| Class Time Required | 3 class periods |
| Materials Needed |
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| Teacher Preparation | 45 minutes to read, make copies, and obtain food samples |
| Prior Student Knowledge | Knowledge of habitat and food webs, and understanding of interconnections in ecological systems. See 4th grade “Mystery of the Sea Otter Unit.” |
| Vocabulary | Bidarki, Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Extinction, Harvest, Invertebrate, Leather Chiton/Katy Chiton, Mollusk, Predation, Radula, Subsistence |
| Science GLEs Addressed |
3rd grade: SA3.1, SE1.1, SE2.1 4th grade: SA3.1, SE1.1, SE2.1, SE2.2 5h grade: SA3.1, SE1.1, SE2.1, SE2.2 |
| Other GLEs Addressed |
Overview: Students develop an understanding of interconnections among the ocean, humans, and other living things through a case study of harvesting bidarki (katy chitons) in the Alaska Native villages of Port Graham and Nanwalek. They reflect on their own connections to the ocean.
Overview: In this activity, students discuss how methods of fishing have changed, then play a game to explore the idea of sustainable fishing practice. They simulate fishery activity using increasingly sophisticated technology, in different ocean areas. As students progress through the fishing seasons, they will likely overfish their part of the ocean and will have to migrate to other places in the ocean to meet their basic needs. Most groups will eventually create a total crash of fish stocks in the ocean. After discussing the game and its meaning, students will propose new rules for the game, to make fishing sustainable.
Overview: In this investigation, students will work in small groups to research a current issue related to human interaction with the ocean, using Internet and library resources. They will communicate the facts about their issue on a poster, participate in a poster viewing session, and ask questions about the information presented on the other posters created by members of their class.
Overview: Students plan and carry out a survey of human impacts to a local aquatic environment. They analyze their findings and prepare to share them with the community.
Overview: Students discuss stewardship actions and develop an action plan that they will carry out as a class. They host a “Friends of the Sea” party to involve the school and community in their stewardship efforts and to share the results of their investigations.
