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Learning Goals & Products

Learning Goals

1

Students will be able to analyze the effects of plastic pollution and ocean currents on ocean organisms, habitats, food webs, and natural resources using cause-and-effect relationships within Earth and ecosystem systems.

2

Students will be able to obtain and combine information about how Heal the Bay, beach-cleanup groups, and other communities use science ideas to reduce ocean plastic and protect natural resources.

3

Students will be able to define an ocean-plastic design problem with measurable criteria for success and constraints involving materials, time, cost, and safety.

4

Students will be able to generate and evaluate multiple ocean-plastic solutions by using a decision matrix to compare performance, environmental impact, feasibility, and trade-offs.

5

Students will be able to test and optimize an ocean-plastic solution by collecting quantitative performance data and completing at least one evidence-based design revision.

6

Students will be able to communicate and justify an ocean-plastic solution through technical visuals, scientific evidence, collaborative decision-making, and a clear recommendation for community action.

Products

individual

Ocean-Plastic Engineering Design Notebook and Evidence-Based Proposal

Each student creates a notebook containing an ecosystem impact model, community-source notes, a problem specification, at least three annotated solution concepts, a decision matrix, and an evidence-based proposal. The notebook also records team test data, feedback, an individual revision recommendation, and a draft explanation for the open-house audience.

team

Tested Ocean-Plastic Solution and Cleaner Ocean Design Expo Presentation

Teams use evidence from members’ notebooks to select, build, test, and revise one solution, then present its performance, trade-offs, limitations, and recommended community action to families, school members, and community partners. Each solution must be tested against measurable specifications and improved at least once using data and critique.

Student choices
Model Ocean-Plastic Cleaning Robot — Build a safe, functional model that removes simulated plastic from a classroom current model without capturing simulated marine organisms, then measure collection effectiveness and revise the design.
Reusable or Plastic-Free Alternative Prototype — Develop a prototype that replaces a common single-use plastic item, test it for its intended function and resource use, and revise it based on performance data.
Ocean-Plastic Reduction Education System — Create a coordinated education campaign with an audience-ready display, media, and action tools; test its clarity and persuasive impact with a sample audience and revise it using response data.
Rubric

No rubric has been generated yet.