This brief video introduces students to the geography and wildlife of Nehalem Bay, located on the coast of Oregon.
Students will learn about the bay's size and location, some of the islands surrounding the bay, and the importance of the bay to certain wildlife.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video incorporates video footage of animals in the bay and animated maps to help students stay engaged.
A few actionable steps to preserve estuaries are mentioned in this video, which can be expanded upon in discussion with students.
Additional Prerequisites
Prior to watching the video, define the terms spit and estuary for students.
Students may be better able to relate to this video if you show them a map of where it is in relation to them and/or compare it to a nearby estuary.
Differentiation
Students can create a river trip map, following the Nehalem river (or a river in their area) and detailing interesting places along that river. Have students think about how the river ecosystem may change if temperatures continue to rise.
Science lessons can focus on the importance of estuaries to wildlife and ecosystems (including ideas from the video, student ideas, or research) and discuss how climate change may effect these estuaries, why we should protect them, and what we can do to help.
After watching this video, students can create a watershed map of either this estuary or one near them, labeling the rivers and streams and then following up with a discussion on the role climate change may play in this watershed.
Consider having students create an infographic highlighting the benefits of estuaries and what people can do to help preserve and protect them.
Ask students to think about how low tides reveal the land on the nearby islands and ask them to imagine how the animals living on the islands may be affected by rising sea levels or strong storms.
Scientist Notes
This resource is a YouTube video that discusses the Oregon Coast, specifically Nehalem Bay. There is a discussion about what an estuary is and where the water in an estuary comes from, as well as a brief discussion about high and low tides and the types of animals found in an estuary. This video would be a great addition to a classroom discussion on watersheds, estuaries, rivers, the water cycle, and the importance of clean water.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
2-ESS2-2 Develop a model to represent the shapes and kinds of land and bodies of water in an area.
4-ESS2-2 Analyze and interpret data from maps to describe patterns of Earth’s features.
LS4: Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
3-LS4-3 Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
