The teen that started teaching others about plastic pollution to help protect the ocean
Tanya
Plastic can take this long to break down in nature
hundreds of years
what ocean animal often mistakes plastic bags for jellyfish?
a sea turtle
To break down naturally over time
decompose
This giant ocean animal is the largest animal to ever live on Earth
blue whale
Type of plastic is used once and then thrown away
Single use-plastics
About this many tons of plastic enter the ocean each year
about 8 million tons
Animals can become stuck in plastic waste, which is called this?
entanglement
Trash or harmful substances in the environment
pollution
This fish can inflate like a balloon when it feels threatened
the Pufferfish
Tanya was inspired after seeing animals harmed by plastic where?
a sea turtle hospital or rescue center
Tiny pieces of broken plastic in the ocean are called this
microplastics
Fish and birds may accidentally eat plastic thinking it is this
food
Using an item again instead of throwing it away
reuse
This ocean creature has eight arms and is known for being very intelligent.
Octopus
How many people pledged to reduce plastic after learning from Tanya?
over 50,000
This common item people use instead of plastic water bottles
reusable water bottle
Plastic pollution can damage ocean habitats such as these colorful underwater ecosystems
Coral reefs
A promise to do something, like reduce plastic use
a pledge
This bin color is commonly used for recycling in many schools and cities.
Blue
What is the main environmental problem discussed in the article?
plastic pollution in the ocean
Plastic bags can look like this animal’s favorite food to sea turtles
Jellyfish
This shark is the largest fish in the ocean but mainly eats plankton
Whale Shark
Protecting and caring for nature is called this
conservation
This powerful predator is one of the largest types of sharks in the ocean. (and Mrs. H's favorite animals!)
Great White Shark