Nurdles are the tiny, factory-made pellets that form the raw material for every plastic product that we use, from toys to toothbrushes. And while they look pretty harmless on land, they can really wreak havoc on our oceans. Kim Preshoff details the nurdles’quest for ocean domination, shedding light on the particular features that allow these pervasive polluters to persist for entire generations.
Have you ever heard of a nurdle? Do you know how they are impacting the ocean and the potential consequences of them? This TED-Ed video shares the history of nurdles (they date back to the 1900s) and their impact on the ocean, and our lives.
This topic is one that many students would understand and they could develop a plan to educate their community about nurdles and what can be done. There are many resources provided in the Dig Deeper session that would allow students to explore and learn more. If you teach science, or are looking at issues that impact the globe in social studies, or are interested in teaching students about global issues that have a range of impacts this would be a great place to start.