Ingjerd Haarstad Completes a Swim for the Ocean at the Jaeren Coast Hope Spot

Positives

• Beautiful pictures of Norwegian coastline, kelp forests, and the narrator celebrating her swimming journey connect the reader to the importance of Igjerd's mission to protect the ocean.
• Ingjerd mentions how most of the ocean is unexplored and that this can be a barrier to properly caring for and protecting this huge global ecosystem.
• The article and video show how one individual's actions can create press and interest around an environmental issue, inspiring others to take action.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be familiar with environmental threats to oceans.
• It would be helpful for students to be introduced the idea of Marine Protected Areas and the work of Mission Blue and their establishment of Hope Spots.

Differentiation

• Before reading the article, prompt students to discuss what they think are some of the biggest challenges to ocean health and make a list on the board.
• After reading the article, ask students to consider any special skills they may have and how they could utilize them to advocate for a Hope Spot.
• As an extension, have students learn more about some of the ecosystems and organisms that are found in this Norwegian Hope Spot such as kelp forests, reefs, sharks, shellfish, and coastal birds.
• Mission Blue's Hope Spots initiative is a great example for students to study methods of environmental protection and action for the world's oceans.