Where Did the Straw Go?
Data Story
Students will use data to support or refute three different claims about plastic straw debris on shorelines in the US.
Welcome to this Tuva data story! Marine plastics have received a lot of media attention since the “garbage patches” were revealed in the central Pacific and central Atlantic Ocean. Some of that plastic comes from shipping and fishing activities, but most originates from shore. Steps are being taken in coastal communities to reduce the amount of single-use plastic, like straws. It’s one important step, but there are many more we can all do to help. These data are from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, reported by voluntary citizen scientists from around the US. Your task is to decide if the data support or refute the following three claims using the starting graphs along with other data available to you: 1. Plastic straws are one of the top 10 most commonly found types of plastic in coastal litter cleanups. 2. The straw ban in San Francisco, CA, which went into effect on July 1, 2019, is not having a significant effect. 3. More plastic was collected than any other material on these clean ups because a greater area was sampled in some locations. Click Next to begin!
Topics and standards: Science, Natural Resources, Marine, Ocean, Physical Science, Earth Science, Human Impacts, Ecosystems, Ecosystem Relationships, Pollution & Waste, Analyzing & Interpreting Data, Cause & Effect, Systems & System Models, Stability & Change, Grades 9-12, Grades 6-8, Support or Refute?