Introduction
Deep in the Pacific Ocean lies a Texas sized conglomerate of marine debris, garbage, and other human trash that has accumulated throughout the many years that humans have been using the oceans as a unwilling dumping ground for refuse.
This garbage is killing many different typs of marine life and is one of the worst environmental disasters of the 21st century. Much reaserch has been done based around how best to end the growth of the garbage patch and on how to clean it up.
Task
Your task will be to create a pamphlet that would be distributed to the public informing them of the crisis in the ocean but to also include three ideas on how to clean up the garbage and restore the health of the oceans.
Information:
Fact 1: What is a garbage patch?
Fact 2: Where are they?
Fact 3: Where did they come from?
Fact 4: Why are they bad?
Fact 5: Name several animals that are particularly affected.
Fact 6-9: Describe ways to clean up the garbage
Process
In order to answer the questions you and your group will have to do some research by following these links and finding some of you own.
Use the following resources to answer the guiding questions:
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/garbagepatch.html
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conservation/issues/grea…
Use the Google earth application and try to locate information using the in app search function. Print or copy a screenshot for visual aid.
https://www.insidescience.org/content/origin-ocean-garbage-patches/1976
http://www.theoceancleanup.com/press/show/item/19-year-old-invents-feas…
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140414-ocean-garbage-pa…
Once you have answered all of the questions begin the construction of the pamphlet.
Evaluation
|
Points |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Creativity |
Pamphlet was well designed, informative, and pleasing to look at |
Design was OK. Most of the info was present. |
Design needs more work, lacking key info. |
Poorly designed, little to no pertinent info |
|
Content |
Well researched and appropriately represented |
Research appears to meet criteria and is mostly presented in an acceptable way |
More research needed but some present. Presentation lacks refinement |
Little to no evidence of research or planning evident |
|
Use of resources |
All resources explored including use of supplementary resources |
All resources used |
Some resources used |
No use of resources |
|
Individual work |
Individual effort was exemplary |
Individual worked effectively |
Individual did minimal work necessary to the group |
Individual was not helpful or cooperative. |
Conclusion
Unfortunately this is a real tragedy however you have learned a great deal about these garbage piles. We now know their source, their effects, where they are forming, and most importantly of all how to get rid of them. Now that you have explored the issue of the trash island, all groups will converge and discuss what they learned facilitated by the teacher.
Credits
19-YEAR-OLD INVENTS FEASIBLE SOLUTION TO CLEANUP OCEAN GARBAGE PATCHES. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2016, from http://www.theoceancleanup.com/press/show/item/19-year-old-invents-feas…, J. (n.d.). The Pacific Garbage Patch Explained -- New Updates. Retrieved February 06, 2016, from http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/conservation/issues/grea…, L. (2014, April 16). The Best Way to Deal With Ocean Trash. Retrieved February 06, 2016, from http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140414-ocean-garbage-pa…, P. (n.d.). The Origin Of Ocean Garbage Patches. Retrieved February 06, 2016, from https://www.insidescience.org/content/origin-ocean-garbage-patches/1976… is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2016, from http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/garbagepatch.html
Teacher Page
This webquet was desinged for an advanced class of 8th grade students learning about environmental issues. The goal of this webquet is to teach students about the garbage patches while also allowing them to figure out on their own how to utilize web resources along with other forms of technology ie. google earth.
Framework:
S:SPS2:8:1.5 Recognize that some matters cannot be examined usefully in a scientific way, such as those matters that by their nature cannot be tested objectively and those that are essentially matters of morality.
S:SPS2:8:4.1 Analyze how physical and biological systems tend to change until they become stable and then stay that way unless their surroundings change.
S:SPS3:8:1.1 Work effectively within a cooperative group setting, accepting and executing assigned roles and responsibilities.
S:SPS3:8:1.2 Work collectively within a group toward a common goal.
S:SPS3:8:1.3 Demonstrate respect of one another’s abilities and contributions to the group.
S:SPS3:8:2.1 Locate and collect reliable information about the environment and environmental topics using a variety of methods and sources.
S:SPS3:8:3.1 Design a product or solution to a problem.