Plastic Free July
How Cool is That?! – Environmental Education for pre-K – age 99 (#9)
June 8 was World Oceans Day. But it’s not too late! You can celebrate the ocean every day! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuaries has four virtual 360 degree narrated dives and beautiful underwater photographs of sea life and shipwrecks!
But the ocean is facing challenges. As the world moves away from using fossil fuels as an energy source, oil and gas companies are building new factories to double plastic production in the next 20 years, according to the World Economic Forum and the Center for International Environmental Law.
So while we are celebrating the oceans every day, think about what you can do to keep our waters and our land clean. You can make a difference even if you don’t live near the ocean because marine ecosystems are connected to the local watersheds in which we live.
And it just so happens that next month is Plastic Free July. This site has tips and stories of what students, teachers, parents and organizations have done to reduce the amount of plastic they use. And here is a list of 100 tips and tricks to inspire you.
Teachers, NOAA offers class and school programs to promote environmental conservation. They are open to all schools and classrooms, no matter where they are located because all watersheds are connected to the ocean:
- Zero Waste Week (usually occurs March-April but has been rescheduled for fall 2020 due to COVID-19)
- Ocean Guardian Classroom
- Ocean Guardian School (grant funds available)