The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Watersheds, Plastic Waste

Designing Solutions for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch: Day 2

A 6th Grade STEM Lesson

Stephanie Nichols

March 2023

Notes for Teachers

• Context: This lesson takes place in a classroom for one or more hours.
• Students may work individually or in pairs.
• Focus is on understanding local watersheds and effects of human activity on waterways.
• Students will write a paragraph describing watersheds and whether or not they can affect the problem of the GPGP by becoming good stewards of local waterways.
• This is the 2nd lesson in a series of 3. Here is the link to Lesson 1 and Lesson 3.

List of Materials

• white paper
• water soluble markers
• spray bottles (one for each table)
• devices with internet access

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Standards

Life Science:

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6.L2.U3.11 Use evidence to construct an argument regarding the impact of human activities on the environment and how they positively and negatively affect the competition for energy and resources in ecosystems.

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Science and Engineering Practices:

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● ask questions and define problems

● develop and use models

● engage in argument from evidence

● obtain, evaluate, and communicate information

ELA:

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6.W.9 Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

a. Apply grade 6 Reading standards to literature.

b. Apply grade 6 Reading standards to informational text and nonfiction.

Ed Technology:

6-8.3.d. Students explore real world problems and issues and actively pursue solutions for them.

Unit Objectives:

Day 1: Make a claim and support it with evidence from an article about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

Day 2: Create a model of a watershed and investigate online resources to discover the path of water.

Describe how a watershed works.

Day 3: Identify ways to mitigate the problem of plastic waste and keep trash out of water systems.

Design an app or invention that deals with the problem of plastic waste in our environment.

Agenda (1 class period)

1. Teacher will guide students in making a paper model that shows how a watershed works.
2. Students will use interactive model (online) to discover some pollutants and hazards to our waterways.
3. Students will summarize learning in a written explanation that answers the question: How can being good stewards of our watershed help with the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Driving Questions/Introduction

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Can we predict where litter will go?

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How can we help solve the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by understanding watersheds?

Hands-on Activity Instructions

You will make your own watershed model.

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1. Crumble a white piece of paper.
2. Unfold the paper, but allow ridges and valleys to remain (do not flatten).
3. Using water soluble marker, mark along the ridges that stick up, these represent the mountains.

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• Can you predict where rivers will form?

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1. Use a spray bottle to spray 2-3 sprays (enough to make small rivers on the paper).

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Discuss

• What did you observe about the water and marker?

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• Was your prediction about the location of rivers correct?

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• Try it: What happens if you elevate one end of the paper by propping it up on a book or pencil case?

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Explore

Explore Watersheds

• Watch the video.
• Use the interactive to learn about different parts of watersheds.

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Assessment

In writing, answer the question:

How can protecting our waterways help with the problem of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Think and Reflect:

• What are some things that affect watersheds?
• What are the parts of a watershed?
• Does all water make it into the ocean? Why or why not?

Differentiation

• Go through the watershed interactive in a small group.
• Provide or display illustrated vocabulary word cards for easy reference.
• Provide simplified explanation or glossary.
• Create a new paper model. - This time use different colored markers to represent the pollutants discussed in the interactive (eg red-fertilizer and chemicals from farms, green-animal waste in a park or yard, etc).

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Plan a trip through the neighborhood or to a local park. Have students document each instance of litter or note examples of other potential hazards to our waterways.

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Collect trash from a sporting event at school or from lunch for a grade level. Sort the trash into categories or weigh.

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Sign up for Terracycle campaigns or start a recycling program.

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