Monitoring Microplastics in Surface Water—A Pacing Guide for Grades 5–12: Connecting STEM Learning With Real-World Phenomena

AbstractLearn about the Microplastics Monitoring Protocol and how it empowers the education community to share reliable information and empowers students to be informed advocates for reducing microplastics in the environment.Keywords: Middle SchoolHigh SchoolInformal EducationClimate ChangeEnvironmental ScienceInquiryPhenomenaSTEM Supplemental Material AppendixAcknowledgmentsFor more about the GLOBE Program, visit www.globe.gov. The SF Bay NERR and WestEd/UCB collaboration is a part of a wider-reaching Earth System Science collaborative called California Strong. This collaborative consists of a group of scientists, researchers, outreach specialists, and educators who work together to spread Earth system science initiatives throughout California using the tools and resources of the GLOBE Program. The WestEd/UCB partnership primarily operates thanks to a grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded to GLOBE Mission Earth (#NNX16AC54A) https://www.globe.gov/web/mission-earth). This project was supported by GLOBE Italia, Labter-CREA MN, and Associazione GLOBE Italia APS, GLOBE Europe-Eurasia Region Coordination Office, and partly funded by the Australian Research Council Research Hub for Future Fibers (IH210100023) and Deakin University.Additional informationNotes on contributorsTracy OstromTracy Ostrom is a former high school science educator and environmental scientist serving as GLOBE Mentor Trainer and Northern California GLOBE Coordinator at the University of California Berkeley, Department of Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences in Berkeley, California and a PhD student in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California Davis in Davis, California. Matt Ferner is with San Francisco State University and is the Research Director at the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in San Francisco. Alessandra Sutti is an Associate Professor and Team Leader at Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Stuart Robottom is a Manager at Deakin University's Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Sandro Sutti is the GLOBE Italy Country Coordinator and the Scientific Coordinator at the Territorial Laboratory-Reference Centre for Environmental Education, LabTer-CREA, in Mantova, Italy.Matthew FernerTracy Ostrom is a former high school science educator and environmental scientist serving as GLOBE Mentor Trainer and Northern California GLOBE Coordinator at the University of California Berkeley, Department of Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences in Berkeley, California and a PhD student in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California Davis in Davis, California. Matt Ferner is with San Francisco State University and is the Research Director at the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in San Francisco. Alessandra Sutti is an Associate Professor and Team Leader at Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Stuart Robottom is a Manager at Deakin University's Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Sandro Sutti is the GLOBE Italy Country Coordinator and the Scientific Coordinator at the Territorial Laboratory-Reference Centre for Environmental Education, LabTer-CREA, in Mantova, Italy.Alessandra SuttiTracy Ostrom is a former high school science educator and environmental scientist serving as GLOBE Mentor Trainer and Northern California GLOBE Coordinator at the University of California Berkeley, Department of Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences in Berkeley, California and a PhD student in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California Davis in Davis, California. Matt Ferner is with San Francisco State University and is the Research Director at the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in San Francisco. Alessandra Sutti is an Associate Professor and Team Leader at Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Stuart Robottom is a Manager at Deakin University's Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Sandro Sutti is the GLOBE Italy Country Coordinator and the Scientific Coordinator at the Territorial Laboratory-Reference Centre for Environmental Education, LabTer-CREA, in Mantova, Italy.Stuart RobottomTracy Ostrom is a former high school science educator and environmental scientist serving as GLOBE Mentor Trainer and Northern California GLOBE Coordinator at the University of California Berkeley, Department of Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences in Berkeley, California and a PhD student in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California Davis in Davis, California. Matt Ferner is with San Francisco State University and is the Research Director at the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in San Francisco. Alessandra Sutti is an Associate Professor and Team Leader at Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Stuart Robottom is a Manager at Deakin University's Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Sandro Sutti is the GLOBE Italy Country Coordinator and the Scientific Coordinator at the Territorial Laboratory-Reference Centre for Environmental Education, LabTer-CREA, in Mantova, Italy.Sandro SuttiTracy Ostrom is a former high school science educator and environmental scientist serving as GLOBE Mentor Trainer and Northern California GLOBE Coordinator at the University of California Berkeley, Department of Chemistry and Atmospheric Sciences in Berkeley, California and a PhD student in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California Davis in Davis, California. Matt Ferner is with San Francisco State University and is the Research Director at the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in San Francisco. Alessandra Sutti is an Associate Professor and Team Leader at Deakin University's Institute for Frontier Materials in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Stuart Robottom is a Manager at Deakin University's Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Sandro Sutti is the GLOBE Italy Country Coordinator and the Scientific Coordinator at the Territorial Laboratory-Reference Centre for Environmental Education, LabTer-CREA, in Mantova, Italy.