Biology Lesson: Plastics and Ocean Life
Lesson Plan
4 hours 15 minutesGrades9, 10, 11, 12Biology
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Written by Melissa Luetje
About this lesson
In this biology lesson, students learn about the effects of plastic pollution in the ocean and lead a clean-up of their campus.
Inquire: Students watch a documentary about how pollution of water sources affects human life.
Investigate: Students learn about the relationship between climate change and plastics and the effects plastic in the ocean has on the Gulf of Maine.
Inspire: Students clean-up their school and share their findings with the community.
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Everything you need to teach it
How to edit these materials (video)Teaching tips
Suggestions
- This lesson could be used as part of a unit on ecology in a biology class.
- This lesson focuses on the Gulf of Maine, allowing local students to make connections.
- This lesson includes discussions about the Wakanabi people and traditional ecological knowledge.
- This lesson emphasizes data analysis and using spreadsheets which can build the necessary skills for science classes.
- For teaching this lesson over multiple days, the following pacing is recommended:
- Day 1: Inquire Section and begin the Investigate Section, ending with the graphical analysis.
- Day 2: Continue the Investigate Section, picking it up with the discussion of ecosystems and ending with the Jigsaw.
- Day 3: Wrap up the Investigate Section with the connect and reflect prompts, then begin the Inspire Section.
- Day 4: Inspire Section - campus clean-up.
- Day 5: Complete the Inspire Section, starting with the data analysis.
Prerequisites
- The video in the Inspire Section could be watched in its entirety as homework before the first class.
- Students should already have a basic understanding of what an ecosystem is.
- For the campus clean-up, the following supplies will be needed:
- Enough trash bags for groups of 2-4
- Sterile gloves, at least 1 for each student, plus extra
- Data card - for each group
- Pencil - 1 per group
- Clipboard - 1 per group
- Smartphone - 1 to 2 per group (optional)
- A container for sharp or hazardous materials
- Bathroom scale
- Old newspapers (for sorting and tallying trash back in the classroom)
- Students will ideally use computers with access to Excel or Google Sheets for the data analysis section.
Differentiation
- The campus clean-up could be expanded to a local river or beach, if possible.
- For the graphical analysis, this activity could include mathematical modeling of exponential growth, or students could discuss their predictions more qualitatively. This will depend on what level of math the students have obtained, as well as what the teacher would like to be the focus of the activity.
- For the Jigsaw activity, consider grouping students according to the type of resources they will use.
- Group A - This is an infographic that can be assigned to students who may struggle to read a longer passage in English.
- Group B - This article contains key points about TEK and could be assigned to the strongest readers.
- Group C - This article is more general about the Wakanabi people and could be divided further to shorten the amount of reading students need to do.
- For extension after the clean-up, students can investigate the following resources:
From the scientist review
This lesson allows students to learn about the impacts of plastic waste on the environment, including the health of the ocean and its resources. It has sufficient scientific data and evidence for students to explore the share of plastic pollution globally and how they can reduce plastic waste locally. All the information provided in this lesson was rigorously examined and this lesson has passed our science credibility review.
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About the teacher writer
Melissa Luetje
Melissa Luetje holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geology and a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning from the University of Southern Maine. She has 24 years of experience teaching high school science, specializing in science, biology, physics, and earth and space sciences for grades 9–12. Melissa is dually certified in Physical Science and Life Science, serves as President of the Maine Science Teachers Association, and is the Maine Climate Seal of Literacy Coordinator. She is also a teacher representative on the Maine Green Schools Network Guiding Council, an adjunct instructor at the University of New England.
