Tiny Ocean Heroes That Save the Planet
Synopsis
This video features youth eco-activist Audrey Ma explaining the importance of phytoplankton.
Students learn how some phytoplankton glow in the dark to scare away predators, how scientists use ocean instruments, satellites, and computer models to study them, and how melting sea ice affects weather around the world.
This video is about 7 minutes long and is framed as a visit from the year 2050.
Teaching Materials
Prerequisites:
Ensure students are familiar with plants and how their processes provide us with oxygen.
Classroom Implementation:
Use this resource to introduce global warming, ocean plants, and the albedo effect in kid-friendly terms.
Literacy Connections:
Create vocabulary cards for the terms introduced in the video, such as phytoplankton and bioluminescence.
Extensions:
Students draw a comic strip that shows phytoplankton using their superpowers to take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
Scientist's Note:
This video connects oceans to terrestrial conditions, clearing up a possible misconception.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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