1. Project Based Learning 2018-2019
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” African Proverb

2. Meet Kakani Katija GeoChallenge
Through her work with the ocean, National Geographic Explorer Dr. Kakani Katija sees the effects of plastic pollution in our marine environment and its inhabitants. Kakani is a principal engineer and principal investigator and leads the Bioinspiration Lab at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). An active scientific diver, Kakani designs and deploys underwater tools like robotic vehicles and underwater imaging lasers to learn about ocean life. The technology and tools that Kakani develops expand the possibilities of scientific discovery in some of the most remote parts of the ocean.
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“The ever-increasing presence of plastics is one of the biggest challenges we face in our ocean. Addressing this issue requires creative solutions from everyone: not just scientists and engineers, but parents, teachers, and students. I look forward to seeing what students are able to achieve through this year’s GeoChallenge, and I hope that one day, together, we can prevent plastics from entering our ocean to ensure the health and well-being of all marine life.”

3. Tackling Plastics (PROBLEM=PROJECT)
You will be working in teams of members. In your team you will be tackling the urgent issue of plastic pollution in our waterways by exploring the source to the seas journey of water and plastic pollution in our community and human-supported solutions that can prevent plastics from getting to the ocean.
4Ocean

4. You will meet weekly-on Fridays you will need to
Form a team, sign explorer code as team, review rubric, get Team guide.
Get a binder to keep team work and research - each member may want to get their own to maintain individual work and research as well as hand outs for PBL.
You will need to document your work, as well as maintain a works cited.
In your group you decided what role each member will fulfill-see team guide
We will complete reviewing the pages 1-3 today, then tackle THINK the following Friday, and so on. You will need to work on this at home and be prepared each week to contribute to your team.
Don’t be a drag bag-keep your team swimming!

5. TIME-LINE
-Interview write up/video due December 14 (journal due dates will be announced)
-Works cited due January 4
-Now through January 14th-design & create a solution to prevent or reduce plastics in waterways, make a creative map about it, and create a video featuring your solution and map
-By Jan 15th submission of solution summary video (4 minutes max), digital photos of your solution and map, digital photo/scan of your team’s signed Explorer’s code, challenge brief, and sources.
-March 29th GeoChallenge Regional competitions (by invitation) Final reflection due (TBA)
-Late Spring 2019 GeoChallenge National Finals in Washington D. C.
YOU CAN DO IT!-GROWTH MINDSET

6. sources Reference and Collections Kids vs. Plastic
Resources from National Geographic Kids, including a kid pledge to reduce plastics
Walking the Watershed
Featuring National Geographic Explorer Shannon Switzer

7. Ocean Plastic
A curated collection of National Geographic Education resources—a great starting point for your research
National Geographic Encyclopedia entry: Watershed
National Geographic Encyclopedia entry: Pollution
National Geographic Encyclopedia entry: Marine debris
Planet or Plastic?
Learn more about and join National Geographic’s multiyear effort to raise awareness about the global plastic trash crisis

8. Articles and Blog Posts
Planet or Plastic?
Articles and images from the June 2018 Plastics issue of National Geographic magazine
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Isn’t What You Think It Is
Straw Wars: The Fight to Rid the Oceans of Discarded Plastic
The Hills Are Alive, With the Signs of Plastic

9. What Happens to the Plastic We Throw Away?
10 Ways to Beat Plastic Pollution
How India’s Fishermen Turn Ocean Plastic Into Roads
7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic (and Recycling)
Plastic Pollution
Reduce Your Waste
Ocean Life Eats Tons of Plastic— Here’s Why That Matters

10. 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plastic (and Recycling)
Plastic Pollution
Reduce Your Waste
Ocean Life Eats Tons of Plastic—Here’s Why That Matters

11. Videos
This Community in the Philippines Converts Plastic Fishing Nets to Carpet
Sea Turtle Rescued From Abandoned ‘Ghost Net’ Snare
Why These Tiny Ocean Creatures Are Eating Plastic
See the Brooklyn Bridge Model Made From 25,000 Plastic Bottles
Kids Take Action Against Ocean Plastic (short film showcase)