K-12 Marine Debris Curriculum Database for Educators

This curriculum database serves as a one-stop resource for educators seeking to engage students with topics related to marine debris and plastic pollution. Explore below a selection of various interactive activities, hands-on experiments, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned lesson plans for all grade levels. To view our full curriculum list, please visit our database below in “Additional Curriculum.”

Marine debris is one of the most pressing climate issues of our time, significantly impacting our waterways, wildlife, and human health. Educating and engaging the youth on these significant topics builds awareness and empowers students to take action in their own communities. By introducing students to environmental challenges at a young age, we can inspire a generation of eager minds equipped with the knowledge to drive meaningful change for our oceans.

Title: An Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris

Category: Lesson Plans

Description: An Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris is an award-winning teaching tool composed of supplement lesson plans appropriate for all grade levels K-12. This learning guide is a great foundational tool for teachers who are starting marine debris education, including various activities catered to each grade level. All lessons contain marine vocabulary, background information, objectives, materials needed, and an activity.

Grade: K-12

Source: The North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA) in partnership with NOAA

Explore the Educator’s Guide to Marine Debris Lesson Plan

Title: Ocean Odyssey: Tracking Marine Debris

Category: Online Game

Description: The Ocean Odyssey is an interactive game where students follow the journey of trash through ocean currents. The game is organized as a map of the ocean, where players can click to designate where they want their trash to begin its journey and guess where it may end up. Players will learn about ocean currents, wind patterns, and the lasting impacts of different types of marine debris.

Grade: 3-12 (Recommended for Grades 4-8)

Source: NOAA Marine Debris Program

Explore the Ocean Odyssey Tracking Marine Debris Game

Title: Turtle Trash Collectors Interactive Program Video

Category: Interactive Video

Description: In this video of the Turtle Trash Collectors program, students and educators are able to participate in an interactive sea turtle experiment, where individuals can virtually explore how debris impacts sea turtles and marine habitats in a fun, guided simulation. Students will also learn how debris ends up in our waterways and the steps we can all take to help address the problem. There are areas throughout the video for teachers to pause and discuss any observations in the provided printable worksheets. 

Grade: 3-5

Source: NOAA Marine Debris Program

Explore the Turtle Trash Collectors Interactive Video

Title: Winged Ambassadors: Ocean literacy through the Eyes of the Albatross

Category: Lesson Plans 

Description: In partnership with NOAA, Winged Ambassadors provides free, online, and downloadable lesson packets that focus on studying seabirds’ lifestyles, and teaches students about ocean ecosystems and plastic’s impact on wildlife using albatrosses as a real-world case study. Each lesson plan includes the learning objectives, materials, procedure, discussion questions, and worksheets for students to complete. Activities are centered around the students’ school campus, and students will learn the connection between campus debris and marine debris. 

Grade: 6-8

Source: This tool is available free online courtesy of NOAA, Oikonos, and other partners.

Explore the Winged Ambassadors Lesson Plan

Title: Plastic-Free Education Toolkit

Category: Craft Activities

Description: These craft activities provide alternative methods to educating students on the harm of single-use plastics on the environment by creating substitutes for everyday plastic materials.  Students will create art with a plastic-free focus, such as t-shirt grocery bags, plastic-free gift wrap, and beeswax wraps to replace traditional plastic wrap. These activities will encourage individuals to replace harmful plastics with sustainable alternatives.

Grade: 2-12

Source: The Plastic-Free MKE (Milwaukee) coalition

Explore the Plastic-Free Educational Toolkit

Looking for more resources? Explore our full Marine Debris Curriculum Database for a variety of free, online activities and ideas to bring to your classroom!

USC Sea Grant Marine Debris Curriculum Database

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