CDP Unit on the Galapagos Islands

An Ecological Issue

Unit Topic: The Galapagos Islands

Grade Level: Middle School

Concepts: Responsibility for pollution, care of the environment, critical thinking

Content Area: Social Studies, Language Arts, Science

Materials: Reference materials, paper, writing utensil

Time: 1 hour

Objectives

• Students will become more aware of the situations that are occurring to the ocean and its beaches
  
  
• Students will become more aware of the roles that they could play in solving the problems that are being created for the oceans and waterways.
  
  
• Students will be involved in actual saving of the ocean.

Procedure:

Many of our beaches and waterways are becoming polluted due to people's carelessness, indifference, and ignorance. Some things, such as oil spills, are not the direct result of your own actions. However, there are positive steps you can take to prevent any more litter on the shores and entanglement in the ocean. Sample projects are listed below. Have the students partner up, and then choose an activity, or create an activity of their own that will help in saving the oceans.

• When you are at the beach, take along a biodegradable container. As you find litter, pick it up and put it into the container; dispose of it properly. (what kinds of things did you find on the beach? Make a chart to show how many of each you found.) Note: You may want to wear rubber gloves to protect yourself from any hazardous materials.
  
  
• Sea turtles are an endangered species. If you encounter one, be careful not to disturb it. Avoid its nesting grounds; sea turtles bury their eggs and you might accidentally crush them. Also, do not purchase any products made out of these animals. (On which beaches would you most likely see a sea turtle? What products are manufactured from them?)
  
  
• When you go boating, dispose of refuse properly. Dumping things off the boat and into the water can cause animals to become entangled in these objects. (List some things that are likely to cause entanglements. Explain what can happen if an animal becomes entangled in plastic 6-pack rings, etc.)
  
  
• If you buy helium filled balloons, dispose of them properly. Balloons released into the air could possibly land in open waters where animals might swallow them. (Explain what could happen to a sea creature that swallowed a balloon. Find out if it is harmful to release helium into the atmosphere.)
  
  
• Write to either of the following agencies to find out more information about what you can do to help stop pollution on our beaches and waterways.
  
  
  • Center for Marine Conservation, 1725 DeSales Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
    
    
  • The Oceanic Society, 218 D Street SE, Washington, DC 20003
    
    
• Thousands of dolphins are captured and killed by tuna fisherman each year. Find out what the tuna industry is currently doing about this problem. List some of the things that you can do to help save the dolphins.

Assessment:

Student cooperation is important throughout this whole project. The Observation Rubric is justification for all of their activities throughout this lesson. Final projects that will be presented to the class can be assessed by the Project Rubric. Students must accumulate 12 points from the Project rubric, and a 5 on the Observation rubric to be successful.

Extensions:

Students can develop their own ideas of how to save the waterways, and do alternative activities that can be reported to the class just like the rest of them.

References: Sterling, Mary Ellen. (1990). Thematic Unit: Oceans. Huntington Beach, CA : Teacher Created Materials, Inc. ISBN # 1-5734-284-9