In this video, a renowned marine scientist introduces a new Mission Blue Hope Spot in Israel that will protect important habitat for threatened or endangered marine species.
The Palmahim Slide Hope Spot contains rare habitats of methane seeps and deep-water coral gardens, which are breeding grounds for deep water sharks and are home to endangered bamboo coral.
Dr. Sylvia Earle explains that the researchers who have studied the Palmahim Slide are working to have the area designated as a no-take/no-extraction marine protected area to help conserve this unique habitat.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video is a great introduction to the actions being taken to protect marine habitats, such as the establishment of marine protected areas and the work of the Mission Blue organization.
The description and images of deep sea creatures inhabiting the Palmahim Slide and its unique landscape are exciting because these areas and creatures are rare and newly-studied.
Additional Prerequisites
It may be helpful to inform students about marine protected areas and Hope Spots before watching the video.
Differentiation
Consider pausing the video to analyze and study the unique bathymetry that is described in the video. This may help students understand why rare habitats and marine creatures are found at the Palmahim Slide.
Learning about Hope Spots could be an effective way to evaluate how different groups of stakeholders can come together to take action and protect the environment.
This could be a hook for students learning about habitats, endangered species, and oceans or an uplifting resource for students to inspire hope for the future.
This resource emphasizes how crucial it is to safeguard the ecologically vulnerable Palmahin Slide from fossil fuel extraction activities. It calls attention to the need for the Israeli government to take action to protect the marine resources in this region. The teaching resource is advised because it does not contain any scientific misconceptions.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
MS-ESS3-3 Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 4: Taking Informed Action
D4.7.9-12 Assess options for individual and collective action to address local, regional, and global problems by engaging in self-reflection, strategy identification, and complex causal reasoning.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
