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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.

Organisation
NOAA Marine Debris Program
Duration
16 lessons
Curriculum links
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) disciplinary core ideas (DCIs): LS2, LS4, ESS2, ESS3, PS1, ETS1
Licence
Public domain (NOAA)
Checked on
22 September 2026

The single most reusable full curriculum on plastic and marine debris. Three units (sources, effects, solutions) and 16 lessons span K–12 and include a waste audit, citizen science and an advocacy lesson. Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) disciplinary core ideas are listed (LS2, LS4, ESS2, ESS3, PS1, ETS1). Because it is a US Government work it is in the public domain, which is why our own Classroom Plastic Audit adapts its waste-audit method with credit.

Who made and funded this: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program (US federal agency) with Ocean Conservancy; public funding. How to use it: download the PDF; adapt freely with attribution to NOAA. Public domain.

Sources last verified 22 September 2026. Page updated 23 September 2026. How we check sources