Human Impact on Land, Water, & Air Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Swirling Plastic Vortex in the Open Ocean Presentation | Middle School Earth Science | Grades 6–8

This is the student-facing slide presentation that introduces the phenomenon, walks the class through observations and driving questions, and frames the evidence students will use for the Phenomena-Based Lesson in the Middle School Earth Science (grades 6–8) chapter Human Impact on Land, Water, & Air, built around the phenomenon The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Swirling Plastic Vortex in the Open Ocean. It is sold separately from the other two parts of the set.

Complete the set: Human Impact on Land, Water, & Air Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Swirling Plastic Vortex in the Open Ocean Teacher Discussion Guide; Human Impact on Land, Water, & Air Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Swirling Plastic Vortex in the Open Ocean Student Response Sheet. Scaffolded version: Human Impact on Land, Water, & Air Scaffolded Phenomena-Based Lesson: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: A Swirling Plastic Vortex in the Open Ocean Presentation.

Sections: NGSS Dimension; Specific Performance Expectation & Dimensional Alignment; Slides; Segment; Focus Activity & Instructional Goal; Anchoring Driving Question (student Sensemaking):; Teacher Script (read Aloud To Introduce Phenomenon):; Talk Move Category. Sample item: “• Tier 1 Observation: What types and sizes of plastic debris are found in the garbage patch, and why don't they sink to the ocean floor?”

What's inside: Student Slide Show (editable .pptx + PDF, 22 slides).

Standards: NGSS Middle School Earth & Space Science (MS-ESS) disciplinary core ideas and the science practices of analyzing data and constructing explanations.

Resource type: Phenomena-Based Lesson – Presentation. Format: editable Microsoft PowerPoint file plus a ready-to-print PDF.

Classroom use: Open with the phenomenon slide show, let students record ideas on the response sheet, and lead the discussion with the teacher guide. Built for Middle School Earth Science, grades 6–8.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.