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December 2002: Oceans Check out these interdisciplinary activity ideas and online resources for your classroom. Return in January for activities and resources about justice!		Additional Thematic Resources This Month's Theme Medicine & Health Care February, 2003 Oceans December, 2002 Citizenship November, 2002 The Cosmos October, 2002 Civil Disobedience September, 2002 Using Archival and Multimedia Resources (August, 2002) Children's Health (July, 2002) Current Events (June, 2002) Memorial Day (May, 2002) The Western Frontier (April, 2002) World Religions (March, 2002) Poetry (February, 2002) Everyday Economics (January, 2002) Music, Dance and Theater (December, 2001) Native American Heritage (November, 2001) Hispanic Heritage (October 2001) PBS Archive
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Teaching Ideas <Return to Menu>

1. Oil Spills
Grade Level: 4-8
Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts

Oil spills cause enormous, and in many cases, irreversible damage to ocean life. On March 24, 1989, the Exxon Valdez, a hugh oil tanker, sailed out of Valdez, Alaska. After crashing into an underwater reef it released millions of gallons of thick black oil into the ocean. Many species of wildlife were permanently plagued with sterility, damaged nervous systems, or even death.

Divide students into small groups. Give each group 3 clear cups--one filled with sand, one with water, and one with soapy water. The students will pour 20 mL vegetable oil into each cup and observe what happens. When all groups have finished, they should record their observations on a chart. Now ask the groups to brainstorm ways to remove the oil from the cups.

One way oil spills can be cleaned up in the ocean is by placing a ring of floating devices around the spill to keep it from spreading. The oil can then be pumped form the water's surface. Another way is to place a sheet of oil-absorbing material on the ocean surface to soak up the oil Two other methods of cleaning up oil spills cause additional harm--burning the oil creates air pollution and chemical detergents break up the oil but endanger marine life. Enlist members of the class to role play people effected by an oil spill. Include an environmentalist, representatives of the oil company, local residents, politicians, and the oil tanker captain. They should relate specific information or opinions about the oil spill and clean-up.

Online Resources

ThinkQuest: Paradise Lost? Prince William Sound and the Oil Spill
http://library.thinkquest.org/10867/

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council
http://www.oilspill.state.ak.us/

Alaska Biological Science Center
http://www.absc.usgs.gov/

Harriman Expedition: Panel on Oil and Gas in Alaska
http://www.pbs.org/harriman/explog/lectures/oilandgas.html

Print Resources

Oil Spill! by Melvin Berger, illus. by Paul Mirocha
Spill! The Story Of The Exxon Valdez by Terry Carr
Oil Spills by Laurence Pringle
Save Our Oceans and Coasts by Ron Hirschi
Ocean Animals in Danger by Gary Burbak

2. Ocean Adaptation Wheels
Grade Level: 2-6
Subjects: Language Arts, Science, Art, Math

Marine habitats are divided into layers or zones depending upon the amount of sunlight each receives. As depth increases the amount of light decreases. The sunlight zone is from the surface of the ocean to 600' and receives the most sunlight. The twilight zone is from 600' to 3000' and receives little light. The midnight zone is 3000' to about 15,000' and the only light here is produced by bioluminescence. Challenge students to select a fish or marine animal and take on the role of a marine biologist to discover the animal's adaptations to available light and other environmental factors.

Give each student two paper plates and a brad. They will use a pencil and ruler to divide each plate into four equal sections. Cut out one section of one plate (1/4 of the plate) and use the brad to connect the plates in the center with the cut out plate on top. The top plate is to be illustrated with a drawing of the fish or mammal in its natural habitat. Label the bottom sections Prey, Predators, Adaptations (special body features) and Habitat Zone. Younger students will draw these and older students can write the data. Using these Adaptation Wheels, older students can create a display showing the ocean food web by connecting with yarn. They will use information in the Predator/Prey sections of the wheels. You may wish to include humans in the food web and discuss aquaculture.

Online Resources

Secrets of the Ocean Realm
http://www.pbs.org/oceanrealm/

Nature: Humpback Whales
http://www.pbs.org/nature/humpback/

Nature: Incredible Suckers
http://www.pbs.org/nature/suckers/

Nature: The Octopus Show
http://www.pbs.org/nature/octopus/

Nature: The Secret World of Sharks and Rays
http://www.pbs.org/nature/sharks/

Nature: Sperm Whales--The Real Moby Dick
http://wwww.pbs.org/nature/spermwhales/

Seafood Choices
http://www.seafoodchoices.org/

Print Resources

Creatures of the Deep: In Search of the Sea’s Monsters and the World They Live In by Erich Hoyt
The Magic School Bus On The Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole
Ocean: The Living World by Barbara Taylor
Life In The Oceans by Lucy Baker
Big Al and Shrimpy by Andrew Clements and Yoshi

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