Ocean Conservation Poster Project
Adapted from National Geographic lesson “Getting the word out with photographs”
A. Standards- Ocean literacy
2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth
4. The ocean makes Earth inhabitable
5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
6. The ocean and humans are inextricably connected
B. Performance Objectives
Following completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
 Recognize problems and threats to the worlds oceans
 Apply what they have learned throughout the whole semester and look at the
big picture of ocean conservation
 Influence others why we need to conserve the oceans
 Take photographs related to the ocean and surrounding ecosystems
 Analyze and present their results to the class
C. Lesson Plan
1. Concept Exploration
Play the video “Once upon a tide”- an educational ‘fairy tale” which talks
about ocean conservation and the connectedness humans have to the oceans
http://chge.med.harvard.edu/programs/healthyoceans/once_upon_a_tide/
2. Concept Introduction
Remind the students of all the ecosystems and associated threats to each
such as overfishing, pollution, coral bleaching, habitat destruction, etc. You
could include a roundtable discussion or a game which involves a food web to
show them how we are all connected and if something is eliminated, the
whole web starts to fall apart. We conducted a game using tennis balls. All of
the students stand in a circle and a tennis ball represents a photon of energy.
As 1 tennis ball is thrown in they must throw the ball to 1 specific person and
they must catch it. That person throws it until everyone has caught it. Then,
gradually more tennis balls are thrown in (up to 10 or so), and they must be
thrown in the same order of people as the 1st ball, so if one person isn’t paying
attention, the “web” gets messed up and the food web loses energy, allowing
parts of it to die off.
3. Concept Application
The students will apply what they have learned throughout the whole
semester and the importance of conserving our oceans by presenting a poster
project. The students will go out in their community and take pictures of
things they think relate to our oceans and will inform others of why we should
save our oceans. (See attached worksheet)
Names ___________________________________
Ocean Conservation Project- Getting the word out with
Photographs
Throughout this semester you have learned how many different things
affect our oceans and how many ecosystems and organisms are threatened in
our oceans. You and a partner will go out in your community (or wherever
you may be over the holiday break) and take pictures of things which will
help ocean conservation. You may show the good things affecting the ocean
such as a recycling bin or a healthy green salt marsh. Or you may show bad
things which are affecting the ocean such as pollution or a dead bird, or you
can show both!! You will present these photos on a poster in order to inform
people of the benefits of conserving our oceans! You want people to look at
your poster and make a difference so make it attractive and informative…
Things to include:
At least 5 photographs- you must take yourself
Description of each photograph
How does each photograph relate to conserving our oceans
and why is it important for ocean conservation?
-RubricCreativity
Neatness- text size and color
Includes all the needed info
Relevance
Grammar/Writing
10 pts
5 pts
20 pts
10 pts
5 pts
50pts
D. Review/Evaluation
The students will present their posters to the class informing why they chose the
pictures they took and why it’s important for ocean conservation. This is a good
review for the end of the semester so they have to apply what they have learned and
creates the possibility of outreach into the community.
Sources:
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g912/doubiletwrong.html
http://chge.med.harvard.edu/programs/healthyoceans/once_upon_a_tide/home.html