How trash moves around the ocean (Primary) - Lesson Two

• Social Studies
• History
• +3
• 3rd,4th Grade

Introduction

Lesson Two – What are ocean currents? This lesson discusses what ocean currents are and where they occur. Learning activities:  Writing and discussion exercises about ocean currents.  Experiment to show deep water currents.

Instructions

Time: 45 minutes

Contact: [e-mail]
© Sea Shepherd 2022

Lesson 2 - What are ocean currents?

This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd is a marine conservation organisation with a mission to protect the ocean and marine wildlife.  Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the ocean, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.  Ocean pollution is one area Sea Shepherd is addressing in order to protect marine wildlife.

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During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.

What happens to pollution when
it ends up in the ocean?

Ask students “What do you think happens to the trash when it enters the ocean?’
“Where does it go?”

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

WHAT IS AN OCEAN CURRENT?

Once trash and pollution reach the ocean it gets caught up in ocean currents.  
Ask students “What is an ocean current?”

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

WHAT IS AN OCEAN CURRENT?

Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable and directional movement of seawater by gravity, water density (weight of the water) and wind.

Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable and directional movement of seawater by gravity, water density (weight of the water) and wind.
Continuous – When?  they happen all the time.
Predictable – Why & how?    we know it’s going to happen.
Directional – Where? water moves in one direction.
An ocean current is the horizontal movement of water.

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

How do ocean currents move?

Ocean currents can move along the surface of the ocean. Created by wind and waves.
Ocean currents can also move in deep-water, created when cold water moves to the seafloor and warm water rises.

Illegal Fishing

Illegal fishing means that the fishermen enter the territorial waters of a country or regulated marine zone without permission or without a license for the fish they intend to catch.

They are stealing from these waters.

WHERE DO MOST OCEAN CURRENTS HAPPEN?

Ocean currents move along the coast of countries.
Discuss with students why this might be.

Introduction to IUU fishing and the impact of overfishing.

Gulf stream

One ocean current that is well known is the Gulf stream which starts off Florida, USA. The warm water of the Gulf stream moves up the east coast of the USA and Canada, and then across the Atlantic to Europe.

This video shows how debris washes in on the ocean currents and tides.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL_mpGTAwuc

www.seashepherdglobal.org

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Refer Teachers Guide for Learning Activities.