8-MS-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity K-12 science education standards in Louisiana have changed. Teaching that fosters greater understanding and application of ideas to solve real world problems is encouraged. 8-MS-ESS3-3 Earth and Human Activity is one of the new standards.

8-MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing human impact on the environment. Ex may include examining human environmental impacts, assessing solutions that are feasible, and designing and evaluating solutions that could reduce that impact. Examples of human impacts may include water usage (such as the withdrawal of water from streams or the construction of dams and levees), land usage (such as urban development, agriculture, or the removal of wetlands), and pollution (such as of the air, water, or land). 8-MS-ESS3-3 stands for 8th grade, middle school, earth science strand topic and performance #’s

BTNEP fosters beach cleanups BTNEP fosters beach cleanups. These events have been popular with educators, students, and citizen groups. Teachers have requested classroom lessons that compliment the beach cleanup efforts. BTNEP has responded by developing the “Litter Did You Know?” curriculum.

Litter Did You Know? Beach in a Bag Oceans of Trash Students “sweep” a beach wrack sample to learn about microplastics and the difficulties associated with their removal. Oceans of Trash Students use an imaginary coastal map to identify ways trash travels through the environment. They learn the common trash items polluting Louisiana coastlines and develop stewardship as they consider ways to reduce and keep litter out of oceans. How Long Until It’s Gone? Students explore how long it takes for litter to breakdown by constructing a trash timeline. They learn different ways that litter breaks down and why plastics are so persistent in the trash landscape.   “Litter Did You Know?” includes 5 learning units that focus on issues of plastic pollution in the marine environment. Each unit is 8-MS-ESS3-3 themed and includes lesson plans , hands-on activities, and student handouts.

Litter Did You Know? Hanging in the Gulf A Close Look at Microplastics What happens when plastic enters the Gulf of Mexico (GOM)? To answer this question students learn about plastics and investigate their densities. They construct a water column display to explore feeding strategies and locations of various gulf sea life. Students use information from these activities to predict how plastics impact GOM food chains. A Close Look at Microplastics The lesson begins with a discussion about microplastics. Students role play how microplastics transport toxins (POPs) into ocean food chains. Then, “Chains of Knowledge” are crafted to raise awareness of microplastic pollution.   Feel free view the units and some of the hand-on activities on the display table.

Test Time! Dottie Hartman butterfliesrbeautiful@cox.net Distribute, administer, and review the marine plastic pollution test! Dottie Hartman butterfliesrbeautiful@cox.net