Ocean Health

Bring local and global ecosystems to life, connecting individual behaviors with the health of the planet. By focusing on plastic use, youth consider their own and their global peers’ local waste management practices and discern the impact of their individual and collective behaviors on ocean health.

Global Nomads uses the power of storytelling to promote empathy and bring social topics to life through day-to-day realities. Participating youth read authentic, impactful stories from youth participants around the world that reveal deep truths about global issues, then enhance the conversation by sharing their own stories with fellow Student to World users. All participants are eligible to participate in moderated live conversations with other youth from around the world.

About The Course

Who
Should Register?

Educators
Classroom teachers and school administrators.

Group leaders & mentors
Afterschool programs and groups, faith-based organizations, scouting, clubs, etc.

Independent learners
Individual youth participants.

Free Courses

Online Access, 4 Learning Modules,
Live Virtual Events, Age 13 – 19,
English, Arabic, American Sign Languag

Download the Lesson Plan

Register?

Teachers, Educators, & Leaders
Create an account and invite students or youth participants.

Register As An Educator

Students
If your teacher or group facilitator gave you a code.

Enter A Code

Independent Learners
Take a course on your own.

Register As An Independent Learner
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Text + Video Formats

Experience this content through your choice of learning paths.

Text-based
course

Includes written text, images, videos, and multimedia.

  • Interactive lessons
  • Respond to embedded videos and images
  • Understand key vocabulary
  • Read personal stories from real users
  • Submit and share stories

Content is available in a growing selection of languages:

  • English
  • Arabic
  • American Sign Language
  • More languages in development

Video-based
course

The same content, but explained through video conversations.
  • Video depiction of the course content
  • Closed Captions
  • American Sign Language interpretation
  • Image descriptions
  • Youth narration

Learning
Modules

Module 1:

Everyday Plastic

Youth explore and share stories about plastic in their lives.

Module 2:

Everyday Local Ecosystem

Youth explore and share stories about plastic usage in their communities.

Module 3:

Everyday Global Ecosystem

Youth explore and share stories about how a piece of plastic travels around the world.

Module 4:

Everyday Action

Youth plan for local actions that can achieve positive global impact.

Learning
Objectives

  • Have a basic understanding of the history of plastics.
  • Understand the connections between plastic use and ocean health.
  • Know how stories help us connect to one another across distance and difference.
  • Understand the meaning of an ecosystem and how humans interact with them.
  • Understand feedback loops.
  • Know how to visually map a local ecosystem based on a story you will tell.
  • Understand global macro ecosystems.
  • Connect individual and collective single-use plastics with ocean health.
  • Calculate one’s own plastic use and think about ways to reduce it.
  • Learn that everyday behaviors can affect ocean health.
  • Take positive action to preserve ocean health.

Standards
Alignments

Next Generation Science Standards

  • MS-ESS3-5. Ask questions to clarify evidence of the factors that have caused the rise in global temperatures over the past century.
  • MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
  • HS-LS2-7. Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
  • HS-ESS3-4. Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

  • Goal 4: Quality Education
  • Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 13: Climate Action
  • Goal 14: Life Below Water

CASEL Social & Emotional Learning

  • Self Awareness
  • Self Management
  • Responsible Decision Making

Asia Society Global Competencies

Investigate the world
Recognize perspectives
Communicate ideas
Take Action

21st Century Skills

  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Creativity and Innovation
  • Information Literacy
  • Media Literacy
  • Technology Literacy
  • Flexibility and Adaptability
  • Initiative and Self-Direction
  • Productivity and Accountability
  • Leadership and Responsibility

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