Mitigation—Reduce Emissions Summary: We know what factors are contributing to a change in our global climate and ocean, so what can students, parents, and schools do to help? There are personal actions everyone can take to help reduce the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that go into the atmosphere. This topic guide empowers […]
Introduction—How do we know the world is warming? Summary: What is climate change? How do we know it is happening? The resources in this topic guide provide an overview to the topic of climate change. Simple explanations and analogies are presented so that students can articulate a big picture view of the issue, with the […]
Place—Algae in Your House Summary: No matter how far away we might live from the beach, we are culturally connected to the ocean and its resources. Students examine the contents of their kitchen cupboards to find evidence of the ocean’s influence. Concepts to teach: Nutrition, social studies Goals: Students discover that although we sometimes can […]
Stewardship—Washed Ashore Summary: Through the Washed Ashore community project, students create marine-themed art from plastic debris found on beaches. The art serves to educate the public and increase awareness about marine debris and plastic pollution. Concepts to teach: Plastic, marine debris, art Goals: Students turn problematic plastic trash into pieces of art as a powerful […]
Stewardship—Pollution Solutions Summary: Students come up with “good manners” stewardship solutions to reduce waste and pollution at home, school, and in the local community. Concepts to teach: Personal behavior, reduce-reuse-recycle, modeling, stewardship Goals: Students share their knowledge about solutions to pollution with peers and adults at school and at home. They implement positive changes that […]
Human Impacts—Pathways to the Ocean Summary: Students investigate the ways in which plastics and other persistent debris get into rivers and the ocean. Concepts to teach: Watershed, downstream, litter Goals: Students recognize that their use and disposal method of plastic and other waste products can have an impact on aquatic and marine ecosystems both locally […]
Human Impacts—Biodegradable Materials Summary: How long does it take materials to break down in the environment? Students investigate whether all substances break down in the environment, and how long it takes various substances to biodegrade. They then apply this knowledge to explain what happens to wastes that end up in landfills, waterways, and the ocean. […]
Human Use of Resources—Classroom Recycling Summary: What kind of waste is generated in the classroom, and how much of what is in the garbage bin could be placed in the recycle bin instead? Students inventory their garbage, monitor their recycling output, and learn local recycling policy to ensure they are recycling all that they can. […]
Human Use of Resources—Plastics Around Us Summary: How do we use plastic in our daily lives? What are the properties of different types of plastics, and what do we do with plastic when we are done with it? Students investigate these questions through hands on activities. Concepts to teach: Plastic, single-use plastic, biodegradable, recycling Goals: […]
Place—Beach Debris Summary: What kinds of materials end up on our ocean beaches? In this classroom-based activity, students explore the debris found on an ocean beach and sort by type and potential origin. Concepts to teach: Marine debris, persistent plastics, biotic, abiotic, decomposition, biodegradable Goals: Students gain familiarity with objects that wash up on Oregon […]