Happy weekend, Seedlings!

 The long awaited lesson plan is here! For those of you who couldn't make it to the meeting this week, the topic of our lesson this week is: ocean debri/Great Pacific Garbage Patch! We have a multitude of different activities for you to choose from! First things first, this is the link to a kid-friendly resource sheet about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:nRIf7ir19goJ:sfenvironmentkids.org/water/The%2520Pacific%2520Garbage%2520Patch%2520Fact%2520Sheet.pdf+great+pacific+garbage+patch+information+for+kids&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShioHmtACU9c2bKYzldFXIWjWqIFsaYGeGEuc_uRNjfRhHBxfH6tZkaaMspcDCls85YYv0U9V1i23s3qaozm2xDmnr-KAqNaO_trtTmZppE7t_YK2wlFLtTz9lF8ZynZ00xQyOX&sig=AHIEtbQq82ApIwGsy86QLExIv1bwcxyJmg).

Activity #1: Distribute rubber bands to students and have them follow the procedure below. Hold your hands up in front of your face, with the back of your hands towards your face. Hold the rubberband in your right hand and hook one end of it over the little finger of your left hand. Hook the other end of the rubberband over the left-hand thumb. The rubberband should be taut and resting across the bottom knuckles on the back of your left hand. Place your right hand on the bottom of your elbow and keep it there. Try to free your hand of the rubberband without using your right hand, teeth, face, or other body parts. While students are struggling, ask the class to imagine that they are seagulls that have gotten pieces of fishing line, abandoned net, or other debris wrapped around their beaks or necks. Tell them the birds would be unable to eat until they had gotten themselves free. Ask them the following questions:
-How would you feel after struggling like this all morning?
-How would you feel after missing breakfast?
-What would happen if you continued to miss meals and spent all of your strength fighting to get free?
-What would happen if a predator was chasing you?
Encourage students to share their thoughts and feelings about being entangled. Remind them that their experience is similar to that of a bird or other marine animal that becomes entangled in debris.

Activity #2: Have students design a "Most Wanted" poster for the type of marine debris that they think is the most dangerous. The poster could include an illustration of the debris and list some of its "crimes." Students might also mention a "reward" on the poster for the person who finds this type of debris and disposes of it properly or identifies it to the proper authorities for disposal.

Activity #3: JELLYFISH!

Fold a square piece of paper (hopefully a scrap one!) into quarters to make a triangle. Draw lines from opposite side leaving a little piece still attached. Cut on the lines and unfold. This is so tricky to explain, but there's an example and scrap paper in the SEEDS clear mail slot to the left of VIA office in SGA.
Show students how the movement of this jellyfish looks similar to the movement of a plastic bag.

Activity #4: Turtles and Jellyfish/Plastic Bags (AKA Sharks and Minnows)

Put a spin on sharks and minnows. One student will be facing away as the sea turtle. The rest of the group will hold onto either plastic bags or their paper jellyfish. As the students try to sneak across from one side of the room to the other, the turtle will try to catch them. If they catch a plastic bag, discuss how this activity is how difficult it is for sea turtles to tell the difference between the two "food sources."

So, lot to take in. Those are what we have planned for this week. If you have questions, which is totally understandable, feel free to email me! Also, don't forget that the materials you will need (minus the plastic bags) are in the clear mailbox slot to the left of the VIA office in SGA. Have a great weekend everyone!

Love,
  Katie & Taylor