Science Ocean Lifeusually ages 9–11

Ocean Pollution & Harm

Identify ways humans harm the ocean — plastic pollution, overfishing, oil spills, and ocean acidification from carbon dioxide — and understand that most ocean pollution comes from land-based activities, not just ships

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Name at least three ways humans harm the ocean
Explain that most ocean pollution originates on land, not from ships
Describe how plastic pollution or overfishing specifically harms marine animals

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

If your child saw plastic washed up on a beach, could they explain where it came from, how it harms sea life, and name other ways humans damage the ocean like overfishing and pollution from factories?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Ocean Ecosystemsages 9–11Understanding human impact requires ecosystem systems thinking

Ocean Food Websages 7–9Understanding harm to food webs (overfishing) benefits from food web knowledge

Ocean Pollution & Harmthis skill · ages 9–11

Unlocks

Protecting the Oceanages 9–11Conservation solutions require understanding the problems first

Predator Loss and Ecosystem Effectsages 12–14Trophic cascades and overfishing depends on human ocean harm overview

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Deep-Sea Creaturesages 9–11 Exploring the Oceanages 9–11 Ocean Animal Migrationsages 9–11 Ocean Ecosystemsages 9–11

All Ocean Life skills →