Lessons & Activities

Islands Exploration
 

All lessons and activities are designed to integrate into Oceanography, Ecosystem or Environmental Units of study.

1. Know Want to know Learned (KWL) ~

• Create a KWL traditionally OR
• Have students draw and write out what they know about the oceans & islands of the world on large poster paper....would be fun to do as a cooperative group.  If done as individuals, start by charting longitude and latitude and charting the continents using ratios and comparisons.  Then in "pencil" have students put in what they "think" they know.  These would be a good source to keep so students can chart what they are learning throughout the unit....OR
• Have students draw their "own island"...have them draw land and sea plants & animals explaining their inter connectedness.
• Share out....look at maps....
• Discuss What students are interested in "wanting" to know
• At the end of the unit, go back to KWL and discuss what was learned throughout the unit.

• Seacology ~ Introduce Students to the Seacology Foundation.  What is a "non-profit" organization?  What is Seacology's rationale?  What does the name "Sea-cology" connote and denote?
• Intro ~ Discuss environmental facts about islands and their ecosystems. Ask students some of the following questions for initial input:

a. What is an island?
b. How are the culture, ecosystem government of an island related to its geological formation, its climate and currents?
c. What are the most important elements of an ecosystem?
d. Where do you think the first inhabitants of islands came from and why did they come?
e. What is the difference between native and introduced species? What are the pros and cons of introduced species?
f. How are we all interconnected, island to island?
g. How are ecosystems on land through sea connected?
h. What does the phrase "No Man Is An Island" mean?
i. What does "No Island Is An Island" mean?
j. Can we do anything to preserve threatened island environments?
• Grouping~ Put students into groups depending on availability of computers, differentiation needs and class size.
• Project Research & Types of Presentations ~ Have teams review islands projectsand let them choose an island to explore & research.... OR, use a grab bag and have students draw an island.  Then have students go to a world map or atlas and put their names with a flag on their island.  Have students hypothesize what their island is like by its location.  When students start research, their projects should include the following:

a. Name of Island
b. Latitude & Longitude ~ How does the location effect the island's natural ecosystem?
c. Currents ~ What currents effect your island?  Deep?  Surface?  Cold? Warm?
d. Native resources & species VS. Introduced
e. How are the culture, ecosystem and government of an island related to its geological formation, its climate and currents?
f. What are the most important elements of this island's ecosystem?
g. Where do you think the first inhabitants of this island came from and why did they come?
h. How are we interconnected to this island?
i. How are ecosystems on this island connected: land through sea?
j. What is being done to help preserve this island's ecosystem?  Can we do anything to preserve this threatened island's environments?
• Cross Section Mapping ~ Students should create either traditional maps of their islands and ecosystems or try making a cross section. Visual graphing is important to show the interconnections.
• Video Presentations ~ Students create video presentations on their island using imovie software which would include scripted material and information.
• Written Reports ~ Traditional written reports that will be profiled on the class webpage
• Power Point Presentations & Written Reports ~ Students write Island Reports & Prepare student Power Point Presentations about their island research.  A multimedia rubric should be used to guide student projects.
• Newspaper Articles & Bay Area Challenge ~ Students write articles for a newspaper publication and challenge other students in the Bay Area to become informed stewards of the earth and help to make a difference.

• Use the scientific method to set up and run an investigation
• Have students develop a testable question having to do with water, islands, ecosystems, oceans, or connectedness.
• Plan and conduct a simple investigation based on the question and write instructions others can follow to carry out the procedure.
• Identify the dependent and controlled variables in an investigation.
• Identify a single independent variable in the scientific investigation and explain how this variable can be used to collect information to answer a question about the results of the experiment.

• Brainpop (Underwater World, Water, Water Cycle, Waves, etc. ...)
• Watershed Exploration & Games
• Webquests
• Unit Concepts

• The Cay ~ The Cay
• Treasure Island
• Island of the Blue Dolphin
• Voyage of the Frog
• Kingfisher Young People's Book of Oceans
• The Atlas of Oceans
• The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor
• Newbrige Non-Fiction Oceanography Books
• First Encyclopedia of Seas and Oceans
• Odious Oceans

6. Blue Planet Videos ~ The Discovery Channel's documentary series, Blue Planet, is a tremendous resource exploring our planet's ocean.  The footage and expanse of these four episodes is astounding!

7. Jason Project ~ The Jason Project is another great resource incorporating real world expeditions, scientists, communication and hands on projects for the classroom.

8. Field Trips ~ Monterey Bay Aquarium, San Francisco Aquarium, Redwood Shores Marine Center, Santa Cruz Marine Institute.

9. Virtual Field Trip ~ www.field-trips.org/tour/sci/oceank/_tourlaunch1.html