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MARINE DEBRIS LESSON PLAN Objective Ocean Literacy Standards Students will be able to identify common marine debris items. 6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected. ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems NGSS Standards Background - What is marine debris? Marine debris is defined as any solid, man- made, persistent material that is either disposed of or abandoned intentionally or unintentionally in the marine environment. Key take-aways from that definition include: Marine debris does not include liquids Materials that are considered marine debris are not organic Overview This lesson will provide students with an introduction to marine debris which includes what it is, where it comes from, what impacts it has, and what can be done to address this issue. Students will participate in a beach cleanup activity to better understand marine debris. Almost 90% of marine debris in the U.S. Virgin Islands comes from land-based sources. Essentially, our actions on land are the leading contributor to this issue. This can include the improper disposal of trash; however, other factors such as weather and animals can also aid in the transport of marine debris. What does marine debris consist of? 1. Using the definition of marine debris provided before, we know that marine debris includes items that are solid, persistent, and man-made. Usual marine debris items can be categorized as plastic, paper/cardboard, glass, and metal. A majority of collected marine debris from coastlines is plastic waste. When plastics are exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods of time, the plastic becomes brittle and can easily break into smaller plastic pieces called microplastics. These microplastics will only continue to break into smaller fragments. 2. Where does marine debris come from? Marine debris may be a daunting issue but there are things everyone can do to reduce its impacts. 1) Properly dispose of trash into appropriate waste receptacles. 2) Limit your use and dependence on single-use plastic items. 3) Recycle when possible; for example, glass beverage bottles can be recycled back into sand with the right equipment. 4) Help to raise awareness within your household and community. 3. What are the impacts of marine debris? Marine debris can have impacts on wildlife, human health, and the vitality of an economy. Animals may mistake marine debris items for food or could become entangled in debris. Unable to free themselves, theses animals will likely starve. Economies like those of the USVI that depend heavily on tourism can be negatively affected by marine debris thus limiting the recreational use of beaches and coastlines for example. 4. What can be done to address marine debris? Overview of the Beach Cleanup Activity Safety The following precautions will be taken during the shoreline walk to ensure safety of all participants: Safety briefing administered prior to the start of activity. Gloves will be worn while collecting debris. Students will be accompanied by a team lead to assist with the removing entangled debris. Equipment During the beach cleanup activity, the following equipment will be used/needed: Trash bags / 5-gallon buckets Gloves Cleanup data cards and pencils Luggage scale Drinking water Explore Examples of students participating in a cleanup are pictured below. Attire Students should have the following: Comfortable clothing Closed-toe shoes Hat 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 While on the beach cleanup, use these prompts to encourage further discussion: What are the defining characteristics of marine debris? Which of the debris items collected could be recycled? Evaluation Rubric: Can identify all marine debris from non- marine debris items (like egg shells) Can explain where most marine debris comes from in the U.S Virgin Islands. EVALUATION: Overview Organize into small groups and receive their equipment. Receive the safety briefing and introduction to marine debris. Students will safely collect and remove debris whilst also recording what was found and quantities. Collected debris will be weighed using luggage scales. Glass beverage bottles can be saved for recycling purposes. Duration Approximately 1-2 hours Critical Thinking Great Excellent Needs work