Ocean Debris Engineering Design STEM Challenge
Vivify STEM
6.9k Followers
Grade Levels
3rd - 6th
Subjects
Resource Type
Standards
NGSSK-2-ETS1-2
NGSSK-2-ETS1-3
NGSSMS-ETS1-2
NGSSK-2-ETS1-1
NGSS4-LS1-1
Formats Included
- PDF
Pages
45 pages
Vivify STEM
6.9k Followers
What educators are saying
As always the lesson is a hit with my students. They are always well put together and easy to use in the classroom.
My students loved this resource! My students were engaged and had some really awesome discussions about the ocean and preserving the ocean. The directions were detailed.
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Description
Ocean Debris Engineering Design STEM Challenge
After learning about ocean pollution, students use the engineering design process to build an ocean debris cleaner that has buoyancy and can pick up microplastics.
Lesson Sequence:
- Relay Recycle Bin Sort: Students will be given a garbage bag of mixed recycling items - paper, glass, plastic, and metal. Students will have to relay back and forth separating/grouping the like items one item at a time without talking to their relay partners!
- Learn about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Ocean Engineering, and Mr. Trash Wheel.
- Complete Ocean Debris Engineering Challenge.
- Research and report on a current ocean debris cleaner.
Real-world STEM Connection:
- Ocean Engineering
- Marine Engineering
- The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
- Mr. Trash Wheel clean-up innovation
As with many STEM activities, this challenge can be tailored to students of various skill levels and abilities.
Included in this product:
- Detailed teachers guide with links to resources
- Editable teacher companion presentation slides
- Photos and videos of student examples
- Editable printed & digital student handouts to guide them through the design process
- Videos to motivate and support learning
- Editable Google Slides STEM journal for distance learning
- STEM Career Connections and real-world examples
- Student recording sheet for each step of the process
Suggested Materials: Many different materials can be used for this challenge. Here are some suggestions that worked well for our students.
- Sponges, loosely woven cloth, mesh fabric
- Pool noodles, bubble wrap, pieces of foam, foam egg cartons, balloons
- Pipe cleaners, small plastic pipes, popsicle sticks, strong straws
- Plastic cups of various sizes
- Ziploc bags - small & large
- Scissors, hole puncher
- An ice pick
- String or rope
- Duct tape and masking tape
- Hot glue gun with glue sticks
Testing materials:
- Large tub of water or a small baby pool
- Ocean debris like plastic bags, bottle caps, straws, cups
- Perler beads to represent microplastics
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Total Pages
45 pages
Answer Key
Rubric only
Teaching Duration
1 Week
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Standards
to see state-specific standards (only available in the US).
NGSSK-2-ETS1-2
Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.
NGSSK-2-ETS1-3
Analyze data from tests of two objects designed to solve the same problem to compare the strengths and weaknesses of how each performs.
NGSSMS-ETS1-2
Evaluate competing design solutions using a systematic process to determine how well they meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
NGSSK-2-ETS1-1
Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.
NGSS4-LS1-1
Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction. Examples of structures could include thorns, stems, roots, colored petals, heart, stomach, lung, brain, and skin. Assessment is limited to macroscopic structures within plant and animal systems.
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