In this lesson you can see just how much rubbish is collected in our waterways and eventually ends up in the ocean. Class Excursion: Today your teacher will take you on an excursion to a couple of different places. Firstly you are going to visit a place close to your
school that is a water catchment area, such as a large drain or a creek. On the
way, take a look at the drains alongside the road. While you are there I want
you to look for garbage and also note what kind of material it is. Where do you think all of this rubbish ends up? Have you figured it out yet? Yes! In the ocean. The waterways that you are looking at today all funnel the rubbish into the ocean, so even if you don’t live close to the coast, you can still stop rubbish from getting there in the first place! |  Secondly you are going to visit the ocean where a discharge pipe distributes polluted water right into the ocean! I bet you didn’t think the local government would let that happen....but they do. It is not always possible to see pollution in stormwater and the most serious pollutants are actually invisible. While you are at this second location the correspondent at the beach/waterways should lead a discussion with thier group about which pollutants are visible and which are invisible. |
True or False:
The number one threat to our oceans is waste from industries.
False: The number one threat to our oceans is pollution that is carried from homes and farms as run-off to water systems. While industrial waste is regulated, run-off from yards and farmyards is not. Fertilizer, oil and animal wastes entering creeks and streams lead to the oceans. No matter where you live, you are connected to our oceans!
What can you do?
- Reduce the amount of chemicals you use inside and outside of your house.
- Do not pour chemicals or oils down any drains or onto yards.
- Use natural cleaners like vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice to clean your house.
- When landscaping your yard, select plants that have low requirements for water, fertilizers and pesticides.
 | See how well you can clean up the river by playing this game. |
 |  Click me to continue... |
