Bay Drift: Tracking Ocean Pollution

Lesson Plan Overview

To introduce students to ocean currents and the transport of marine debris, spilled oil, and other pollutants in the ocean. 

Source: CARTHE
Subjects: Physical Science
Grades: 9-12
Tags: Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative Oceanography

Lesson Plans

Download PDF

Literacy Principles:

OLP#1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features.

OLP#7: The ocean is largely unexplored.

Related Resources

CARTHE Drifters: Where does oil go when it is spilled?

One-meter-tall plastic drifters are released into the Gulf of Mexico in 2012. Over 300 of these drifters were released and their location information was sent to researchers every five minutes through GPS satellite.

Listening for Clues About Sonar’s Effects on Marine Mammals

Three Killer whales (Orca) swim along side researchers.