You’ll likely have heard the statistic that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. But, according to Plastic Oceans UK, that could happen much sooner. 

This is why, together with Plastic Oceans UK, a primary school in the UK is launching a new movement: the Almost History movement. 

And it’s doing this simply by changing the categories in its library — to help get kids, educators, and parents interested in learning how to protect the environment. 

Previously, the categories in the library of St Nicholas & St Mary Primary School in Shoreham-by-Sea were fiction, poetry, art, sports, science, nature, and history. 

But now, there’s a brand new section for “almost history” — the idea being that, simply by rethinking the way they organise and classify books, they can bring home the reality of the crisis currently facing the natural world. 

Happy #WorldOceansDay! We believe sending a simple message today is best - especially from the future guardians of our planet. Here's our "Almost History" video campaign, where we ask you pledge to #RelearnPlastic. #Plastic#PlasticWaste#WaveOfChange#Educationpic.twitter.com/4ZSf9Ubb8Y

— Plastic Oceans UK (@PlasticOceans) June 8, 2019

“By adding the ‘almost history’ section in school libraries, the movement aims to highlight the fragile state of our oceans,” says Natasha Rutherford, marketing and communications manager at Plastic Oceans UK. 

“If we don’t learn how to take better care of our oceans then future generations will only learn about marine life from the history books,” she adds. 

For one student, Casper, in Primary 2, the concept is simple: “If we learn we know, and if we don’t learn we don’t know.” 

To coincide with the start of the Almost History movement, Plastic Oceans UK is also launching the next phase of its educational website to mark World Oceans Day on June 8. 

The website provides free educational resources for children of all ages, teachers, and parents. And it includes lesson plans, e-learning, and information on the organisation’s award-winning documentary, A Plastic Ocean, which can now be streamed on Netflix.  

“Most teachers in the UK receive little or no training on the topic of plastic pollution and ocean health,” explained Jo Ruxton, CEO and founder of Plastic Oceans UK. “We aim to solve that problem and provide all educators with the resources and knowledge they requite.”

She added: “Ultimately, the goal is to make the next generation more aware than the last and reverse the trend of environmental degradation in our world’s oceans.” 

• If you’re interested in learning more about education around ocean plastic pollution, you can find Plastic Oceans UK’s educational website here.