Artwork by 2020 Art Contest Winner Ava E. (Grade 6, California).
Thank you for all that you do!
In this season of giving thanks, we at the NOAA Marine Debris Program would like to share our appreciation for the hardworking educators around the world supporting marine debris efforts in their classrooms. An additional thank you to those educators who joined our session all about project-based learning at this year’s North American Association of Environmental Education virtual conference.
Not only is it the season of gratitude, but it’s also the season of the annual NOAA Marine Debris Program art contest! The Marine Debris Program hosts this contest each year to reach Kindergarten through 8th grade students and to raise awareness about marine debris. This year, we’re accepting submissions electronically as well as by mail, due by December 10. Winners will be featured in a 2023 marine debris calendar! You can find out more about this exciting opportunity on our website. We’re looking forward to seeing all of your submissions!
Enthusiastically,
Alexandria Brake, Education Specialist
Artwork by Kelsen M. (Grade 5, Georgia).
Are you a student or teacher who’s passionate about marine debris? Then get your art supplies ready, because this year’s NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest is officially open! Students in grades K-8 from the United States and U.S. territories can submit their artwork now through December 10th. Winning artwork will be featured in our 2023 Marine Debris Calendar!
Learn more
Download the 2022 Marine Debris Calendar from our website now! (Cover art by Jeewoo S., Grade 8, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.)
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud to announce that our 2022 Marine Debris Calendar is now available for download! This year’s calendar features artwork from thirteen students in kindergarten through eighth grade from eight states and two U.S. territories, all winners of the “Keep the Sea Free of Debris” art contest.
Learn more
Unfortunately, albatross chicks like this one can often ingest plastic, mistaking it for food (Credit: NOAA).
Prior to leaving the nest, albatross chicks regurgitate a mass of indigestible material called a bolus. Boluses provide clues as to the types of food and trash eaten by albatross parents at sea. Lesson four of the classroom activity package Winged Ambassadors - Ocean Literacy through the Eyes of an Albatross brings the investigation of a bolus to life. In this newly updated lesson, students engage in a fully interactive digital bolus dissection, where they can measure, sort, and identify objects ingested by a Laysan albatross. It’s a great way to get students involved in hands-on learning about the impacts of marine debris on these majestic birds in the classroom or from home! Winged Ambassadors – Ocean Literacy through the Eyes of Albatross is available free online courtesy of NOAA, Oikonos, and other partners.
Learn more
Save the Date! The 7th International Marine Debris Conference will take place September 18-23, 2022, in Busan, Republic of Korea (Credit: United Nations Environment Programme).
The 7th International Marine Debris Conference (7IMDC) will take place September 18-23, 2022, in Busan, Republic of Korea. This conference is one of the world’s largest and longest-running events dedicated to the issue of marine debris. The 7IMDC is organized by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries of the Republic of Korea (MOF), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Korea Marine Environment Management Corporation (KOEM), with support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Learn more
Happy birthday, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries! (Credit: NOAA)
Celebrate 50 years of ocean conservation and stewardship with us and #SaveSpectacular! Nearly 50 years ago, a new era of ocean conservation was born by creating a system of national marine sanctuaries. Since then, the National Marine Sanctuary System has grown into a nationwide network of 15 national marine sanctuaries and two marine national monuments that conserve more than 620,000 square miles of spectacular ocean and Great Lakes waters.
Learn more
Artwork by Mia C. (Grade 8, Texas).
Under the Environmental Education Grants Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks grant applications from eligible applicants to support environmental education projects that promote environmental awareness and stewardship and help provide people with the skills to take responsible actions to protect the environment. For more information on this funding opportunity, please visit the EPA Environmental Education webpage.
Learn more
Marine debris is one of many critical factors impacting watersheds across the country (Credit: Dauphin Island Sea Lab).
Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) funding is provided through competitive grants that promote Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences. B-WET projects include student investigations of local environmental issues, professional development for teachers, and support to get Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences implemented throughout an entire district or school. Funding opportunities for the Chesapeake and Pacific Northwest B-WET programs are now open.
Learn more
Girl Scouts removed debris from South Bass Island State Park, Ohio (Credit: NOAA).
The NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is seeking applications for the Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship Program from individuals, particularly women and minorities, who due to financial constraints, may not otherwise be able to pursue an advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.) in oceanography, marine biology, maritime archaeology—these may include, but are not limited to ocean and/or coastal: engineering, social science, marine education, marine stewardship, cultural anthropology, and resource management disciplines. Several Nancy Foster Scholars have previously focused on issues related to marine debris, including research on microplastics!
Learn more
|
|
In this new section below, check out some features from our education projects around the country. |
Explore the new hands-on, place-based middle school curriculum created by the University of the Virgin Islands (Credit: University of the Virgin Islands).
Marine debris is a pervasive, global problem and one that is felt locally in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Through a NOAA Marine Debris Program prevention grant, the University of the Virgin Islands adapted and revised marine debris lessons for USVI, including activities from Oregon Marine Debris STEAMSS, Turning the Tide on Trash, and Talking Trash and Taking Action. The curriculum was co-created with the input of educators from USVI who participated in workshops and provided input following in-class use. The curriculum also includes 15 spotlights, which highlight USVI-specific marine debris research, local researchers, community-led prevention efforts, and natural disaster impacts from marine debris.
Learn more
Check out the action plan to learn about the many activities planned for Washington (Credit: NOAA).
The NOAA Marine Debris Program is pleased to share the 2021 Washington Marine Debris Action Plan. This document is the result of a collaborative effort between the Marine Debris Program and federal and state governments, tribes, nongovernmental organizations, industry, and academia, and represents a partner-led effort to guide marine debris actions in Washington State for the next two years.
Learn more
Check out the report to learn about the history and accomplishments of the Hawai'i Marine Debris Action Plan community over the last 10 years (Credit: NOAA).
The Hawai‘i Marine Debris Action Plan (Action Plan) was the first community-based marine debris action plan in the nation facilitated by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. Established in 2010 and updated four times, it is a comprehensive framework for strategic action to reduce the ecological, health and safety, and economic impacts of marine debris in Hawai‘i by 2020. Education was a big part of the Action Plan, and between 2016–2018, eight organizations collectively reached over 15,000 students. The NOAA Marine Debris Program is proud of the Hawai‘i Marine Debris Action Plan community and to present the 2010-2020 Accomplishments Report.
Learn more
The marine debris team with the nearly 124,000 pounds of debris removed from the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (Credit: NOAA).
September 22nd marked the completion of the marine debris removal mission in the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. The marine debris removal team arrived at Pearl Harbor aboard the charter vessel IMUA along with the nearly 124,000 pounds of marine debris they removed during their 30-day mission. Marine debris removal is of critical importance to both the natural and cultural components of the monument. The NOAA Marine Debris Program is pleased to have partnered in this collaborative undertaking.
To help bring this incredible mission to life in your classroom, check out Makani: The Albatross that Cares for the Land, Makani Ka Mōlī Mālama ‘Āina. This dual-language workbook engages readers to learn about Hawaiian wildlife, culture, navigation, and natural resource management in both English and Hawaiian. You can also engage in a live ship-to-shore interaction with researchers traveling to Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and around the Hawaiian islands through December 19. Learn more about the E/V Nautilus expedition here.
Learn more about this year's mission.
Learn more about the decades-long history of marine debris removal in the monument.
A wreath hanging on a wall made out of tree trimmings, flowers, pinecones, and other natural materials from both native and invasive plants found on Hawai'i Island (Credit: NOAA).
From gifts to gift-wrap to decorations, there are a lot of ways to show festive spirit this time of year. Natural materials are a great way to decorate without buying anything new, and repurposing things that would have gone to the trash can add even more zero-waste sparkle to your home. The NOAA Marine Debris Program blog has featured a number of great ideas to reduce waste this season, including decorations and gift-giving ideas:
Our featured activity in this issue is a festive way to repurpose hard-to-recycle materials into holiday decorations for your home or classroom!
From Trash to Tinsel
This recycled tinsel can spice up any area of your space (Credit: NOAA).
If you're a person like me who loves their salty snacks, it can be pretty frustrating to wind up with a non-recyclable bag at the end of a movie marathon or get-together. Food wrappers like snack bags are one of the biggest sources of marine debris, even beating out cigarette butts in the 2019 International Coastal Cleanup! With this easy craft, you can give a new life to that bag and make it a part of your holiday decorations!
Supplies Needed:
- Snack bags
- Scissors
- Tape or twist ties
- String
Steps:
|
|
1. Rinse out your bag with soapy water and let dry. Then lay it out flat, cutting off the bottom seam. |
|
|
2. Cut the bag open along the vertical seam, spreading it out. |
|
|
3. Cut the bag into rectangles. Different sized pieces will give you different lengths for your tassels (which you can see in the example photo above). |
|
|
4. Fold the smaller pieces in half and cut from the edge, stopping an inch or so before the fold. |
|
|
5. Unfold your piece, and flip it so that the printed side faces up. Roll up your tassel, so that there are two sides of fringe. |
|
|
6. Twist from the center of your tassel (the part that is un-cut) and fold in half. Using tape or twist ties, secure the top, ideally creating a small loop.
|
7. Using string, create a garland with your tassels to decorate with!
Depending on how many bags you have or how much tinsel you'd like to create, you can experiment with lots of different fringe lengths, widths, and even colors.
Plus, if you're looking for more fun ways to repurpose materials to make your holiday decorations, try using the cardboard rolls from paper towels or wrapping paper to make snowflakes!
In case you're still haunted by those wrappers, here's a few great ways to repurpose them into new activities (Credit: NOAA).
And if you still have candy (or just the wrappers) left over from Halloween, check out these fun upcycling activities from the University of North Carolina Wilmington's "Traveling through Trash" project page! Repurpose your old wrappers into pencil pouches, origami, or even geometric bracelets.
Interested in more ways to help prevent marine debris at home, at school, or at the store? Dive into all kinds of ideas on our How to Help page.
Have any feedback on our content?
Please reach out and contact us if you have any questions, ideas, or hopes for our marine debris materials.
Contact us at marinedebris.web@noaa.gov
Subscribe to the NOAA Marine Debris Program Education Newsletter
Subscribe to the NOAA Marine Debris Program Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Marine Debris Blog
|