Reading Between the Lines: Marine Debris Education for Children in Georgia

The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service and Georgia Sea Grant have been awarded a grant from the Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative (SEA-MDI) to educate children in Georgia about the sources and impacts of marine debris. Visiting public and elementary school libraries, the programs will present multimedia readings of The Flying Debris, an original story in which marine animals living on an island of trash teach children lessons about local and global marine stewardship.

Project staff will bring unique custom-built book displays created by local artists to libraries in Clarke, Oconee, Glynn and Macintosh Counties and provide grade-appropriate teaching materials aligned with state science standards. Each participating library will receive a complementary set of children’s books on marine debris, Georgia marine life, and recycling.

Focuing on impacts to Georgia’s coastal and ocean ecosystems, the program will provide hands-on examples of how local actions can have far-reaching consequences. Children will examine ocean samples collected from the North Pacific Gyre and receive interactive demonstrations using up-cycled products made from debris in Indonesia.

Children who attend the book readings will receive a free copy of The Flying Debris along with other materials to help them reduce their use of disposable plastics.

How to Participate

Register your public or elementary school library in “Reading Between the Lines,” a University of Georgia outreach program on the impacts of plastic pollution. During the 2012-2013 school year, UGA specialists will visit selected libraries to perform live readings of The Flying Debris children’s book and teach about how local actions can have far-reaching environmental consequences. Group discussions and hands-on activities will illustrate fun ways to help protect the environment. Public library programs may be open to the public, while elementary school library programs will be limited to third grade classes, due to the correlation to that grade's science standards.

Participating libraries will receive:

• a unique, custom-built Flying Debris bookcase for one month, showcasing children’s books on marine debris, Georgia marine life and recycling
• a complementary collection of environmental children’s books, including a hardcover copy of The Flying Debris
• on-site instruction on local and global marine stewardship

Participating children will each receive:

• a paperback copy of The Flying Debris
• a reusable shopping bag
• a bookmark made from repurposed debris
• a Flying Debris temporary tattoo
• activity booklets tailored to Georgia state science standards (schools only)

The Southeast Atlantic Marine Debris Initiative is a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Division that works to increase the geographic scope and pace of marine debris prevention activities through the use of culturally relevant outreach methods, information on alternative disposal methods and the development and dissemination of tools and innovative products to address marine debris.

Georgia Sea Grant and the University of Georgia Marine Extension Service partner to conduct outreach, education, and research on the Georgia coast to enhance coastal environmental, social and economic sustainability. The University of Georgia is a land and sea grant institution. 

For more information or to enroll your school or public library in the “Reading Between the Lines” program, contact Jill Gambill, Georgia Sea Grant Communications Director, at jgambill@uga.edu or 706-542-3463. Call now to guarantee availability.