Lesson 2 Ж Second and Third Class
Me and the Sea: Our Environment, Our Home
Lesson Plan
What are habitats? What are the features of coastal and aquarium habitats, how are
these the same as each other, and how are they different? What plants and animals live in
our aquarium, and what are their characteristics? How are they all connected in a food
chain? What is a food web, and what happens when the balance in a food web is disturbed?
What are some of the things that humans do to disturb this balance, and what can we do
to prevent or fix these disturbances?
Curricular Links:
SESE Geography:
Skills:
Geographical Investigation – questioning, observing, recording, communicating
A sense of place and space
Strands: Natural Environments – The local natural environment
Environmental Awareness and Care – Caring for my locality, the environment,
and environmental awareness (3rd)
SESE Science:
Skills:
Working scientifically – questioning, observing, sorting and classifying,
Interpreting (3rd), recording and communicating
Strands: Living Things – Myself, Human Life & Plants and Animals
Environmental Awareness and Care – Caring for my locality, the environment,
and environmental awareness (3rd)
SPHE:
Strands: Myself – Self-identity
Myself and Others – Relating to Others
Myself and the Wider World – Developing citizenship
Arts Education, Drama
Concepts: Understanding prerequisites for making a drama and elements of a drama
Strands: Drama to explore feelings, knowledge and ideas, leading to understanding
Exploring, making and reflecting on drama, and cooperating and
Communicating in its making
English:
Skills:
Literacy
Strands: Oral - Developing receptiveness, competence, confidence & cognitive abilities
Reading – Developing skills, interests, attitudes, information retrieval skills
(3rd), ability to think (3rd), response
Writing – Fostering the impulse to write.
Objectives:
An investigation of the features of aquarium and coastal habitats, what lives
there, and how all the life in those habitats is connected in a food web. A look at how human
activities can affect the balance in a habitat. Through the main activity lesson (Rockpool story
dice) the students will have the opportunity to explore what they have learned, and work together
to express how humans can both negatively and positively impact a coastal environment.
Time:
Part A: 40 minutes
Activity Option (visit to the GETNS aquarium): 20-30 minutes
Part B: 40 minutes
Part C, Rockpool Story Dice Activity: 40-50 minutes or more
Materials:
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“Me and the Sea: Our Environment, Our Home” Presentation & Presentation Notes
*Presentation available on DVD or through PREZI
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VENN Diagram Habitat Comparison Activity (Option)
Print outs of blank VENN diagram
Food Web Activity
Ball of String or Yarn
Rockpool Story Dice Activity
6 “WHO is in trouble?” cards (Prawn, Hermit Crab, Algae, Anemone, Flatfish, Starfish)
6 “WHAT happened?” story cards (Overfishing, Dirty Water, Home
is Destroyed, Fertiliser Pollution, Plastic Pollution, New Predator)
Purple and Blue Dice
Puppets and/or puppet making materials and Stage Props
Visit to the GETNS Activity
Spot & Record sheets, pencils
“Me and the Sea” reading books
Lenny the AnemoneЖJamie the FlatfishЖThe Travels of Jeremy the Blenny
http://prezi.com/cts9n3jp0trd/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
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Harry the Hermit CrabЖSandy and Stella the Starfish at the Rockpool
Method:
1) This lesson is ideally delivered together with 6th class students, who are the KEEPERS of the BLUE
MARBLES, and who will have been trained to support with the activities. It has been put together in
such a way that the presentation is the foundation, marking the flow of information and the timing of
activities. Notes on the presentation and on the activities are in the accompanying “presentation
notes” and “activity instructions” pages.
2) Ideally the content can be done over 2-3 different sessions, with the option of taking small groups
to make some observations and recordings at the GETNS aquarium delivered either as part of Lesson
Part A or Lesson Part B, or as its own activity. Note that Part A should precede both the aquarium
observation session, and Part B. Parts A and B should precede Part C (Rockpool Story Dice Activity)
3) Part C, the Rockpool Story Dice Activity, could be a much longer activity, explored and built on
over a few different session. If this is desired, suggestions for covering scientific and arts aspects
of the curriculum would include allowing for an extended period for research on the story topics, or
for additional sessions on the various requirements and practices for making a drama, prior to putting
the drama together. To contribute to visual arts education aspects the students could make their own
puppets and props. However, as it is, this activity can be done once Parts A & B of the lesson have
been delivered, and with some general guidance on making a drama (notes on this included in Rockpool
Story Dice Instructions)
Note on KEEPERS OF THE BLUE MARBLES: The contributions of sixth class supporters are at the
discretion of the teachers. Ideally they are involved at the minimum in supporting the activities –
especially the visit to the GETNS aquarium and the Rockpool Story Dice Activity But if sufficiently
prepared, they may be in a position to deliver much of the teaching content also. There is a separate
set of guidance notes for the KEEPERS of the BLUE MARBLES.