TeachEngineering: The Plastisphere (microplastics and wastewater treatment)
A grade 9–12 lesson with three hands-on labs: microbead extraction, a mini wastewater plant and fluorescent plastic tracing.
Lesson plan
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Roots & Shoots: forMULA project toolkit and ocean pollution activities
The Jane Goodall Institute’s four-step project method (engage, observe, do, celebrate) for youth groups tackling local waste.
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Plastic Free Schools: lesson units and accreditation
Eight free Key Stage 2 (KS2) and Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson units plus a one-year, pupil-led programme to remove three single-use items from…
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Common Seas Education: Ocean Plastics Academy lesson packages
The most complete UK-curriculum plastics package: full lesson packs for ages 5–16 in Science, Geography, design and technology (D&T) and Citizenship, delivered via Encounter…
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LEGO Build the Change: circular economy courses for ages 7–12
Hands-on design courses in which children build and pitch solutions to waste and plastic problems, with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.
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Ellen MacArthur Foundation teaching resources: circular economy and ‘Redesigning plastics’
Six lesson plans for 12–19s and a Learning Hub explaining why recycling alone fails and what circular design looks like.
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Talking Trash and Taking Action
Ocean Conservancy and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) modules for grades 3–12 on sources, impacts and prevention, with art and science strands…
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Turning the Tide on Trash: K–12 marine debris learning guide
US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s public-domain curriculum: 3 units and 16 lessons on sources, effects and solutions, including waste audits and advocacy.
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WWF-UK Oceans and Plastics: Key Stage 2 (KS2) handbook, activities and poster
A classroom-ready KS2 (ages 7–11) teacher handbook with activity sheets, an assembly and the ‘Plastic is NOT fantastic’ poster.
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National Geographic Education: plastic pollution resource library
Teacher-facing articles, maps, activities and videos for grades 5–12, including ‘Sea to Source’ and ‘The World’s Plastic Pollution Crisis Explained’.