Learning to Give, Philanthropy education resources that teach giving and civic engagement
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Purpose:
This lesson will demonstrate to the children that animals need a safe environment just like humans do. They will discover that even small creatures can make a difference in an ocean environment, just like they can make a difference in helping to protect the ocean environment by not littering or polluting the water.
Duration:
Three Forty-Five Minute Class Periods
Objectives:
The learner will:
- understand all living things have life requirements.
- compare and contrast what they like and dislike about the oceans.
- develop a class letter to an organization or ocean expert asking how they can help keep the oceans clean.
- demonstrate an understanding of stewardship for the Earth through their letter.
Service Experience:
Make arrangements with another class for the children to share their Ocean Dioramas. Remind them that they should share the information that they have learned about taking care of the ocean environment.
Materials:
- Book: Do You Know Where Sea Turtles Go?
- Chart Paper for recording likes and dislikes
- Chart Paper for drafting a class letter
Instructional Procedure(s):
Anticipatory Set:
Begin this lesson by using a compare-and-contrast chart. Label it likes and dislikes. Talk about the ocean environment, and what they like and dislike about it.
- Read aloud the book, Do You Know Where Sea Turtles Go? and discuss the needs of these animals. When you finish the book, talk with the children about the different dangers the turtles experienced.
- Ask: What do you think other sea creatures do when they encounter these dangers? What happens if ocean animals don’t have a safe environment? What can we do to help the ocean animals live in a safe environment?
- Have the children discuss what can be done to help clean up the environment and how to make more people aware of the ocean environment.
- Tell the children there are many different organizations working to keep our oceans clean, and we can make a difference by helping our community understand the importance of keeping our oceans clean. (See Bibliographical References)
- Make a compare-and-contrast graphic (Venn Diagram) on a display area, and discuss some of the similarities and differences between people and ocean animals, and their need for a clean environment.
- Have the children present their dioramas and talk about the different ocean animals or environments they built in their dioramas.
- Ask them to add to their daily journals the information that they learned today.
Assessment:
Children will demonstrate what they have learned by writing a class letter to an organization or ocean expert to find out more about what we can do to help clean up our oceans. Tell them that they need to tell the experts that they have been learning about the ocean and the animals that live in it. They must tell the experts three things they have learned in the unit before they ask questions about taking care of the oceans.
Teacher Note: Older students can copy the class letter and/or draw a picture to show what they have learned.
Bibliographical References:
- Lowery, Paul. Do You Know Where Sea Turtles Go? PBL Stories, LLC, 2005. ISBN: 0977105997
Organizations:
- Cetacean Society International
P.O. Box 9145;
Wethersfield, CT 06109
http://csiwhalesalive.org/ - Cousteau Society
Greenbriar Tower II
870 Greenbriar Circle, Suite 402
Chesapeake, VA 23320 - http://www.cousteau.org/en/ Kid’s Corner
- Defenders of Wildlife; http://www.kidsplanet.org/
- A list of individual State Environmental Agencies http://www.epa.gov/epahome/state.htm
- This site gives general information about oceans and protection of the environment. There is a free poster available, as well as samples of letters from first graders http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/mprsa/ Oceans and Coasts for Children, Students & Teachers
- Oceans and Coastal Protection Division (4504T) http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
202/566-1200 - Office of Ecosystem Protection (CWQ) http://www.epa.gov/ne/about/oepchart.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 1
1 Congress Street, Suite 1100
Boston, MA 02114
617/918-1620
Lesson Developed By:
Caryn YarnotMona Shores Public Schools
Ross Park Elementary
Muskegon, MI 49441
Handouts:
Unit Contents:
Overview:What's All the Commotion in the Ocean? Summary
Lessons:
- 1.
- What's in the Water?
- 2.
- Do Fish Clean the Ocean?
- 3.
- Seashore Sweep
- 4.
- How Can We Help?
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to freely use this information for nonprofit (noncommercial), educational purposes only. Copyright must be acknowledged on all copies.
