SCIENCE GRADE 9 The biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere are interconnected, as matter cycles and energy flows through them.  

• Microplastics persist through the biosphere, flowing through food webs, ocean currents, soil and sand and the atmosphere as airborne particles. 

MATH GRADE 9 Similar shapes have proportional relationships that can be described, measured and compared. Analyzing the validity, reliability and representation of data enables us to compare and interpret.  

• The Kit includes technology used to characterize microplastics shapes and measurements. Students explore shape metrics including circularity, bounding box length and width, perimeter, diameter, surface area and more. Frequency distributions are automatically generated for each metrics. Students learn that similar shapes reveal similar microplastic pollution sources. Students explore shape descriptions, measurements and comparison through real-world microplastic pollution science. 

SOCIAL STUDIES GRADE 9 The physical environment influences the nature of political, social and economic change.  

• Students explore how policy and society can influence microplastic pollution to protect the planet. 

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY GRADE 12 Analyzing data from a variety of sources allows us to better understand our globally connected world. 

• Students learn about microplastic pollution in the context of local and global challenges. Plastic pollution connects our world via water and air transport. Students may find plastics from across the ocean on local beaches. It is a tangible way to see how connected our world is. 

APPLIED DESIGN, SKILLS AND TECHNOLOGIES GRADE 9 Social, ethical and sustainability considerations impact design. Complex tasks require different technologies and tools at different stages.  

• The Educational Kit with Saturna teaches students about technology used to understand complex environmental issues. It inspires inquiry-based learning to solve problems related to human impacts on environment and illustrates the benefits of using technology to solve global challenges.

PRE-CALCULUS GRADE 10 Representing and analyzing situations allows us to notice and wonder about relationships.  

• Representing microplastic quantitative and qualitative trends helps us understand the relationship between microplastic pollution abundance and location, measurements shapes and sources, and more. 

WORKPLACE MATH GRADE 10 3D objects can be examined mathematically by measuring directly and indirectly length, surface area, and volume. Representing and analyzing data allows us to notice and wonder about relationships.  

• Through the Educational Kits (with Saturna or tech-free), students use either AI-based technology or Excel sheets to collect microplastics data. Students set up Saturna to automatically capture length, surface area and more, and analyze the frequency of microplastic shapes, or use calipers/rulers to measure parameters. Students are guided to interpret the data and discuss what the information tells us about their sources.

CHEMISTRY GRADE 11 Organic chemistry and its applications have significant implications for human health, society, and the environment.  

• Plastics are products of organic chemistry which have impacts on human health, society and the environment.   

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES GRADE 11 Human practices affect the sustainability of ecosystems. Humans can play a role in stewardship and restoration of ecosystems. 

• This Educational Kit emphasizes the link between human activities, microplastic pollution and ecosystem sustainability, highlighting the positive impact of environmental stewardship. The Kit discusses proactive pollution mitigation to restore and preserve our natural environment. 

SCIENCE FOR CITIZENS GRADE 11 Scientific processes and knowledge inform our decisions and impact our daily lives. Scientific knowledge can be used to develop procedures, techniques and technologies that have implications for places of employment. Scientific understanding enables humans to respond and adapt to changes locally and globally. 

• The Kit directly shows students how technology is used to understand microplastic pollution. Scientific understanding empowers humans to respond and adapt to the challenges of microplastic pollution both locally and globally. Citizen scientists and community members can collect local data on microplastic pollution to inform policy change and protect the planet. 

FOUNDATIONS OF MATHEMATICS GRADE 11 Similar shapes and objects have proportional relationships that can be described, measured and compared. 

• Students analyze microplastic shapes, sizes and characteristics using either Saturna’s pre-programmed measurements and automated histograms or completing the data evaluation activities on Excel. Students are guided to evaluate the data and interpret microplastics sources.

WORKPLACE MATH GRADE 11 3D objects are often represented and described in 2D space.  Representing and analyzing data allows us to notice and wonder about relationships.  

• Students interpret 3D microplastics using either Saturna’s pre-programmed measurements or completing the data evaluation activities on Excel. They create graphs to analyze microplastic data attributes.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES GRADE 12 Human actions affect the quality of water and its ability to sustain life. Human activities cause changes in the global climate system. Living sustainably supports the well-being of self, community and Earth. 

• Microplastics are eaten by marine organisms, particularly primary consumers, which are the first link into marine food webs. After ingested, microplastics can impact animals’ reproduction, nutrition and behaviour. Plastics are a product of fossil fuels and contribute to climate change challenges. Living sustainability and considering your own plastic footprint, helps support the well-being of ourselves and our planet.  

HUMAN GEOGRAPHY GRADE 12 Analyzing data from a variety of sources allows us to better understand our globally connected world. 

• Students learn about microplastic pollution in the context of local and global challenges. Plastic pollution connects our world via water and air transport. Students may find plastics from across the ocean on local beaches. It is a tangible way to see how connected our world is. 

ESE Standard 1 Ecological, Social and Economic Systems. Students develop knowledge of the interconnections and interdependency of ecological, social and economic systems. They demonstrate understanding of how the health of these systems determines the sustainability of natural and human communities at local, regional, national and global levels. 

ESE Standard 2 The Natural and Built Environment. Students engage in inquiry and systems thinking and use information gained through learning experiences in, about and for the environment to understand the structure, components and processes of natural and human-built environments.  

ESE Standard 3 Sustainability and Civic Responsibility. Students develop and apply the knowledge, perspective, vision, skills and habits of mind necessary to make personal and collective decisions and take actions that promote sustainability. 

• Through the Educational Toolkit students understand the complexity of human systems and how they affect the natural environment. They think about pollution systems and impacts and think critically about sustainability through the real-world microplastic studies. 

ESE Standard 1 Ecological, Social and Economic Systems. Students develop knowledge of the interconnections and interdependency of ecological, social and economic systems. They demonstrate understanding of how the health of these systems determines the sustainability of natural and human communities at local, regional, national and global levels. 

ESE Standard 2 The Natural and Built Environment. Students engage in inquiry and systems thinking and use information gained through learning experiences in, about and for the environment to understand the structure, components and processes of natural and human-built environments.  

ESE Standard 3 Sustainability and Civic Responsibility. Students develop and apply the knowledge, perspective, vision, skills and habits of mind necessary to make personal and collective decisions and take actions that promote sustainability. 

• Students explore the interconnectedness of ocean and terrestrial systems through microplastic pollution. They discover how ocean health impacts human and climate health and consider human impacts on the environment and water systems. The Educational Kits promote sustainability through the real-world study of microplastics. 

HS-LS2-2 Use mathematical representations to support and revise explanations based on evidence about factors affecting biodiversity and populations in ecosystems of different scales.

HS-LS2-6 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.

HS-LS4-5 Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species. 

HS-LS4-6 Create or revise a simulation to test a solution to mitigate adverse impacts of human activity on biodiversity. 

• The Kit includes the Saturna Imaging System which includes automated measurements and mathematical representations that are accessed through the Data Reference guide. Students consider microplastic interactions in ecosystems and our oceans future with increasing microplastic abundance. Students scientifically access the issue and craft ideas to reduce ocean pollution. The Kit is designed for experiential learning on human environment and biodiversity impacts.

HS-ETS1-1 Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants. 

HS-ETS1-2 Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable problems that can be solved through engineering. 

HS-ETS1-3 Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural and environmental impacts. 

HS-ETS1-4 Use a computer simulation to model the impact of proposed solutions to a complex real-world problem with numerous criteria and constraints on interactions within and between systems relevant to the problem. 

• Only available by using Saturna: Students understand real-world impacts of microplastic pollution, design solutions based on data collected and use graphs generated by Saturna software understand pollution sources and consider impacts.
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