Blue Mission: Ocean Defenders

The environmental project "Blue Mission: Ocean Defenders" aims to study and protect the ocean through authentic practical activities by students.
Formation of ecological thinking in students, practical and soft skills.
The project is based on an activity-oriented approach where students are active participants in choosing topics, planning and implementing activities, and presenting and promoting the final results.
Topic – Marine Debris:
• Participation in the citizen science project Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! Students gain authentic learning experiences by regularly visiting and cleaning the beach in Burgas as part of the Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! initiative. In 2022, the Europeanization of this citizen science initiative began for Bulgaria from our school under the patronage of then-EU Commissioner Maria Gabriel.
• Long-term fieldwork by students (spring and autumn during both years of the project). Investigating Black Sea beaches for microplastic pollution using scientific method and creating interactive map.
• Online meetings between students and researchers from University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov" Students learned about common polymers and how to change human behavior to reduce plastic pollution.
• On-site visits to the university where students worked in laboratory for analyzing microplastics in water from Burgas beach.
• STEAM activities: students created prototypes of boats for cleaning plastics from oceans and seas.
• Conducting two beach clean-up actions and sports activities on the beach with students' parents.
• Organizing a school campaign to reduce the use of single-use products and excessive plastic use. Students created a video clip.
• The team of students designed and programmed a "smart" trash bin.
• Another team made waste sorting bins designed like basketball hoops.
• Art workshops with students and parents at school to transform unnecessary plastic and other waste into useful items. An exhibition of art pieces made from waste materials was held.
• Organizing and conducting two recycling workshops for the public in Burgas
• Participation in Global Action Days 2023.
• Laboratory experiments and STEAM activities, included as part of the curriculum – water cycle.
Topic "Food from the Ocean" is addressed: Through environmental games that focus on sustainable consumption.
Topic "Climate and Ocean" includes:
Understanding coastal erosion. Students demonstrate their acquired theoretical knowledge through laboratory experiments and STEAM activities. Authentic activities involve researching information about migratory bird species that inhabit the wetlands near Burgas. Two educational signs with information and student drawings of the birds have been created and placed at a bird observation hide. Funds for the signs were raised by the students through charity events – selling bird-shaped cookies made by the children.
Topic "Healthy and Clean Ocean":
Students conduct classroom experiments on water purification by making various types of filters and cleaning water through bioremediation. Creating a prototype solar still for distilling seawater. They also visited the science center "Planet UM" for interactive activities on the topics of Water and Marine Energy.
Ocean-related topics are integrated into the curriculum of various subjects allowing for multidisciplinary work. The project's activities enable students to tackle real-life problems with the support of professionals, facilitating easier comprehension of ocean-related topics in the classroom. Some activities are conducted outdoors on the beach. The project includes on-site visits and remote learning.
The European dimension of the project - Plastic Pirates – Go Europe! The project also assists students in choosing future marine-related careers. Some project activities are carried out by students during extracurricular activities—eco clubs.