Cleaning the Ocean

Millions of tons of plastic have entered the oceans in recent decades. It is
important that the oceans are cleared of plastic bags, bottles, containers, and other debris that are endangering sea animals and fish and their habitats.

Let students explore collection technology and vehicles currently used and being proposed to clean the oceans of plastic waste.

Students design and build a plastic waste collection vehicle or device. Although a prototype, the model should ideally be able to physically collect plastics of a certain type.

Let students explore the Design Library so they can choose a model for inspiration. Then allow them to experiment and create their own solutions, modifying any basic model as they see fit.

Suggested Design Library models are:
• Reel
• Sweep
• Grab

Students should present their models, explaining how they have designed
the prototype to collect plastics of a certain type. They could use research and portfolio documentation to support their explorations and ideas.

Assessment
Ensure that students explain why cleaning the ocean is important, and how their prototype provides an ideal solution to the problem.