Clean beaches, clean oceans: What can we do?

This ESL worksheet explores the urgent issue of ocean pollution, with a strong focus on plastic waste, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and real-world solutions for improving environmental sustainability. Students develop and expand topic-specific vocabulary related to waste, pollution, and recycling while engaging in critical discussion about human impact on marine ecosystems. The lesson encourages learners to analyse environmental problems, evaluate possible solutions, and reflect on their own habits regarding plastic use and waste reduction.

Speaking:
The lesson begins with 3 guided speaking activities in which students discuss the importance of the oceans, common types of marine pollution, and personal experiences with litter in natural environments. Learners explore questions about single-use plastics, environmental responsibility, and the advantages and disadvantages of plastic in modern life. They also work collaboratively to generate practical ideas for improving beach cleanliness through rewards, punishments, education campaigns, and community initiatives.

Vocabulary:

Students learn and practise key expressions related to waste and pollution, including food chain, threat, to degrade, wildlife, microplastics, current, and to float. 

Listening:
Students watch a video called “Cleaning up the Great Passific Garbage Patch“, and complete comprehension tasks focused on global plastic pollution. The listening activities cover key facts such as the scale of ocean plastic accumulation, the impact on marine life and humans, and how microplastics enter the food chain. Learners also sequence processes related to ocean cleanup technology, including floating barriers and plastic collection systems, and explore how recycling fishing nets can support environmental recovery.

Practice & Discussion:
Students complete vocabulary practice exercises using newly learned environmental terms in context, followed by structured discussions about responsibility for ocean cleanup, the role of governments, companies, and individuals, and the balance between prevention and cleanup. They also evaluate technological solutions versus behaviour change and reflect on the realism of large-scale environmental innovation projects.

Vocabulary: Confusing words
Students learn the difference between waste, garbage, trash, litter, pollution, and debris, as well as key collocations with each one.

For more speaking practice, you can use the printable conversation cards.