How to Make Your Own Marine Debris kit
The C-MORE Marine Debris kit (Figure 1) can easily be replicated for your own classroom out of inexpensive supplies
that would normally be bound for the trash can. The majority of materials in the kit were found washed up on the
beach, or as litter alongside the road. This guide gives you suggestions (in blue) on where to obtain materials, as well as
adjustments you can make even if you do not live near the coast. Below is the materials list included on pages 1-3 of the
lesson plans with notes (in blue) on suggested supplies.
Figure 1: The C-MORE Marine Debris kit packed and ready to use. Center image shows the container used for
the kit should you wish to recreate the kit. Image at right shows a fully packed kit with all supplies.
Materials Needed for This Kit:
(Paper materials contained in lesson plans (binder) are shown in BOLD CAPS; additional copies are included with
the kit in a Resource Folder.) Simply print a classroom set of the pages noted for your class. We suggest using
sheet protectors so that the printouts make it through the day.
Front Binder Materials
1. CD with Albatross Necropsy Video and narrated PowerPoint presentations (also contains electronic versions of
binder materials) All contents included on the CD can be downloaded from
(http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/education/teachers/science_kits/marine_debris_kit.htm).
2. DVD – SUPER Cruise by Lucy Marcus (used in Lesson 3) Can be viewed online
(http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/cruises/super/marcus_film.htm).
3. C-MORE Key Concepts in Microbial Oceanography brochure
(http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/downloads/MO_key_concepts_low-res.pdf)
4. C-MORE Microbial Oceanography: Resources For Teachers brochure
(http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/education/teachers/index.htm)
Lesson 1: Biological Impacts
Materials are provided for 2 sets of 6 stations. We suggest 2-3 students per group.
5. TEACHER GUIDE – Lesson 1: Biological Impacts
6. MARINE DEBRIS SURVEY
7. TEACHER ANSWER KEY to MARINE DEBRIS SURVEY
8. POWERPOINT SCRIPT – Lesson 1: Trash Talk: Biological Impacts of Marine Debris
9. STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 1: Biological Impacts (2 pages front/back)
10. TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 1: Biological Impacts
11. Bag of medium-sized purple Nitrile exam gloves
For teacher use only, during the handling of boluses
12. Bag of large-sized purple Nitrile exam gloves
Gloves are included in the kit for handling the albatross bolus in Lesson 1,
Station 6. If you are unable to obtain albatross boluses, you may not need
gloves. However, we recommend using gloves or other forms of personal
protection when collecting trash and debris. Additionally, you may want your
students to wear gloves while handling debris in Lesson 1, Station 1. (Figure 2)
13. Timer
Figure 2. Gloves included with
Any countdown timer or clock should work as a timekeeper.
Marine Debris kit
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Station 1
The C-MORE Marine Debris kit uses the box in Figure 3a to store items for Lesson 1, Station 1. Figure 3b shows
examples of debris with encrusting organisms included in a Marine Debris kit.
14. PLACARD – Marine Debris Lesson 1, Station 1 Site for Attachment (2 in Resource Folder) Print two copies of
page 25 to identify station 1.
15. INSTRUCTIONS – Attachment Activity (2 in Resource Folder) Print two copies of page 26
16. ARTICLE – Marine Debris Gives Alien Species a Ride (4 in Resource Folder) Print four copies of page 27
17. Pieces of marine debris with biofouling organisms (6) If you live near the coast, plan to visit the coast or know
someone headed to the coast, take a morning beach walk and pick up trash. Usually you can quickly find
enough encrusting organisms for at least one station. If you cannot make it to the coast, walk along the banks of
the nearest river or stream and look for trash. You should be able to find some trash with organisms living on it.
Change the questions for station to reflect local debris and organisms. Suggest adding question on what may
happen if encrusting organisms are washed downstream. IMPORTANT: Collecting trash at the water’s edge can
be dangerous, follow local precautions for traveling near water and wear proper safety equipment when
collecting debris (gloves, eye protection).
18. Magnifying lenses (4) Any type of handheld magnifying lens should be sufficient
Figure 3a and 3b. Box used to store debris for Lesson 1, Station 1 and example of types of debris
included in the marine debris kit.
Station 2
19. PLACARD – Marine Debris Lesson 1, Station 2 Entanglement (2 in Resource Folder) Print two copies of page 28
to identify station 2.
20. INSTRUCTIONS – Entanglement Activity (2 in Resource Folder) Print two copies of page 29
21. Rubber bands (10) The rubber bands should fit your students’ hands as shown on page 29
Station 3
22. PLACARD – Marine Debris Lesson 1, Station 3 Entangled Animals (2 in Resource Folder) Print two copies of
page 30 to identify station 3.
23. IMAGES – Entangled Animals (2 sets in Resource Folder) Print two sets of pages 31–34. Alternatively, you could
project the images on pages 31–34 and conduct the activity as a class.
Station 4
24. PLACARD – Marine Debris Lesson 1, Station 4 Toxic Diet? (2 in Resource Folder) Print two copies of page 35 to
identify station 4.
25. ARTICLE – Do Plastics Degrade in the Ocean? (4 in Resource Folder) Print four copies of page 36
26. ARTICLE – Are Plastics Toxic in the Ocean? (4 in Resource Folder) Print four copies of page 37
Station 5
27. PLACARD – Marine Debris Lesson 1, Station 5 Albatross Necropsy Video (2 in Resource Folder) Print two copies
of page 38 to identify station 5. Video can be downloaded from
(http://cmore.soest.hawaii.edu/education/teachers/science_kits/materials/Marine_Debris/Day_1supplemental_materials/Albatross_Necropsy-mini_documentary.wmv)
Station 6
Albatross boluses are difficult to obtain and C-MORE is not able to provide Albatross boluses. Suggest
incorporating an alternative activity. Additional lesson ideas for albatross can be found from Oikonos
(http://www.oikonos.org/projects/wingedambassadors.htm). This station can also be omitted if you are unable
to find supplies. Figure 4 shows an example of how Albatross boluses are included with the C-MORE kits.
28. PLACARD – Marine Debris Lesson 1, Station 6 Albatross Bolus Dissection (2 in Resource Folder) Print two
copies of page 39 to identify station 6.
29. INSTRUCTIONS – Albatross Bolus Dissection (2 in Resource
Folder)
30. Intact bolus in resin (2)
31. Sorted bolus in resin and jars (2)
The intact and sorted boluses were specially obtained and
produced for the science kits. Directions for embedding bolus
can be provided on request (Figure 4 and page 40 show
examples of boluses).
32. Dissected bolus for student lab (2)
33. Forceps (6)
34. Petri dishes (4)
Figure 4 Bolus activity and additional lesson 1
supplies included in C-MORE Marine Debris kit.
Lesson 2: Geographical Distribution
This is a computer-based lesson, therefore we suggest 2–3 students per group.
35. TEACHER GUIDE – Lesson 2: Geographical Distribution
36. POWERPOINT SCRIPT – Lesson 2: Carried Away! – Physical Dispersal of Marine Debris
37. POWERPOINT NOTES – Lesson 2: OSCURS Intro
38. INSTRUCTIONS for STUDENT WORKSHEET– Lesson 2: Environmental Forensics (15 in Resource Folder) Print
class set of pages 48–49
39. STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 2: Environmental Forensics
40. TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 2: Environmental Forensics
41. MAP 1: Countries Surrounding the Pacific Ocean (15 in Resource Folder) Print class set of page 62
42. MAP 2: Surface Currents in the North Pacific Ocean (15 in Resource Folder) Print class set of page 63
43. LANGUAGE GUIDE – Lesson 2: Environmental Forensics (6 in Resource Folder) Print six copes of pages 64–66
44. Pieces of marine debris with language text and location cards (6) You will need three pieces of debris with
English written on them, one with Russian, one with Japanese and one with Spanish. We found it difficult to find
debris completely without English writing so we had to create some “debris” by purchasing items (usually food)
with Russian, Japanese or Spanish labels and aging the wrappers to look like they were not just leftovers from
lunch. Items were found at local specialty shops or can be found online. Once you have your debris, print pages
60–61, cut and laminate to make durable clue cards, and match the clue card with the suitable debris using the
key on pages 54–59 as a guide.
Lesson 3: Plastics and the Sea
45. TEACHER GUIDE – Lesson 3: Plastics and the Sea
46. POWERPOINT SCRIPT – Lesson 3: Plastics and People
47. STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 3: VIDEO WORKSHEET – SUPER Cruise DVD
48. TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET to Lesson 3: VIDEO WORKSHEET – SUPER Cruise DVD
49. STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 3: PLASTICS AND THE SEA
50. TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 3: PLASTICS AND THE SEA
51. IMAGES – CLASS DISCUSSION ON PLASTIC SIZES (15 sets in Resource Folder) Print class set of pages 75–78 or
project as a class activity.
Extension Activities
Supplies for most of the extension activities are not included with the C-MORE kit. Most of the activities involve
student discussions or extra student worksheets.
52. Lesson 1 EXTENSIONS: Biological Impacts
52. STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 1: ALBATROSS BOLUS ACTIVITY
53. Lesson 2 EXTENSIONS: Geographical Distribution
54. Lesson 3 EXTENSIONS: Plastics and the Sea
55. STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 3: Plastic Products: Are They Worth It?
56. Color-coded MARINE DEBRIS SOLUTION CARDS for various sectors of society (science, citizens, business, and
government) (18) Contact us at kits@soest.hawaii.edu for the MARINE DEBRIS SOLUTION CARDS file.
Other Materials:
53. GLOSSARY
54. TEACHER EVALUATION
55. SUPPLY CHECKLIST
56. Speakers Any speakers that will let your class hear the PowerPoint presentations and videos.
Materials Not Included with the Kit:
57. Computers
58. Projector
59. Paper towels