• 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.

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.
  

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.