This series of three lessons sets the scene for students who are about to commence Ocean Plastics 5-7. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and highlights some of the issues which will be explored in more detail in the full Key Stage 1 unit Ocean Plastics 5-7.

Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. If you liked this resource, please rate and review below. This will help to promote oceans education in schools worldwide.

Ocean Plastics 5-7 is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) cross-curricular introduction to materials and their properties, which focusses on plastic and its abundance. Students discover how many everyday products are made from or contain plastic, understanding its versatility and resilience. They go on to discover what happens to rubbish after it’s thrown away and explore recycling, landfill and litter. Students find out how detrimental plastic is to marine life and create posters and models encouraging friends and family to recycle and reduce the amount of plastic they use. This unit encourages proactive and positive behaviours, for all our futures. If you liked this resource, please rate and review below. This will help to promote oceans education in schools worldwide.

Our ocean in crisis KS1 introduces students to the idea that plastics can damage the ocean. Students find out about an ‘Ocean hero’ and their achievements and create a portrait of that hero describing what they have achieved. For home learning, students make a pledge to change one thing to help the oceans. This is one of three lessons. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and encourages students to take a thoughtful and critical approach to the information they receive from the media. At the end of these three lessons students will be fully prepared to embark on the full Key Stage 2 unit Ocean Plastics 7-11. Get the other lessons in this unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-7-11

Our ocean and us KS1 introduces students to the ways in which we use the ocean and discuss and share their knowledge. Students work in groups to plan and build a diorama which illustrates some of the ways we use the ocean. Students also reflect on how damaging this ecosystem could be detrimental for all of us. This is one of three lessons. The lessons introduce students to the awe and wonder of the ocean and its inhabitants building a love for marine wildlife and a desire to protect it. The unit goes on to explore some of the many ways we depend on the ocean, from food to livelihoods. Finally, this unit introduces students to what is meant by marine plastic pollution and highlights some of the issues which will be explored in more detail in the full Key Stage 1 unit Ocean Plastics 5-7. Get the other lessons in this unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/oceans-for-beginners-x-curric-5-7

Our wonderful ocean KS1 introduces students to the marine habitat and encourages a discussion around what students already know about the ocean. Students use globes and maps to discover that we live on a blue planet. They then play a game of marine snap, matching animals to their features. Students then find out about some iconic marine creatures and make a fact sheet about their favourite.

The Plastic Solution is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. Students discover a range of products which have been redesigned with sustainability in mind. They then consider some of the other single-use plastics they know of and choose one to redesign using a sustainable alternative. Students then develop their designs considering the materials they will use and how it will be manufactured, pitching their idea to the class and reflecting on feedback. At the end of these two lessons the students can produce a prototype. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

The Plastics Problem DT is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. In this lesson students are posed with a problem; they need to design a product which can carry several items from one location to another. They should attempt to design a new product and consider its features including strength, usability and materials. Students go on to evaluate existing solutions to this product in terms of strength, cost, aesthetics, usability and finally sustainability. They conclude by evaluating whether a new product is required based on the existing alternatives. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what can I do? Part two is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. In the last lesson students review the success of their campaign and the impact it had on plastic consumption. They review their targets, reflect on what went well and decide what they would do differently. They then share their results and discuss what they could do going forward. The unit of work could end with an assembly for students to share their findings and continue to spread their message. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what can I do? Part one is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. The last two lessons in this unit challenge students to work collaboratively to create a campaign based on the 6R’s. First students find out about innovation, development and policy changes that have recently occurred. They are then briefed on their mission – to reduce the amount of plastic consumption in their school community. In groups students then design and implement their campaign, planning and launching it over the following week. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what are they? Part two is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. This lesson sees students investigate how plastics get into the oceans and affect marine life. Students discover how plastic pollution doesn’t start when plastic enters the ocean. They go on to consider economic, political and social elements of human geography that impact ocean plastic pollution. Students examine case studies relating to plastic pollution at home and abroad to consider the social and economic impacts. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what harm can they cause? Part one is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. In this lesson students are introduced to microplastics and ocean plastic pollution and begin to understand how and why it occurs through investigating one of three case studies. They go on to discover some of the dangers plastic pollution and microplastics can pose to marine life and consider how entire food webs are impacted. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what are they? Part two is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. In this lesson students discover some of the incredible uses for plastic i.e. medical science and space exploration and reflect on why single-use plastics have become unpopular. Students examine data from a sample of litter collected on Henderson Island. They go on to consider where the plastic litter could have come from and create a bar graph representing this data. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what are they? Part one is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. Students follow the life cycle of a single-use bottle. Using Google Maps, students track the journey a plastic bottle goes on during its lifetime and map the possible outcomes of where it could end up. Students go on to consider some alternatives to recycling plastic, such as re-using it. It may be possible to organise a speaker to join this lesson, some local authorities offer schools programmes or outreach workshops. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what are they? Part two is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. In this lesson, students will learn about the different types of plastic and why each type might be useful. Students will then complete a practical activity creating their own plastic slime using PVA and borax (which makes a polymer) and reflect on the variety of uses for plastics. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what are they? Part one is a Key Stage (KS2) lesson. In this lesson students explore the properties of different materials to see what makes plastic stand out. They learn how plastic is produced and then go on to investigate which material is most effective for the purpose of insulation. The lesson concludes with an overview of the historical development of plastics, with students locating significant events on a timeline. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

Plastics: what can I do? is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) lesson. Students discover the 6Rs and discuss what each one means. They then make suggestions of how they could do each one through mind mapping their shared ideas. Students then complete one of three suggested art projects which not only reuse plastic rubbish but also inform others how they can help fight marine plastic pollution. The completed projects could be displayed around the school or showcased in an assembly. This is a single lesson of the Ocean Plastics 5-7 unit. Ocean Plastics 5-7 is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) cross-curricular introduction to materials and their properties, which focusses on plastic and its abundance. Students discover how many everyday products are made from or contain plastic, understanding its versatility and resilience. They go on to discover what happens to rubbish after it’s thrown away and explore recycling, landfill and litter. Students find out how detrimental plastic is to marine life and create posters and models encouraging friends and family to recycle and reduce the amount of plastic they use. This unit encourages proactive and positive behaviours, for all our futures. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-5-7

Plastics: what harm can they cause? is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) lesson. Students discover what happens when plastic ends up in the ocean by exploring how it affects marine life. They look at simple ocean food chains and discuss the impact of plastic pollution on these species and their habitats. Students choose a food chain to recreate and write warnings about how plastic litter can affect the species in their food chain. They conclude by considering how they could reduce the amount of plastic they use such as reusable bags and avoiding straws. This is a single lesson of the Ocean Plastics 5-7 unit. Ocean Plastics 5-7 is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) cross-curricular introduction to materials and their properties, which focusses on plastic and its abundance. Students discover how many everyday products are made from or contain plastic, understanding its versatility and resilience. They go on to discover what happens to rubbish after it’s thrown away and explore recycling, landfill and litter. Students find out how detrimental plastic is to marine life and create posters and models encouraging friends and family to recycle and reduce the amount of plastic they use. This unit encourages proactive and positive behaviours, for all our futures. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-5-7

Plastics: where are they? is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) lesson. In this lesson students consider what happens to their rubbish once they have disposed of it. They discover the route a plastic bottle might take to landfill, recycling or litter. Students then go on to discover how plastic bottles can be recycled and the new products that can be made. They discuss what happens to plastic that isn’t disposed of responsibly, then make posters instructing how to recycle and keep a rubbish and recycling diary to monitor their recycling at home. This is a single lesson of the Ocean Plastics 5-7 unit. Ocean Plastics 5-7 is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) cross-curricular introduction to materials and their properties, which focusses on plastic and its abundance. Students discover how many everyday products are made from or contain plastic, understanding its versatility and resilience. They go on to discover what happens to rubbish after it’s thrown away and explore recycling, landfill and litter. Students find out how detrimental plastic is to marine life and create posters and models encouraging friends and family to recycle and reduce the amount of plastic they use. This unit encourages proactive and positive behaviours, for all our futures. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-5-7

Plastics: what are they? is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) lesson. This lesson introduces students to a range of materials and allows them to compare and describe their properties. Students develop their understanding of what is meant by materials and discover four in particular; wood, metal, glass and plastic. They then discover why certain materials are chosen to make different products. Focussing on plastic, students explore the variety of items which are made from or contain plastic. They then conduct and investigation to find out which material is the most effective at waterproofing. This is a single lesson of the Ocean Plastics 5-7 unit. Ocean Plastics 5-7 is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) cross-curricular introduction to materials and their properties, which focusses on plastic and its abundance. Students discover how many everyday products are made from or contain plastic, understanding its versatility and resilience. They go on to discover what happens to rubbish after it’s thrown away and explore recycling, landfill and litter. Students find out how detrimental plastic is to marine life and create posters and models encouraging friends and family to recycle and reduce the amount of plastic they use. This unit encourages proactive and positive behaviours, for all our futures. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-5-7