Sustainability and Stories
Sustainability and Stories

Teaching Resources: Ocean

Resources for primary school students (ages 6-12)

Lesson: Marine Pollution – Classroom Demonstration

This lesson looks at what household items can pollute water. The teacher conducts an experiment and the students observe, interact and discuss what is happening. 

Source: EcoSchools
Subject Area: Science

1 x 45 min lesson

  • Writing materials including notebooks and pen
  • A bucket of water
  • Bowl/dish and strainer
  • Some dirt
  • Detergent or liquid soap
  • A toothpaste containing microbeads and/or any other product containing microbeads
  • Cooking oil, food colouring, candy/chocolate wrappers, gloves
  • garbage/trash bag
  • Resources 1 and 2
View resource
Resources for secondary school students

Lesson: Create your Marine Pollution Fact File

Source: EcoSchools
Subject Area: Science, Social Science

2x 45 min lessons plus assignment time

  • Writing materials including notebooks and pen
  • Internet
  • Eco-schools notice/bulletin board, board pins
  • Resource 6 – List of synthetic polymers which may occur as synthetic microparticles in a product or process
View resource

Lesson: Micro-Solutions to Micro-Plastics

Source: EcoSchools
Subject Area: Science, Social Science. 

3 x 45 min plus assignment time.

  • Writing materials including notebooks and pen
  • Different types of personal care products including face wash, toothpaste, shaving cream,etc; some of these might be containing microbeads and some may not
  • Laptop
  • Internet
  • Projector and screen (if laptops not avaliable)
  • Resource 1 – How your clothes are poisoning our oceans and food supply
  • Resource 2 – Did you know?
  • Resource 3 – Former USA President Obama signs microbead-free waters act of 2015
  • Resource 4 – Investigate microbeads table
  • Resource 5 – Personal interview questionnaire
  • Resource 6 – List of microplastic/microbeads commonly used
View resource