The Environment: Ocean

Introduction

Lets get ready to explore the ocean and the coral reefs!

 

 Image result for coral reef

image provided by www.scienceclarified.com

This week we are going to explore the coral reefs that are along the bottom of the ocean. The ocean is the home to many sea creatures and plant life, but it also provides oxygen to breath, absorbs carbon dioxide that is produced through waste, and is a water source to help humans and land animals survive.  

However, the oceans and other water sources have a problem. That problem is known as pollution that destroys their natural environment and becomes harmful to the animals, plants, and humans who live, swim, and drink the contaminated water. 

In this activity, we will explore the ocean and investigate how to help keep it clean and safe for humans, for both sea animals and plant life, and land animals that depend on the ocean to survive. 

 

 

 

 

Task

Image result for ocean and pollution

image provided by www.nypost.com

Please watch the two videos in the process tab to help you learn about the different sea animals and plant life that have made the ocean their home along the coral reef and why its important to help take care of this natural environment. The videos will help you recall the animals and plants that we have already learned in class that live in the ocean, but the videos will also introduce why it is important for keeping our oceans clean and safe from pollution.

While you watch the video begin to think about how you would like to live in or explore the ocean. Also, you will need to describe how pollution effects the ocean and coral reefs and demonstrate how humans can help keep pollution from effecting the ocean's natural environment. 

After watching the two videos provided you will need to make a How-To-Book about the ocean's coral reef and how pollution effects the ocean's natural environment. You will need to include at least five illustrations about what you saw in the videos about the ocean along the coral reef (animals, plant life, colors, waste products), two activities that you would like to do while visiting the ocean, and a solution to helping keep our oceans safe and clean. Underneath each illustration, you will need to write a description of the picture you are providing for your how-to-book. 

 

Process

Please watch the following two videos about the ocean's coral reef and pollution before starting your how-to-book on the ocean's coral reef and the pollution that effects it. 

Video 1: Exploring the Coral Reef

https://youtube.com/watch?v=J2BKd5e15Jc

Video 2: How to keep our oceans clean from pollution

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DtfAhy2lgAA

After watching both videos about the ocean's coral reef and how pollution effects the ocean's natural environment and sea life that lives there answer the following questions.

1) What did you see? Be able to describe the animals, plant life, colors along the coral reefs, and even the waste from pollution that you may see along the beaches and in the ocean itself. 

2) Compare what a clean healthy ocean natural environment looks like versus a polluted ocean natural environment area. 

3) Choose a couple of  activities that you would like to do while swimming in the ocean?

4) Explain how the animals, plant life, and even you would be effected by the ocean being full of trash and other waste from the pollution that is made by humans on land?

5) Identify and discuss what you can do to help keep the ocean stay clean from trash and other waste products that are harmful to the environment and sea life?

6) How would you employ others to get involved in helping keep the ocean clean and safe for all?

Once you have thought about your answers create a how-to-picture book about taking care of the ocean. Your how-to-picture book should include:

1) You should provide at least 5 illustrations and explanation of those illustrations. 

2) Your illustrations should include

   a. what you saw in the videos describing animals, plants, the coral reef, and even the pollution itself.

   b. A illustration of comparing and contrasting a healthy ocean environment versus a polluted ocean               environment. 

   c. Activities that you would or could do in ocean, but also include how that would be effected if the water         you were swimming in was contaminated by pollution. 

   d. What you think the ocean's natural environment might look like in 10 years from now.

   e. Create a solution for cleaning up existing pollution on the beaches and in the ocean. Illustrate how             you might get others involved with the clean up process. 

 

Evaluation

Image result for picture book evaluation clipart

image provided by www.laoblogger.com

 

Points

0

2

4

6

Total Points Earned

Assembled a How-to-book about the coral reef's nature environment and how pollution effects it.

 

Provided no illustrations for the how-to-book

Only provided one illustrations for the how-to-book

Only provided two or three illustrations for the how-to-book

Provided five or more illustration for the how-to-book

 

Creativity in Illustrations

Did not provide a picture of at least one illustration of any of the required pictures 

Only completed one to two illustration that described what was seen in the ocean, or of an activity, or how to keep the ocean clean of pollution

Only provided three or four illustrations, but did not include all the required pictures of what the ocean looks like, what type of animals and plants live in the ocean, the types of pollution found in the ocean, and a solution on how to keep the oceans clean and safe.

 

Provided five or more illustrations that were detailed in what the ocean looks like, what animals and plants live in the ocean, the type of pollution found in the ocean, and a solution on how to keep the oceans clean and safe.

 

Provided a written description of illustration

Provided no written explanations of the illustrations

Provided only one or two written explanations of illustrations

Provided only three or four written explanations of the illustrations for the how-to-book

Included a descriptive written explanations of the illustration provided for the how-to-book

 

 

 

Grammar

 

More than 10 grammatical errors in the explanations of the illustrations Between 6 and 9 grammatical errors were found in the written explanations of the illustrations Less than 5 grammatical errors found No grammatical errors found  

 

 

Conclusion

Image result for coral reef

image provided by www.nationalgeographic.com.au

At this time you should be able to demonstrate your knowledge of how the ocean is important and how we can reduce the amount of pollution that effects the ocean's natural environment and sea life. As we continue to learn about our earth including other water sources and land areas lets see how we can apply the information you learn on this webquest to reducing the amount of pollution that effects the world around you. 

Credits

Teacher Page

Image result for marine science

image provided by www.news.northeastern.edu

I created this Webquest as an addition to our unit this week about the ocean to help introduce how pollution effects the ocean's natural environment and the sea animals that live there. This webquest will allow each child to explore how pollution is created and help them begin their journey on ways to prevent pollution effecting the oceans and other water sources. Parents are welcomed to help, but please ensure that the illustrations and written descriptions are the product of your child's own creativity and work. 

GA State Standards

Grade: Third Grade

Subject: Science

Learning Standard: 

S3L2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the effects of pollution (air, land, and water)               and humans on the environment.

               a. Ask questions to collect information and create records of sources and effects of pollution on                       the plants and animals.

               b. Explore, research, and communicate solutions, such as conservation of resources and                               recycling of materials, to protect plants and animals.