Why do we need to save our oceans and turtles?
Australians alone use over 9.7 billion single-use plastic bags annually, and 8 million metric tonnes of plastics end up in our oceans each year. These plastics remain intact or break down into microplastics which are often ingested by turtles, seabirds, whales and fish species. The consumption of plastic eventually causes gastric blockages and potential starvation or death. Marine animals can also become entangled in nets or fishing line and drown. Turtle species endemic to Australia include 6 of the 7 species found around the world, and they desperately need our help!
We want your school to get involved in Thumbs Up For Turtles 2022!
Our Roots & Shoots National Youth Leadership Council has prepared a variety of learning resources available to teachers. They have made it easy to run short group activities and classroom sessions dedicated to saving our oceans.
Including:
- Facts and figures about marine turtles and ocean conservation
- Letter/email templates to be sent to school canteens and cafes calling on a reduction of single use plastic products such as plastic straws and plastic cutlery
- A range of educational infographics and posters
- A class powerpoint presentation designed for primary school students, with two turtle-themed educational activities
Click on the link below to download a Zip file with the resources.
Competition
Create an individual or group artwork of your choice made of used plastics. Be as creative as possible!
Share your creations on our Facebook page @RootsandShootsAU on Instagram with the hashtag #ThumbsupforTurtles and email nsw@janegoodall.org.au before 5:00pm AEST on Sunday, 31 July, and you could win your very own Mr H, a replica of Dr Jane Goodall’s plush monkey that travels with her wherever she goes!
We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
TIP: Clean Up Australia Day falls on Sunday the 6th of March this year. How about using rubbish collected from these cleanups can be used in the making of your inspiring piece of art, for example a sea turtle made entirely of collected plastic pollution.
Infographics
JGIA acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of this nation. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands and pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past and present.