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Stressed Out!

http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/edu/lessonplans/media/09stressedout.pdf

Mel Goodwin, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)- Ocean Explorer

In this activity, students research various topics about ocean health, e.g. overfishing, habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change, pollution, and ocean acidification. An optional extension activity has them creating an aquatic biosphere in a bottle experiment in which they can manipulate variables.

Activity takes about 4-6 class periods. Computer access is required.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»


Climate Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Energy Literacy

This Activity builds on the following concepts of Energy Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Excellence in Environmental Education Guidelines

1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:B) Designing investigations
Other materials addressing:
B) Designing investigations.
1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:C) Collecting information
Other materials addressing:
C) Collecting information.
1. Questioning, Analysis and Interpretation Skills:E) Organizing information
Other materials addressing:
E) Organizing information.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.1 The Earth as a Physical System:A) Processes that shape the Earth
Other materials addressing:
A) Processes that shape the Earth.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.2 The Living Environment:C) Systems and connections
Other materials addressing:
C) Systems and connections.
2. Knowledge of Environmental Processes and Systems:2.4 Environment and Society:A) Human/environment interactions
Other materials addressing:
A) Human/environment interactions.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

  • If teachers decide to use the aquatic biosphere experiment, they should begin that first and make sure that students design a perturbation experiment that will stress the ecosystem in some way. Students can then make the leap to the stressors on ocean health.

About the Content

  • This activity relies on experimentation and manipulation of real data.
  • Are human activities setting the stage for a mass extinction as has occurred in the past according to the fossil record?
  • Comments from expert scientist: It is really well presented, and this activity covers really important ocean health topic. Good combination of practical and more theoretical activities.

About the Pedagogy

  • The core of this lesson is to have students research a ocean health topic and then present their research to the class.
  • One of the two optional activities include presenting in the specific format of a scientific poster. Instructions are included for the poster presentation.
  • The other optional component is to make aquatic biospheres and then perturb the biosphere in some way to collect data.
  • The teacher will need to carefully review the materials to make sure connections are made between the experiment and the activities.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • The lesson is lengthy and complex, requiring instructors to carefully review the steps and decide which options best meet their needs and the needs of their students.
Entered the Collection: January 2014 Last Reviewed: January 2014

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