This lists the logos of programs or partners of NG Education which have provided or contributed the content on this page.
Content Created by
Have students follow the directions below using the premade ArcGIS map to explore the currents that accumulate ocean trash and how humans impact trash accumulation.
Engage students by asking: What are the major ocean currents?
- Click this link to open the map
- Zoom and pan the map to see all the ocean currents.
- Turn off the layer, Prevailing Winds. Optionally, change the base map to Dark Gray Canvas.
- Wind patterns interact with water and land, globally.
- With the Details pane visible, click the button, Show Contents of Map.
- Click the checkbox left of the layer, Pacific Markers. Click the Hawaii marker. Click the link to enlarge.
- Gyres are large circular ocean currents that redistribute heat and can trap marine debris.
- Zoom out and pan the map.
Explain the answer to the question, Where does the trash come from?
- Researchers estimate that 80 percent of trash comes from land and 20 percent comes from marine sources.
- Click the button, Bookmarks. Select Spokane.
- From the Details pane, click the button, Show Contents Of Map.
- Click the checkbox to the left of the layer name, Spokane Downstream Trace.
Ask: How can trash from inland areas, such as Spokane, reach the ocean? [Answer: Trash and litter flow down rivers to the ocean.]
Elaborate on the question, Why are "garbage patches" filled with plastic?
- Pan the map to see the Pacific Ocean, and click the map marker near the Midway Atoll.
- In the popup window, click the animation of Trash Accumulation.
- Trash from the United States coastline may take six years to reach the Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch, while Japanese trash takes about one year.
- Click the Spokane map marker to see one common source of plastic pollution.
Evaluate students' understanding of the topic by asking, What is the impact of marine debris?
- Turn on the layer, Blue Whale Concentration.
- Click the Blue Whale area in the map for more information.
Ask: How can you prevent additional marine debris? [Answer: Recycle; Reduce plastic that ends up in the waste stream; educate others to prevent coastal pollution; and/or participate in beach cleanups.]
This activity has been adapted slightly to fit the National Geographic Education format. Please find the original here.
Subjects & Disciplines
-
Earth Science
- Climatology
- Oceanography
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- Investigate marine debris, the role of ocean gyres, and how humans impact trash accumulation.
Teaching Approach
Teaching Methods
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
What You’ll Need
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per learner, 1 computer per pair
Physical Space
- Classroom
- Computer lab
Background Information
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
- None
Vocabulary
to decay or break down.
trash or other scattered objects left in an open area or natural habitat.
small pellet of plastic that is eventually melted and molded into a plastic product.
wind that blows from one direction.
to give away an amount of something in a different way.
Websites
-
Explore Climate Change through GIS
Global temperatures and sea levels are rising, and contributing to some of our planet's most pressing problems. This can all be contributed to climate change. Explore how climate change affects the earth's systems and human activity through spatial analysis, mapping, and GIS tools. The data shows the Earth is warming and it's up to us to make the changes necessary for a healthier planet. Use these resources in your classroom to help your students build spatial reasoning skills to better understand and take action on climate change.
-
Plastic Pollution
Plastic is ubiquitous in our everyday lives. Some plastics we can reuse or recycle—and many play important roles in areas like medicine and public safety—but other items, such as straws, are designed for only one use. In fact, more than 40 percent of plastic is used only once before it is thrown away, where it lingers in the environment for a long, long time. It often breaks down into smaller and smaller particles, called microplastics, which can be ingested by both animals and people. Fortunately, there are things we can do to help—like stop using plastic bags, straws, and bottles, recycling when we can, and disposing of waste properly. Use these classroom resources to teach about ocean plastics and check back for more coming later this year!
-
marine debris
Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water.
-
Marine Debris: A Legacy of Litter
Students learn about the sources and impacts of marine debris. They participate in a school site cleanup and then compare their findings to international coastal cleanup data.
-
Marine Debris
Watch this brief, video picture of practice that captures everyday classroom life and provides real-life examples of how students learn and think about ocean topics.
-
Explore Climate Change through GIS
Global temperatures and sea levels are rising, and contributing to some of our planet's most pressing problems. This can all be contributed to climate change. Explore how climate change affects the earth's systems and human activity through spatial analysis, mapping, and GIS tools. The data shows the Earth is warming and it's up to us to make the changes necessary for a healthier planet. Use these resources in your classroom to help your students build spatial reasoning skills to better understand and take action on climate change.
-
Plastic Pollution
Plastic is ubiquitous in our everyday lives. Some plastics we can reuse or recycle—and many play important roles in areas like medicine and public safety—but other items, such as straws, are designed for only one use. In fact, more than 40 percent of plastic is used only once before it is thrown away, where it lingers in the environment for a long, long time. It often breaks down into smaller and smaller particles, called microplastics, which can be ingested by both animals and people. Fortunately, there are things we can do to help—like stop using plastic bags, straws, and bottles, recycling when we can, and disposing of waste properly. Use these classroom resources to teach about ocean plastics and check back for more coming later this year!
-
marine debris
Marine debris is litter that ends up in oceans, seas, and other large bodies of water.
-
Marine Debris: A Legacy of Litter
Students learn about the sources and impacts of marine debris. They participate in a school site cleanup and then compare their findings to international coastal cleanup data.
-
Marine Debris
Watch this brief, video picture of practice that captures everyday classroom life and provides real-life examples of how students learn and think about ocean topics.