Ocean Plastics Science is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource combining both biology and chemistry. Students are taken on the journey of plastic. Exploring how plastics are manufactured, used, and disposed into the ocean. Students will learn the science behind what makes plastics both brilliant for everyday purposes and devastating to our oceans and marine life. Included in this topic are teacher resources that promote students to conduct authentic research, emulating research conducted by The University of Plymouth. Students will test the properties of plastics, investigate compostable alternatives, and analyse case studies to discover how plastics can physically and chemically harm marine life. https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-science-11-14 If you liked this resource, please rate and review below. This will help to promote oceans education in schools worldwide.

Plastic, Plankton and Poo is a science Key Stage 4 unit of work, this video lesson can be used as part of Lesson 7. In this lesson the science team explain the societal importance of their work and how their research can be used by policy- makers, community organisations and wider society. This full lesson includes: Student Sheet Video 4 Student Sheet Video reflection The video can be used as a stimulus to a larger discussion about the impact of plastics on the environment and how science can help inform decisions about the future use of plastic. There are also opportunities to use a flipped approach to learning, setting the video lesson as pre-work before the topic is taught or as home learning to provide reinforcement of factual knowledge or to encourage further reflection.

Computing KS3: Design our smart city pt 1 is the first part of a Design Thinking Workshop in which students will use personas to empathise with different types of people. Student will then use these insights to brainstorm ways that robots and autonomous vehicles can improve lives or solve problems. This workshop can be delivered as three one-hour sessions or combined as a half day activity. This is a single lesson fromt he Computing KS3 unit. Computing KS3 is a computing and robotics education programme based on driverless car technologies. Students will develop their ability to code as well as their design thinking as they tackle smart city challenges. Through a series of nine lessons, students will learn about aspects of making, programming and design thinking as they build and program their own robot cars. They will work in teams to tackle coding challenges based on the actual problems that engineers are faced with in designing autonomous vehicles. In a final design challenge, students will need to work on not only the technical aspects of driverless cars, but also how they can improve lives and create smarter and safer communities. All lesson resources are found here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/code-smart-11-14

Computing KS2: Design our smart city pt 1 is the first part of a Design Thinking Workshop in which students will use personas to empathise with different types of people. Student will then use these insights to brainstorm ways that robots and autonomous vehicles can improve lives or solve problems. This workshop can be delivered as three one-hour sessions or combined as a half day activity. This is a lesson from the Computing KS2 unit. Computing KS2 is a computing and robotics education programme based on driverless car technologies. Students will develop their ability to code as well as their design thinking as they tackle smart city challenges. Through a series of nine lessons, students will learn about aspects of making, programming and design thinking as they build and program their own robot cars. They will work in teams to tackle coding challenges based on the actual problems that engineers are faced with in designing autonomous vehicles. In a final design challenge, students will need to work on not only the technical aspects of driverless cars, but also how they can improve lives and create smarter and safer communities. All lesson resources are found here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/code-smart-7-11

This is the third lesson in a full unit (Biodiversity Science GCSE Coral Reefs) using the coral reef as a new context for applying concepts of biodiversity, human impacts and conservation. The ‘How can humans indirectly threaten coral reefs?’ lesson focuses on the indirect threats to coral reefs such as climate change. Climate change causes sea temperatures to increase, which subsequently causes coral bleaching to occur. Students will explore indirect threats through a range of experiments such as the activity Ocean Acidification in a cup. It is important in this lesson that students consider how the actions of people around the world are affecting the coral reefs located near Com. Multimedia content and other information can be found at: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/coral-oceans-science-14-16

This #GoogleExpeditions lesson develops student skills in speaking and listening. Combining a virtual tour of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, students are faced with a number of scenarios, and are asked to inhabit a range of characters to develop their drama skills. Google Expeditions are immersive 360 degree photo stories designed for use in the classroom. For more see: https://www.google.com/edu/expeditions/ To download Google Docs versions of the lesson plan and student sheet go to: https://goo.gl/GjDB4x

Introducing the issue of marine plastics and their impact on the ocean ecosystem, this video looks at how scientists investigate environmental issues and the potential impact of human actions. Students will also be able to relate existing knowledge of the carbon cycle, food webs and human impacts on the environment to the work of a professional research group. This full lesson includes: Student Sheet Video 1 Student Sheet Video reflection This video lesson can be used as part of Lessons 1 or 6 of the Plankton, Plastics & Poo unit. There are also opportunities to use a flipped approach to learning, setting the video lesson as pre-work before the topic is taught or as home learning to provide reinforcement of factual knowledge or to encourage further reflection. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

Students work scientifically by developing and using a model (a food web) to formulate hypotheses. The context of the lesson is Dr Ceri Lewis’ investigating how ocean acidification might affect the plankton at low trophic levels and the cascade effects at higher levels. The lesson builds on students’ prior knowledge of interdependence. This full lesson contains: Slideshow 3: How does ocean acidification affect communities? Lesson Overview and Teacher Guidance Student Sheet 3a: Arctic food webs Student Sheet 3b: Arctic organisms Subject Update 1: Ocean acidification Subject Update 3: Trophic cascades Six enquiry-based lessons introducing ocean science concepts for ages 11-14. These lessons and activities are full of practical ideas to bring carbonate chemistry and marine biology to the science classroom. All lessons demonstrate science at work and are based on recent research conducted in the Arctic. Designed to be used in conjunction with the Encounter Edu Discovery Zone. All lessons and resources are available from Encounter Edu’s TES profile.

Plastic case study - tourism in Kenya is Key stage 3 (KS3) lesson that gives students a broad view of the many impacts plastics have. Plastic does not just have an environmental and health impact, it can also affect economies and communities. For tourism locations, a pristine beach will attract more visitors than one covered in plastic waste. Local government in the UK currently spends about £15 million per year to clear litter from beaches. In this lesson, students will look at a tourism case study centred on the high end tourism on Lamu Island off the coast Kenya. This is a single lesson from Ocean Plastic Geography. Ocean Plastics Geography is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. The lessons address the issue of marine plastic pollution, the harm caused by plastics to the environment and communities, how we deal with all the waste, ending with a debate on approaches to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Fieldwork templates for investigating plastics in the local area are included as well as a wealth of case studies exploring both the human and physical elements of plastic pollution. Get the whole unit’s resources here:https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics

Plastic journey: global plastic problems is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson. The UK exports over half a million tonnes of recovered plastic packaging each year. Historically, much of this was to China, but with a ban on waste imports other solutions and destinations have been sought. Students start by mapping the destinations of plastic waste exports before and after China’s ban, analysing the changes. Then students consider the UK’s options using a range of information, before ranking these and creating a proposal for government action. This is a single lesson from Ocean Plastic Geography. Ocean Plastics Geography is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. The lessons address the issue of marine plastic pollution, the harm caused by plastics to the environment and communities, how we deal with all the waste, ending with a debate on approaches to reducing ocean plastic pollution. Fieldwork templates for investigating plastics in the local area are included as well as a wealth of case studies exploring both the human and physical elements of plastic pollution. Get the whole unit’s resources here:https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics

The Great Barrier Reef stretches for over 2,300 kilometres along the eastern coast of Australia, but the creatures that have created this habitat can measure just a few millimetres across. This lesson covers the basic anatomy of the coral polyp, their life cycle and reproductive processes, and finishes with a game that shows how tropical coral polyps get their energy boost to create such amazing structures. This is a single lesson from the unit Coral Oceans 7-11. This science-based unit uses the stunning imagery and 360 media from the XL Catlin Seaview Survey and covers several of the main concepts for students studying living things at upper elementary level. The unit can be used as a standalone primer for students, using a new and exciting context of corals, clownfish and sharks, or as a comparative study to the local environment. Students work through a series of connected lessons to develop their understanding of: habitats and how they provide the basic needs of plants and animals identification, classification and the use of keys life cycles, anatomy and sexual reproduction how animals obtain their food using the idea of food chains how animals and plants are adapted to their environment human impact on the environment Access the full unit’s resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/coral-oceans-science-7-11

Plastic pollution: repair is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. In this design and technology Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson, students learn how many products are designed to become obsolete and the impact this has on the environment. This lesson is focussed on students finding solutions to make it easier to repair products. Included are teacher resources that allow students to design a modular phone that can be updated and repaired easily. This is a single lesson from the Oceans Plastics unit. Ocean Plastics D&T 11-14 is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource. Students are taken on the journey of how the 6 Rs can be applied to reduce ocean plastic pollution. Students will learn the science behind what makes plastics both brilliant for everyday purposes and devastating to our oceans and marine life. Exploring the 6 Rs students innovate product designs which creatively solve the problem of ocean plastics.Included in this topic are teacher resources that promote students to problem solve through creative design. Students will design a user-centred recycling bin to promote recycling, create a sustainable fashion brand, build a modular phone, and pitch their own unique design solution to the ocean plastic problem. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-design-11-14 If you liked this resource, please rate and review below. This will help to promote oceans education in schools worldwide.

The Plastic Solution is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) lesson. Students discover a range of products which have been redesigned with sustainability in mind. They then consider some of the other single-use plastics they know of and choose one to redesign using a sustainable alternative. Students then develop their designs considering the materials they will use and how it will be manufactured, pitching their idea to the class and reflecting on feedback. At the end of these two lessons the students can produce a prototype. Ocean Plastics 7-11 is a Key Stage 2 (KS2) cross-curricular unit of work encompassing science and geography which also develops skills in mathematics, citizenship and spoken language. The unit addresses four key questions; what are plastics, where are plastics, what impact can plastics have and what can I do? These questions are answered by developing students understanding of properties of materials, living things, habitats and human and physical geography. The unit explores the pros and cons of a variety of plastic products, investigates how plastic finds its way to the ocean and looks at what changes can be made on a local and global scale. Students understand the complex issues surrounding oceans plastics through this units optimistic and innovative approach to challenging attitudes and behaviour. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-7-11

In this biology Key Stage 3 (KS3) lesson, students learn how plastics affect the marine environment. This lesson is focuses on the physical harm caused by plastics to marine organisms. Included are teacher resources that promote students to become advocates for reducing plastic waste to protect our oceans. This is a single lesson from the Ocean Plastics Science unit. Ocean Plastics Science is a Key Stage 3 (KS3) resource combining both biology and chemistry. Students are taken on the journey of plastic. Exploring how plastics are manufactured, used, and disposed into the ocean. Students will learn the science behind what makes plastics both brilliant for everyday purposes and devastating to our oceans and marine life. Included in this topic are teacher resources that promote students to conduct authentic research, emulating research conducted by The University of Plymouth. Students will test the properties of plastics, investigate compostable alternatives, and analyse case studies to discover how plastics can physically and chemically harm marine life. If you liked this resource, please rate and review below. This will help to promote oceans education in schools worldwide.

This is the sixth in a six lesson unit, Submarine Science KS3. This lesson investigates the life support systems needed to keep scientists and explorers alive. Students will conduct an investigation into how limewater can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in an atmosphere. This lesson is from the Submarine STEM Science 11-14 unit. You can access the unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teacher-resources/submarine-stem-science-ages-11-14 This unit is based on the real life submersible exploration of the XL Caitlin Deep Ocean Survey off Bermuda, the Sargasso Sea. It provides students the opportunity to apply science, engineering, and design princples. To experience the full impact of this scheme of work it can be taught in advance of our annual Submarine Live event. Live lessons can be booked for free here: https://encounteredu.com/live

In this lesson, students will begin to develop further understanding of coral reefs, how they are formed, the importance of the coral polyp and how they grow from a single coral polyp to a huge coral reef. Students will then look at the coral reef zones and develop understanding of those different zones and their characteristics. This lesson is from the Coral Oceans Geograpy 14-16 unit. You can access the unit here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/coral-oceans-geography-14-16 The unit delivers a comprehensive understanding of coral reefs. Through the use of our exclusive galleries, videos and online resources, students will develop their knowledge and understanding of what coral reefs are, why they are important and how to protect them. The unit includes challenging lessons on abiotic components such as the nutrient cycle and biotic factors such as food chains. To experience the full impact of this scheme of work it can be taught in advance of our annual Coral Live event. Live lessons can be booked for free here: https://encounteredu.com/live

This lesson is part of the Key Stage 4 (KS4) science unit, Plastic, Plankton and Poo. In this lesson students work scientifically to explain the importance of zooplankton in the marine carbon cycle. Students will learn the importance of zooplankton as primary consumers in the community and as part of the marine biological pump in the global carbon cycle. This full lesson includes: Lesson Overview & Teacher Guidance Slideshow 1 Why should we care about zooplankton? Student Sheet 1a The importance of zooplankton Mark scheme for Student Sheet 1a Subject Update Copepods Subject Update The marine carbon cycle This is Lesson 1 of 7 in the Plankton, Plastics and Poo unit of work, which is based on current research being conducted at the University of Exeter and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The unit consists of enquiry-based lessons which support students to work scientifically by simulating the researchers’ investigations, and encourages students to the use their findings to have a wider impact. The resource uses innovative methods to bring cutting edge science to the classroom, including: - Using real field and laboratory data. - Practical investigations that replicate the work of the scientists. - Using social media to connect with the scientists. - The opportunity to connect with scientists through Skype in the classroom events.

Plastics: what harm can they cause? is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) lesson. Students discover what happens when plastic ends up in the ocean by exploring how it affects marine life. They look at simple ocean food chains and discuss the impact of plastic pollution on these species and their habitats. Students choose a food chain to recreate and write warnings about how plastic litter can affect the species in their food chain. They conclude by considering how they could reduce the amount of plastic they use such as reusable bags and avoiding straws. This is a single lesson of the Ocean Plastics 5-7 unit. Ocean Plastics 5-7 is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) cross-curricular introduction to materials and their properties, which focusses on plastic and its abundance. Students discover how many everyday products are made from or contain plastic, understanding its versatility and resilience. They go on to discover what happens to rubbish after it’s thrown away and explore recycling, landfill and litter. Students find out how detrimental plastic is to marine life and create posters and models encouraging friends and family to recycle and reduce the amount of plastic they use. This unit encourages proactive and positive behaviours, for all our futures. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-5-7

Plastics: what can I do? is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) lesson. Students discover the 6Rs and discuss what each one means. They then make suggestions of how they could do each one through mind mapping their shared ideas. Students then complete one of three suggested art projects which not only reuse plastic rubbish but also inform others how they can help fight marine plastic pollution. The completed projects could be displayed around the school or showcased in an assembly. This is a single lesson of the Ocean Plastics 5-7 unit. Ocean Plastics 5-7 is a Key Stage 1 (KS1) cross-curricular introduction to materials and their properties, which focusses on plastic and its abundance. Students discover how many everyday products are made from or contain plastic, understanding its versatility and resilience. They go on to discover what happens to rubbish after it’s thrown away and explore recycling, landfill and litter. Students find out how detrimental plastic is to marine life and create posters and models encouraging friends and family to recycle and reduce the amount of plastic they use. This unit encourages proactive and positive behaviours, for all our futures. Get the whole unit resources here: https://encounteredu.com/teachers/units/ocean-plastics-x-curric-5-7

This lesson reviews students’ knowledge about the carbon cycle within the context of the study of ecosystems for GSCE Science (Biology) and Geography, as well as the changing composition of the Earth’s atmosphere for GCSE Science (Chemistry). It covers the carbon cycle and major carbon stores and fluxes. The lesson combines a digital interactive carbon cycle diagram to reinforce knowledge of the processes in the carbon cycle, with a hands-on activity to introduce students to the size of the major carbon stores and fluxes. Exam style questions and a knowledge organiser provide a good revision focus. Learning outcomes Review basic processes in the carbon cycle Develop fuller understanding of the carbon cycle Compare the sizes of the major carbon stores Demonstrate their understanding of carbon fluxes and how changes have contributed to climate change