1. Marine Debris Trash Timeline
A large portion of marine debris is made of plastic
Plastics are made from petroleum products and non-renewable resource
It takes a long time for plastic to degrade and then it often breaks into small pieces that are swallowed by animals
even large pieces like plastic bags are often mistaken for food by marine animals (sea turtles like to eat jellyfish and floating plasticbags look like jellyfish)
Lost fishing lines and nets can entangle marine mammals and can drown them.

2. How long does debris persist in the environment?
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3. Trash timeline activity
Order the items according to what you think breaks down first to things that take the longest
Draw a timeline on your desk and place your items on the timeline
A kit (described in Trashline document) is handed to group of students
UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab CAMEOS Program,

4. Use the data below to draw a trash timeline in your notebook
Source: US EPA, US Forestservice
Time estimates vary between different sources
UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab CAMEOS Program,

5. Let’s start by making 25 cm represent 500 years
Drawing a timeline to scale in your notebook
Let’s start by making 25 cm represent 500 years
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6. Draw a timeline to scale
How many cm represent 100 years?
How many cm represent 50 years?
What about 10 years?
Use the datasheet (and given times) to draw the items on your timeline
Students may need additional prompts and individual assistance with tasks or ask more advanced students to help peers.
UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab CAMEOS Program,

7. Look at your timeline Mark all the plastics What do you notice?
In your notebook write a brief paragraph on what you found out about marine debris and what you can do to avoid creating more marine debris.
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8. What your timeline should look like
paperbag
6-pack ring
styrofoam
milk carton
aluminum can
plastic bottle
Show this slide so students can compare their timeline
monofilament
fishing line
UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab CAMEOS Program,

9. What you can do Recycle Reduce your use of plastic products
Coastal Cleanup Day
Have a brief discussion with students about what they wrote.
UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab CAMEOS Program,