Overview
Marine debris is primarily human-created trash found floating in the ocean. It can cause serious health problems for animals in a marine ecosystem. Students will gain first hand knowledge about the types of garbage found in the ocean by participating in a waste clean up tally.
Objective
Students will collect marine debris or land-based garbage in order to better understand the types of waste that contaminate our ecosystems. Students will learn of the dangers of waste in the marine ecosystem.
Preparation
Read the following journal entries by Maggie Prevenas on the PolarTREC website:
Creature Feature Laysan Albatross
(http://www.polartrec.com/node/530)
Marine debris
(http://www.polartrec.com/node/841)
Description
Read the following journal entries by Maggie Prevenas on the PolarTREC website:
Creature Feature Laysan Albatross
(http://www.polartrec.com/node/530)
Marine debris
(http://www.polartrec.com/node/841)
What you need to do: Spend 30 minutes picking up debris from a beach or park area. Write down the name of the park or area that you collected from. Mark the number of pieces of various garbage on the tally sheet. Have the tally sheet signed by an adult or parent who will verify your time. Return the tally sheet to class by due date!
Note: Do not pick up anything that appears sharp or dangerous! If in doubt ask the adults accompanying you whether something is safe to pick up.
Credits
Maggie Prevenas, prevenas [at] hawaiiantel.net
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This program is supported by the National Science Foundation. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed by this program are those of the PIs and coordinating team, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.