Ocean Trash Talk is a one lesson resource that helps introduce the problem of plastic in the oceans. During this lesson, students will be able to identify ways that our use of plastic is harming the ocean and will be able to brainstorm and complete specific actions to address the problem.
The lesson starts with students discussing their use of plastic items. They will then discover how plastic litter ends up in the oceans. Following these discussions, students will brainstorm how plastics hurt the ocean and watch a video on the topic. In groups, students will then brainstorm ideas on how to reduce plastic pollution as individuals, at home, and at school. Students will then come up with an action project idea to help with the problem.
As an extension to this activity, students would continue working on their action project idea over multiple classes.
This resource teaches students how to analyze their plastic consumption.
This resource would be excellent when discussing ecosystems or how humans behaviors can affect our world.
The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.
Principle | Rating | Explanation |
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Consideration of Alternative Perspectives | Very Good | Throughout the varied activities provided by this resource, students will get the chance to discover and form opinions on plastics in the oceans. |
Consideration of Alternative Perspectives:
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Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions | Good | While discussing plastic in the oceans, student discover how the three dimensions of this problem are connected. |
Multiple Dimensions of Problems & Solutions: Effectively addresses the environmental, economic and social dimensions of the issue(s) being explored.
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Respects Complexity | Good | |
Respects Complexity: The complexity of the problems/issues being discussed is respected. | ||
Acting on Learning | Very Good | This lesson has for a goal that students come up with their own action project to reduce the amount of plastic in the ocean. They would then commit to their action project over time in the extension of this activity. |
Acting on Learning: Learning moves from understanding issues to working towards positive change — in personal lifestyle, in school, in the community, or for the planet
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Values Education | Very Good | This resource provides ample opportunities for students to form and discuss their own opinions on the problem of plastic in the ocean. |
Values Education: Students are explicitly provided with opportunities to identify, clarify and express their own beliefs/values. | ||
Empathy & Respect for Humans | Poor/Not considered | This is not a focus of this lesson. |
Empathy & Respect for Humans: Empathy and respect are fostered for diverse groups of humans (including different genders, ethnic groups, sexual preferences, etc.). | ||
Personal Affinity with Earth | Good | This resource has students thinking about the oceans and how they are impacted by human behavior. |
Personal Affinity with Earth: Encourages a personal affinity with -the natural world.
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Locally-Focused Learning | Good | The focus of this lesson is the oceans. However, regardless of where a student lives, thy are trying to reduce the amount of plastic that they are using therefore this lesson is locally focused. |
Locally-Focused Learning: Includes learning experiences that take advantage of issues/elements within the local community.
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Past, Present & Future | Very Good | Throughout this resource, students get a chance to discover where the plastic that resides in the ocean came from, why it is now a problem and look at how to fix it with their future actions. |
Past, Present & Future: Promotes an understanding of the past, a sense of the present, and a positive vision for the future. |
Principle | Rating | Explanation |
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Open-Ended Instruction | Very Good | Throughout this resource, students are asked to share their opinion and beliefs on the subject |
Open-Ended Instruction
: Lessons are structured so that multiple/complex answers are possible; students are not steered toward one 'right' answer. | ||
Integrated Learning | Satisfactory | |
Integrated Learning: Learning brings together content and skills from more than one subject area
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Inquiry Learning | Satisfactory | In this lesson, students are provided with the problem of plastic in the oceans and try to come up with a way to help solve it through an action project. |
Inquiry Learning: Learning is directed by questions, problems, or challenges that students work to address.
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Differentiated Instruction | Good | This lesson includes a wide variety of activities that addresses the needs of visual, auditory and kinesthetic learners. However, no strategies for learners with difficulties are provided. |
Differentiated Instruction: Activities address a range of student learning styles, abilities and readiness.
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Experiential Learning | Good | The lesson is based on the real world problem of plastic in the oceans. |
Experiential Learning: Authentic learning experiences are provided
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Cooperative Learning | Satisfactory | Students will work in groups during this lesson. |
Cooperative Learning: Group and cooperative learning strategies are a priority.
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Assessment & Evaluation | Good | This lesson has an exit slip idea provided for a formative assessment option. As well, if the extension activities are used, a summative assessment idea is provided. |
Assessment & Evaluation: Tools are provided that help students and teachers to capture formative and summative information about students' learning and performance. These tools may include reflection questions, checklists, rubrics, etc. | ||
Peer Teaching | Good | Students are encouraged to share their ideas for action with their peers, family and community. |
Peer Teaching: Provides opportunities for students to actively present their knowledge and skills to peers and/or act as teachers and mentors.
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Case Studies | Very Good | Students will investigate the problem of plastic in oceans and discover how the plastic makes it way to the oceans. This is an authentic problem in our world today. |
Case Studies: Relevant case studies are included. Case studies are thorough descriptions of real events from real situations that students use to explore concepts in an authentic context. | ||
Locus of Control | Very Good | |
Locus of Control: Meaningful opportunities are provided for students to choose elements of program content, the medium in which they wish to work, and/or to go deeper into a chosen issue. |