Classroom Lesson with University of Miami At-Risk Summer Academy

On July 6, 2026, The International SeaKeepers Society hosted a classroom lesson with 23 students and 4 educators of the University of Miami At-Risk Summer Academy Program in Miami. These students spend their Summer at the university’s campus, devoting time with various teachers and programs in an organized setting where they can also interact with peers. The SeaKeepers Education team was invited by the staff of the academy to host a presentation and activity centered on marine pollution and the plastic crisis. Our team worked with two student groups, where with each our Educational Outreach Manager, Jack, led an interactive presentation on the various types of pollution and their impact on marine life. Our students proved to be natural conservationists, easily recognizing the threats caused by oil and gas, plastic debris, algae blooms, and many more. After becoming pollution experts, we pivoted to our Sink or Float activity where SeaKeepers’ Community Engagement Manager, Lillian, led each group of students in differentiating between the seven major types of plastic through their density and other physical properties. Students would make hypotheses whether samples of each type of plastic would sink or float in seawater and made follow-up conclusions on what kinds of animals were most affected by sinking versus floating plastic. We give a huge thank you to the students and staff of the UM At-Risk Summer Academy, and we hope to join them again for future lessons and marine science fun!