Background
This lesson is part of the Plastic Pollution and You curriculum developed by the educators from New York Sea Grant.
Plastic pollution can become marine debris when it is swept up by stormwater and enters a sewer system that has outlets into local waterways.
Once plastic pollution becomes marine debris, it has a negative impact on our communities and ecosystems. Many communities have installed various forms of screens, nets, or other physical structures that capture trash and litter before it enters the sewer systems.
In this lesson, students will learn about the design and management of trash capture technologies that have been installed in watersheds across the country. Students will then design a trash capture device that could be installed in their community.
Objectives
Students will:
- investigate technologies that solve a problem.
- create a usable technology that solves a problem.
- evaluate technologies based on pros and cons, cost, maintenance and unitended consequences.
Lesson Alignment
This lesson is part of the Plastic Pollution and You curriculum and is aligned to the following standards document:
New York State P-12 Science Learning Standards & Next
Generation Science Standards | LINK
5-ESS3-1, MS-ESS3-3, HS-ESS3-4, 3-5-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-3, HS-ETS1-3
Materials
Access printed copies or electronic versions of lesson materials below.
- Student Design Evaluation Rubric
- Trash Capture Technology Example Sheet
- Trash Capture Technology Comparison Chart
- Arts and Craft materials to design, draw, construct model trash capture devices
How New York City is Keeping Our Waterways Trash Free
New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection Web Resource
Engineering Design Sheet
One per student
Trash Free Waters Programs and Projects
Web Resource
Trash Capture Technology Comparison Chart
One per student
Plastic Pollution and You
Full Curricula
Time Required
This lesson may require 1-2 class periods to complete.
Activity Set-Up
As a class, review the New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection Case Study: How New York City is Keeping Our Water Waterways Trash Free.
Lesson
- On the Engineering Design Worksheet, each student should design their own capture technology by completing the first five steps. They can draw a picture, describe in words, or construct a model of a trash capture technology.
- Explore the Environmental Protection Agency’s Trash Free Waters Program’s Trash Capture Technology Websites and the Trash Capture Technology Example Sheet as a class, in small groups, or independently.
- As a class, in small groups, or independently, fill out the Trash Capture Technology Comparison Chart for different trash capture technologies. Ask students to think about the advantages and disadvantages of different types of trash capture devices, including the cost of installation, the amount of maintenance required, and any unintended consequences (ie: flooding, debris accumulation, etc.).
- Have each student present their trash capture device to the class. Each student can evaluate their own model and 2 other students’ designs on the Comparison Chart.
- Have students revisit the Engineering Design Worksheet to complete the last step – “Improve” – to make any modifications to their design.
Extension Activities:
As a group or independently, encourage students to walk around their school or neighborhood or visit a local park to look for storm drains or drain outfalls.
If you students cannot go outside, use the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Combined Sewer Overflow Website and Google Earth Map to identify outfalls.
On a printed map of your local community or watershed (or hand drawn map of their school or neighborhood), have students make recommendations of which trash capture technology may be appropriate for different locations.
This lesson is part of a larger curriculum, Plastic Pollution and You.
