in a cleanup, uses a reusable bag or water bottle, or spreads the word about marine debris, we move one step closer to creating a more beautiful and healthy marine environment."
Marine Debris: Fishing for Microplastics in Your Home
"There has been a growing of public awareness of plastics found in the ocean environment. Plastics are found at the top and within the water column, in ocean floor sediments, and within beach material. This activity will demonstrate the ease of movement of plastics from your home directly into the ocean environment. Students will explore the typical products which contain plastics and learn how to calculate the concentration of plastics found in a chosen personal care product."
Source: SERC at Carleton College
Microplastics and Marine Environment
"Inspired by the growing public interest for marine micro-plastics and by the lack of specific teaching activities in our country (Italy), we developed a vertically articulated curriculum on micro-plastics for students aged 5-15 years. Our proposal is based on a number of practical activities realized with different language and communication styles to be suitable for different age groups."
Source: SERC at Carleton College
Microplastics: Sampling and Processing Guidebook
"This guidebook was created for citizen scientists to learn standardized methods of sampling and processing microplastics. We will take you through the scientific data collection methods used to sample and process water and beach sediment for microplastics. These methods can be modified to best accommodate classroom or other learning opportunities."
Source: Mississippi State University / Dauphin Island Sea Lab / NOAA / Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant