GAMES & ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Office of Response and Restoration

Marine Debris Program
1 Marine Debris Word Find

 Tons of Trash!

2 Picture Crossword

 Types of Marine Debris

3 Identifying the Problem

 The Source of the Problem

4 Coloring Activity

 Go Fish!

5 Secret Code

 Learn to Be a Drain Brain!

6 Memory Game

 Marine Match-Up

7 Connect the Dots

 A Sea Turtle’s Story

8 Coloring Activity

 Beach Cleanup

9 Unscramble the Phrase

 How Can I Help?

10 A Silly Story

 Cleaning Up the Beach 

11 Coloring Activity

 Diver Cleanup

12 Marine Debris Maze

 Getting to the Trash Can

13 ANSWER KEY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

This educational document was produced for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris 

Program under NOAA contract number AB133F06CN0193 by Sheavly Consultants, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

For more great activities, information, and 

what you can do to prevent marine debris visit 

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
1

13 Million Pounds?!

It is estimated that 13 million pounds of litter are put into the ocean each year.*

This litter is generated by many sources, from boats and oil rigs on the water to

picnickers, fisherman, and beachgoers along the shore. Hidden below is a list of

objects that have been discarded into our oceans. See if you can find them all!

BAIT CONTAINER

BALLOON

BUCKET

BUOY

CIGARETTE

CRATE

CUP

DIAPER

DOLL

FISHING LINE

FISHING NET

GLASS BOTTLE

GLOVE

HARD HAT

HOSE

LUMBER

PAINT BRUSH

RADIO

ROPE

RUG

SHOE

SODA CAN

STRAW

TIRE

TRASH BAG

M ARINE DEBRIS WORD FIND

NBAB I H O S E A T M R G

E G U T ACA N C EWE L L

K L RCR L ARNRN O U A

T O A P K C L G DIA K M S

R V D O A E NOA H W TBS

A E I D W I T T O A A M E B

S H O E HDN GRN L T R O

H SWS B O T TLE C A P T

B K I PCT S J BURG Y T

A F U T DIA P E R D O L L

G C I G A R ETT EUT P E

W A N X O E U O H B ASN E

B F I S HIN G L I NEH M

These hidden words are found horizontally, vertically and diagonally. (Answers on page 21).

*1997 U.S. Academy of Sciences study.

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Tons of Trash!

Litter is generated by many sources, from boats and oil rigs on the water 

to picnickers, fishermen, and beachgoers along the shore. Hidden below 

is a list of objects that have been discarded into our oceans. See if you 

can find them all!

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

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Types of Marine Debris

MARINE DEBRIS COMES

FROM MANY SOURCES

PARENTS CAN HELP!

(Answers on page 21)

ACROSS:

These litter items are 

generated by people on 

land such as beachgoers, 

picnickers and those who 

improperly dump their trash.

DOWN:

These litter items are 

generated by people at sea 

such as boaters, fisherman 

and passengers on cargo 

or cruise ships.

7 ACROSS:

_________________

TIRE

12 DOWN:

FISHING _______

14 DOWN:

WOODEN ________

9 ACROSS:

________

BAG

21 ACROSS:

CAR ___________

10 DOWN:

KNOTTED ________

2 DOWN:

FISHING _____

5 ACROSS:

LIGHT

_______

4 DOWN:

__________ TRAP

19 ACROSS:

_____ CAN

3 ACROSS:

_________

BOTTLE

18 ACROSS:

MILK

_________

13 ACROSS:

_____–______

HOLDER

17 DOWN: CRAB ______

8 DOWN:

____________

LINE

11 ACROSS:

CHILDREN’S ________

1 DOWN:

FLOAT OR _______

6 DOWN:

_______ CONTAINER

15 ACROSS:

___________

GLOVE

PICTURE CROSSWORD

20 ACROSS:

________

BOTTLE

16 DOWN:

OIL OR LUBE

___________

2

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

MARINE DEBRIS COMES 

FROM MANY SOURCES

ACROSS:

These litter items are 

generated by people on 

land such as beachgoers, 

picnickers, and those who 

improperly dump their trash.

DOWN:

These litter items are 

generated by people at sea 

such as boaters, fishermen, 

and passengers on cargo or 

cruise ships.

PARENTS CAN HELP!

(Answers on page 13)
There are nine pictures below. 

Circle the pictures which you 

believe could be sources of marine 

debris or ocean trash. When you 

have finished, write down what 

these pictures have in common.

Answers on page 21.

IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM

The Source

of the Problem

PARENTS CAN HELP!

A CRUISE SHIP A SHARK PICNICKERS

A FISH A MAN WASHING

HIS CAR

DOLPHINS

A FISHERMAN SEA GULLS A BEACHGOER 3

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

13
Go Fish!

COLORING ACTIVITY

4

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
SECRET CODE

Learn to Be 

a Drain Brain!

Have you ever wondered what those holes are at the 

edge of the sidewalk? They’re called storm drains

and they carry rain water off the street and into streams 

and rivers.

Unlock the Secret Message and Discover

How You Can Become a Drain Brain!

Soda bottles, paper cups, candy wrappers, cigarette butts 

and all of the trash in the street gets carried into storm

drains with the rain water until it finally reaches the 

ocean and becomes debris.

Unlock the secret message by using the chart below to 

replace the shapes with the letters they match up with.

= A

= C

= H

= I

= L

= N

= O

= P

= R

= S

= T

= U

= W

= Y

(Answers on page 21)

5

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

13
MEMO R Y GAM E

Marine Match-Up

What do you think happens when an animal comes

across litter in its natural habitat?

HOW TO PLAY (FOR TWO PLAYERS)

1.) Cut out the squares and place them face down.

2.) Player 1 turns over two squares. A sea turtle can choke on a plastic sandwich bag 3.) If a match is revealed, the player gets to keep the two squares. 

that it mistakes for food. A curious sea lion can get 

entangled in discarded commercial fishing nets.

Play the MARINE MATCH-UP game to learn more 

about how litter harms marine animals. 

Dolphin Dolphin

A dolphin can

get tangled in fishing gear

A dolphin can

get tangled in fishing gear

Pelican

A pelican

can get its

neck stuck in 

a six-pack 

holder

A manatee can get tangled

in discarded fishing line

Sea Gull

A sea gull 

can become entangled 

in discarded fishing line 

Sea Gull Sea

Turtle

Sea Lion

A sea lion can become

entangled in ropes and nets

For example, if the player reveals two Dolphins, he gets to keep 

the two squares. However, if the player reveals two animals 

which DO NOT match, then both squares are turned face down 

again and Player 2 takes a turn.

4.) When all the squares are gone, the player with the most 

 number of squares wins. 

Manatee

A manatee can get tangled

in discarded fishing line

Manatee

A sea gull 

can become entangled 

in discarded fishing line 

Raccoon Raccoon

A raccoon

can cut its 

paws on broken glass

A raccoon

can cut its 

paws on broken glass

Pelican

A pelican

can get its

neck stuck in 

a six-pack 

holder

Beaver

A beaver can get

its head stuck in a tin can

Beaver

A beaver can get

its head stuck in a tin can

Sea

Turtle

A sea turtle can

choke on a plastic bag

A sea turtle can

choke on a plastic bag

Sea Lion

A sea lion can become

entangled in ropes and nets 6

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
A Sea Turtle’s Story

CONNECT THE DOTS

How Can Litter Be Deadly to a Sea Turtle?

Connect the Dots—Don’t Let Your Trash End Up in the Ocean!

Sometimes sea turtles mistake litter in the water as food. Plastic bags look 

like jellyfish, sea turtles’ favorite food. If swallowed, debris can block digestion

or remain in the turtle’s stomach, causing the turtle to feel “full” and eat less 

than it needs to survive. Plastic or plastic foam in a turtle’s stomach can cause

excess buoyancy, decreasing the animal’s ability to dive deeper for prey.

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Start Here

7

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Sometimes sea turtles mistake litter in the water as food. Plastic bags 

look like jellyfish, sea turtles’ favorite food. If swallowed, debris can block 

digestion or remain in the turtle’s stomach, causing the turtle to feel “full” 

and eat less than it needs to survive. Plastic or plastic foam in a turtle’s 

stomach can cause excess buoyancy, decreasing the animal’s ability to 

dive deeper for prey.
Beach Cleanup

COLORING ACTIVITY

8

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
How Can I Help?

Beach or coastal cleanups can be found in many communities. 

During these cleanups, kids and adults work together to collect the

trash that has been thrown into their waterways. Cleanups make

the environment a cleaner, safer place for people and animals.

Unscramble the words below to reveal how you can help! Answers on page 21.

I F D N T U O F I

E H R T E S I A

L T A C S O A L A P U C E N

N I O Y R U

T C I M Y O M N U

UNSCRAMBLE THE PHRAS E

9

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Beach or coastal cleanups can be found in many communities. 

During these cleanups, kids and adults work together to collect 

the trash that has entered their waterways. Cleanups make the 

environment a cleaner, safer place for people and animals.

13
and I found of them. had a

Cleaning Up the Beach

A SILL Y STO R Y

This is a game that can be played with two people, but we recommend playing it

with a group. The READER asks each person (in turn) to call out a word until the 

blanks are filled in. Then the READER reads the entire silly story to the group.

Last year, we had a very successful beach cleanup in our community.

helped out along with ,

, and .

I got the job of picking up all of the 

job himself. He wore gloves so that he wouldn’t 

get any on his . We all yelled

when found a 

stuck in the sand. But the most 

piece of garbage we found was a . By the end of the day,

we had found , , and

. The beach was a much cleaner, safer place to play!

FEMALE CELEBRITY

FEMALE PLAYER MALE CELEBRITY

ADJECTIVE

ADJECTIVE

ADJECTIVE

TYPE OF GARBAGE CLOTHING

EXCLAMATION!

NOUN

NOUN

NOUN PLURAL

NUMBER

NUMBER NOUN PLURAL

NOUN PLURAL

NUMBER NUMBER

MALE PLAYER

FEMALE PLAYER

NOUN PLURAL

MALE PLAYER

10

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

This is a game that can be played with two people, but we recommend 

playing it with a group. The READER asks each person (in turn) to call out 

a word until the blanks are filled in. Then the READER reads the entire silly 

story to the group.
Diver Cleanup

COLORING ACTIVIT Y

11

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Only a trained and experienced diver should 

attempt removing marine debris underwater.

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
Getting to the Trash Can

Using a Pencil, Help Billy 

Find His Way through 

the Maze and to 

the Trash Can

M ARINE DEBRIS MAZE

Sometimes it takes a couple more steps to get to a trash can where you can properly

discard your trash. But these extra steps will make you a good steward of the 

environment. Always put your trash in a trash can and always look for recycling bins 

for your glass, plastics, cardboard, metals and newspapers.

TRASH

12

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

Sometimes it takes a couple more steps to get to a trash can where you 

can properly discard your trash. But these extra steps will make you a 

good steward of the environment. Always put your trash in a trash can and 

always look for recycling bins for your glass, plastics, cardboard, metals, and 

newspaper.
13

ANSWER KEY

Identifying the Problem (Page 3)

Wherever you find people, you find a potential 

source of marine debris. A cruise ship, picnickers, 

a man washing his car, a fisherman and a 

beachgoer are ALL potential sources of marine 

debris.

Secret Code (Page 5)

ALWAYS PUT YOUR TRASH IN A TRASH CAN.

Unscramble the Phrase (Page 9)

FIND OUT IF THERE IS A COASTAL CLEANUP

IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

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URE CROSSWORD

P

B U

B

O

Y

L B

A U T

E

N

O M O B I L E

I

T R

O

S I X P A

H

I

N

G L A

B

R

C

S S

C A

T

E

R T O N

I

F

C

R

K

E

A S H

L

O

S

T O Y S

E

R U B B

O

T

T I N

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B R A T T E Y

E R

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U

L

A S T I C

NBAB I H O S EAT M R G

E G U T ACA N C EWE L L

K L RCR L ARNRN O U A

T O A P K C L G DIA K M S

R V D O A E NOA H W TBS

A E I D W I T T O A A M E B

S H O E HDN GRN L T R O

H SWS B O T TLE C A P T

B K I PCT S J BURG Y T

A F U T DIA P E R D O L L

G C I G A R ETT E U TPE

W A N X O E U O H B ASNE

B F I S HIN G L I NEH M

Word Find (Page 1)

Picture Crossword (Page 2)

https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/

For more great activities, information, and what you can do to prevent marine debris visit https://marinedebris.noaa.gov/
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Office of Response and Restoration

Marine Debris Program