Glowing for Attention: Seeing the Changes in Our Ocean
Lesson Plans
GradesK, 1, 2Science, English Language Arts
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Provided by UCI Science Project
What it is
- In this multi-day lesson, students will learn about corals, see why they fluoresce, learn about ocean acidification, and how people can make choices to improve coral health.
- The lesson includes an animated story for students to read, a hands-on model of coral that students make with clay, and a list of actions students can take.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The lesson introduces biodiversity, a vital concept in understanding climate impacts, by having students count fish around healthy and unhealthy coral.
- By making their pet corals, students will get to flex their creativity and keep a reminder to help them continue to make green choices.
Additional Prerequisites
- The worksheet link in the presenter's notes will not work. Teachers will need to use the link under Materials.
- The video for coral inspiration on the slides does not work. Instead, teachers can search online for other healthy coral images.
- The Acids at Home activity link is broken.
- Teachers will need clay and fluorescent paint for one of the activities and can print out pictures of the story characters.
- The background information references California, but these lessons are universal.
Differentiation
- Depending on students' reading experience, some of the terms in the second story may be unfamiliar to them. Teachers can pre-teach these terms or read the story out loud to the class.
- Some students with sensory processing differences may not want to work with clay. These students can have the option to draw their pet coral or create it with a different medium.
- After hearing about the plastic pollution in the ocean, students can make posters to show others how to make green choices.
Framework for Shifting Paradigms in Climate Education
This resource exemplifies the Activates Student Agency Key Focus Area.
- Core Component 1: Investigating Climate Change Through Hands-On Experiences
- Students read about coral reef organisms and then create their own “pet coral” using clay to represent their coral and the symbiotic relationship between corals and zooxanthellae.
- Core Component 2: Student-Centered Projects and Action Plans
- After learning about the corals, zooxanthellae, and parrot fish, students learn about the changes occurring in the oceans due to human activities. They are challenged to think about how they can act in the best interest of corals and the environment when faced with various choices and situations.
- Core Component 3: Emotional Support and Empathy Building
- The picture book in the presentation personifies the corals and other marine creatures, which helps students empathize with them as they describe how they’re feeling. They also see how making different choices can positively affect marine life and coral reefs. The tips for guided discussions found in the Google Slides will help teachers engage with their students to support their emotions as well.
From the scientist review
The lesson lets students learn about coral reefs, their role in the ocean, and ways other living organisms interact with them in the ocean ecosystem. The lesson is well sourced and is recommended for teaching.
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