Polluting the Ocean (Junior)
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Pollution is threatening the ocean, from toxic waste to all sorts of plastic, forming a hazard for all marine wildlife. Creating a toxic hazard for marine wildlife. In this lesson we discuss the issues of pollution, how it ends up in the ocean and it’s impacts on marine wildlife.
Instructions
During this lesson we will look at why pollution is an issue and how it ends up in the ocean.
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2021
Instructions
Worksheets
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
Ocean pollution
During this lesson we will look at why pollution is an issue and how it ends up in the ocean.
During this lesson we will look at why pollution is an issue and how it ends up in the ocean.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Slide 3 - Slide
In this lesson we explain what IUU fishing is and the impact overfishing is having on the ocean.
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
Slide 4 - Slide
What’s in the ocean?
Ask students:
When you think about swimming in the ocean and you dive down to see what is there, what marine animals do you think you would see?
What else do you think you would see?
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
Ask students:
When you think about swimming in the ocean and you dive down to see what is there, what marine animals do you think you would see?
What else do you think you would see?
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
Slide 5 - Slide
What’s in the ocean?
When we think about the ocean we think about coral reefs, whales, sea turtles, dolphins and sharks, all swimming around in the beautiful blue ocean.
When we think about the ocean we think about coral reefs, whales, sea turtles, dolphins and sharks, all swimming around in the beautiful blue ocean.
Slide 6 - Slide
A sea of trash
But it is not always so beautiful in the ocean.
Ask the children:
Would you expect to see this in the ocean?
Talk about what items they can see and which items don’t belong in the ocean.
But it is not always so beautiful in the ocean.
Ask the children:
Would you expect to see this in the ocean?
Talk about what items they can see and which items don’t belong in the ocean.
Slide 7 - Slide
Trashed beaches
Ask the children:
Would you expect to see this on the beach?
Talk about what items they can see on the beach and what doesn’t belong there.
Ask the children:
Would you expect to see this on the beach?
Talk about what items they can see on the beach and what doesn’t belong there.
Slide 8 - Slide
What would marine animals think?
What do you think happens if marine animals find trash in the ocean?
Marine wildlife don’t know what trash is. Can you imagine being a baleen whale lunge feeding and ending up with plastic bags and other rubbish being scooped up with krill or fish.
Discuss with them what might happen and why it is not good for animals to eat plastic.
Some other examples to use:
What do you think happens if marine animals find trash in the ocean?
Marine wildlife don’t know what trash is. Can you imagine being a baleen whale lunge feeding and ending up with plastic bags and other rubbish being scooped up with krill or fish.
Discuss with them what might happen and why it is not good for animals to eat plastic.
Some other examples to use:
- Sea turtles finding old plastic bags that look like jellyfish.
- Little fish eating bits of plastic that look like food. Like micro beads or glitter.
- Sea birds mistaking plastic for fish.
Slide 9 - Slide
How much ends up in the ocean?
Every 40 seconds a truck load of trash goes into the sea. That’s a lot of trash going in to the ocean.
Over 12 million tonnes of plastic a year, which equals a garbage truck load every 40 seconds. Soon it might be two truck loads a minute.
Every 40 seconds a truck load of trash goes into the sea. That’s a lot of trash going in to the ocean.
Over 12 million tonnes of plastic a year, which equals a garbage truck load every 40 seconds. Soon it might be two truck loads a minute.
Slide 10 - Slide
Ghost nets
Not only does trash end up in the ocean, but fishing nets and lines do to. They are lost overboard or dumped by fishing vessels.
The nets end up floating freely in the ocean, becoming ghost nets that trap unsuspecting marine animals.
Imagine marine mammals swimming and all of a sudden find themselves caught in these nets and lines, unable to get out without help.
Each year 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is lost or discarded at sea from commercial fishing vessels.
Not only does trash end up in the ocean, but fishing nets and lines do to. They are lost overboard or dumped by fishing vessels.
The nets end up floating freely in the ocean, becoming ghost nets that trap unsuspecting marine animals.
Imagine marine mammals swimming and all of a sudden find themselves caught in these nets and lines, unable to get out without help.
Each year 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is lost or discarded at sea from commercial fishing vessels.
How does trash end
up in the ocean?
up in the ocean?
Slide 11 - Mind map
How does it end up there?
“How do you think trash ends up in the ocean? “
Slide 12 - Slide
How does it end up in the ocean?
Down the drain
Some plastics are washed down the drain, such as micro plastics like micro beads, glitter and micro fibers from clothes.
Ask students what else might get washed down the drain that is bad for the ocean?
The wind and rain moves it into stormwater drains, creeks and rivers leading to the ocean or other bodies of water.
Ask students what they have seen dropped on to the streets and parks that could end up in the ocean?
Glitter also washes straight down the drain and into the ocean harming marine wildlife. There are non plastic alternatives that can be used instead.
Down the drain
Some plastics are washed down the drain, such as micro plastics like micro beads, glitter and micro fibers from clothes.
Ask students what else might get washed down the drain that is bad for the ocean?
- Household chemicals – cleaning products, paint, weed killers.
Dumped on streets, parks or school grounds
Ask students what they have seen dropped on to the streets and parks that could end up in the ocean?
- Cigarette butts are a huge issue. They contain hundreds of chemicals and plastic. Trillions of them are thrown away each year, with large numbers ending up in the ocean.
- A lot of clothing is partially made of plastic. When these clothes are washed, small pieces of plastic start to break off and are washed down the drain. These are referred to as microfibers.
- Nurdles are small plastic pellets that are used to manufacture plastic products. This way the plastic is easier to transport and integrate into manufacturing than sheets or blocks of plastic. When containers full of plastic pellets are lost at sea, these plastic pellets are often found washing up on beaches and coastlines.
- Micro beads are used in products like facial cleansers, scrubs, shower gels and toothpaste. It is likely that, when cleaning your teeth you are washing plastic beads down the drain.
Glitter also washes straight down the drain and into the ocean harming marine wildlife. There are non plastic alternatives that can be used instead.
Slide 13 - Slide
How does it end up in the ocean?
Left on beaches
Visitors to beaches leave behind their rubbish, which is then washed into the ocean with the tide, or blown into the ocean by the wind.
Tourists leaving rubbish behind
Some tourist destinations are island nations who have limited facilities to manage waste. Visiting tourists leave behind their waste for locals to remove. Rubbish dumps are often close to the water, so it can blow into the ocean.
Ask students what they have seen dropped on the beach that could end up in the ocean?
Left on beaches
Visitors to beaches leave behind their rubbish, which is then washed into the ocean with the tide, or blown into the ocean by the wind.
Tourists leaving rubbish behind
Some tourist destinations are island nations who have limited facilities to manage waste. Visiting tourists leave behind their waste for locals to remove. Rubbish dumps are often close to the water, so it can blow into the ocean.
Ask students what they have seen dropped on the beach that could end up in the ocean?
- Plastic food packaging and drink containers.
Slide 14 - Slide
How does it end up in the ocean?
Intentionally dumped into the ocean by people or business in order to save money.
Instead of disposing of rubbish properly it is dumped into waterways or directly into the ocean.
Dumped into waterways by communities
Not all countries are set up with proper waste management. There are communities with no waste removal process so they dump their rubbish into rivers for it to be taken away.
Intentionally dumped into the ocean by people or business in order to save money.
Instead of disposing of rubbish properly it is dumped into waterways or directly into the ocean.
Dumped into waterways by communities
Not all countries are set up with proper waste management. There are communities with no waste removal process so they dump their rubbish into rivers for it to be taken away.
Slide 15 - Slide
How does it end up in the ocean?
Thrown overboard from ships
While ships are supposed to manage their waste and offload it in port, some are still guilty of dumping it overboard when in international waters, where they think no one is watching.
Lost overboard from cargo ships – during storms containers go overboard.
During severe weather events and rough seas it is possible for shipping containers to come loose and topple overboard. They may sink, or break open and the contents wash into the ocean, or they may wash up on beaches.
In 1992 a cargo vessel lost a container of 28,000 yellow plastic ducks in North Pacific ocean. The container broke open and the yellow ducks floated away. They are still washing up ashore everywhere around the world today.
Thrown overboard from ships
While ships are supposed to manage their waste and offload it in port, some are still guilty of dumping it overboard when in international waters, where they think no one is watching.
Lost overboard from cargo ships – during storms containers go overboard.
During severe weather events and rough seas it is possible for shipping containers to come loose and topple overboard. They may sink, or break open and the contents wash into the ocean, or they may wash up on beaches.
In 1992 a cargo vessel lost a container of 28,000 yellow plastic ducks in North Pacific ocean. The container broke open and the yellow ducks floated away. They are still washing up ashore everywhere around the world today.
Slide 16 - Slide
How does it end up in the ocean?
During storms and floods household items get washed away in waterways and end up in the ocean.
During storms and floods household items get washed away in waterways and end up in the ocean.
Slide 17 - Slide
Five gyres and ocean current
Once trash and pollution reaches the ocean it is caught up in ocean currents and will be moved out into the gyres.
An ocean current is a movement of water. There are currents along most coastlines that move water along and out to sea.
Gyres are areas where the ocean currents meet. There are five main gyres in the ocean.
When trash enters the ocean it moves from the coast and is pushed along, it might find its way into one of these gyres in the middle of the ocean, or it could end up on a beach in another country.
Once trash and pollution reaches the ocean it is caught up in ocean currents and will be moved out into the gyres.
An ocean current is a movement of water. There are currents along most coastlines that move water along and out to sea.
Gyres are areas where the ocean currents meet. There are five main gyres in the ocean.
When trash enters the ocean it moves from the coast and is pushed along, it might find its way into one of these gyres in the middle of the ocean, or it could end up on a beach in another country.
Slide 18 - Slide
How can we make a difference
We know what is ending up in the ocean, how it finds its way there, and how harmful it is to marine animals, so what can we do to stop this happening.
Ask students:
What are some of the ways you think we can stop trash ending up in the ocean, especially plastics?
These are some suggestions to discuss with students.
CHANGING WHAT WE DO
By thinking about what we do and use we can help make a difference and reduce our waste.
1. What we buy and consume
Refuse – When offered these items just say no. For instance plastic straws or plastic bags.
Reduce
Reduce is simple if you don’t really need it, don’t take it. Avoid plastic wrappings and balloons etc, ending up in the ocean and harming the environment.
Reuse
Instead of single use plastic products that could end up in the ocean, how about choosing reusable items. Like using a reusable water bottle and cutlery rather than disposable plastic. Encourage your parents to use items like coffee cups and travel mugs for when they buy coffee rather than disposable cups.
2. What we do with items that are broken or damaged.
3. What we do with items we no longer need.
Some plastics can be returned for recycling at stores, like ink cartridges, others can be donated to special programs where they can be converted for 3D printing. Such as programs to make items that help communities, like making artificial limbs for children in need.
The more we refuse single use plastic items and recycle what we can, the less demand there is to produce new products and it also lessens the chance it will end up in the ocean, which could help save thousands of marine animals each year.
It is estimated only 9% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled.
4. What we do with waste / marine debris found on land or in the ocean.
Note – ensure you obey the laws, some areas have restrictions on removing rubbish, like fishing nets, to ensure the reef or ecosystem is not damaged.
We know what is ending up in the ocean, how it finds its way there, and how harmful it is to marine animals, so what can we do to stop this happening.
Ask students:
What are some of the ways you think we can stop trash ending up in the ocean, especially plastics?
These are some suggestions to discuss with students.
CHANGING WHAT WE DO
By thinking about what we do and use we can help make a difference and reduce our waste.
1. What we buy and consume
Refuse – When offered these items just say no. For instance plastic straws or plastic bags.
Reduce
Reduce is simple if you don’t really need it, don’t take it. Avoid plastic wrappings and balloons etc, ending up in the ocean and harming the environment.
Reuse
Instead of single use plastic products that could end up in the ocean, how about choosing reusable items. Like using a reusable water bottle and cutlery rather than disposable plastic. Encourage your parents to use items like coffee cups and travel mugs for when they buy coffee rather than disposable cups.
2. What we do with items that are broken or damaged.
- First try to repair – why buy new when you can simply learn how to repair things.
- Second repurpose – if you can’t repair an item then think of new ways you can use it. Old sheets and clothes for example can be used to make bedding for orphaned and injured wildlife.
- Thirdly refinish – would a new coat of paint or polish make it useable again.
3. What we do with items we no longer need.
- Rehome - if an item is in good condition but you don’t need or want it anymore, like toys you have outgrown. Then they could be donated to a charity for someone who has very little, they can be sold/swapped at swap markets, or you can have your own swaps with family and friends.
- Recycle - can’t repurpose or repair it, then recycle as much as you can. Make sure you separate out your rubbish between what can go into the compost bin, recycling bin and normal waste. The less you send to dump the better, especially plastics.
Some plastics can be returned for recycling at stores, like ink cartridges, others can be donated to special programs where they can be converted for 3D printing. Such as programs to make items that help communities, like making artificial limbs for children in need.
The more we refuse single use plastic items and recycle what we can, the less demand there is to produce new products and it also lessens the chance it will end up in the ocean, which could help save thousands of marine animals each year.
It is estimated only 9% of the plastic ever produced has been recycled.
4. What we do with waste / marine debris found on land or in the ocean.
- Remove rubbish from parks, schoolyards and beaches. Every bit you pick up helps prevent rubbish from ending up in drains and waterways and ultimately ending up in the ocean.
- Help recover marine debris from waterways and the ocean. People join in dives to remove rubbish from around jetties / piers, reef systems and the seafloor.
Note – ensure you obey the laws, some areas have restrictions on removing rubbish, like fishing nets, to ensure the reef or ecosystem is not damaged.
What is your favourite marine animal and why?
Slide 19 - Open question
What is your favourite marine animal?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“What is your favourite marine animal and why?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“What is your favourite marine animal and why?”
Why is trash in the ocean bad?
Slide 20 - Open question
Why is trash in the ocean bad?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Why is trash in the ocean bad?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Why is trash in the ocean bad?”
Write down one thing that you can do to
help protect marine animals?
Slide 21 - Open question
What can we do to protect marine animals?
“Write down one thing that you can do to help protect marine animals?”
Write down one new thing you have learned today?
Slide 22 - Open question
What did you learn?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom:
“Write down one new thing you have learned today?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom:
“Write down one new thing you have learned today?”
Write down one thing you didn't understand?
Slide 23 - Open question
What don’t you understand?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Slide 24 - Video
Sea Shepherd Lesson Activity Sheets provide additional lesson activities or discussion topics to expand the learning experience.
Optional fun video.
Show this video (3.14 mins), which shows a humpback whale calf and mum playing with dolphins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETvZI1hjVVE
Optional fun video.
Show this video (3.14 mins), which shows a humpback whale calf and mum playing with dolphins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETvZI1hjVVE
Slide 25 - Slide
This item has no instructions