In this lesson, students will collaborate to understand how marine life is affected by human actions. The Dive into this engaging lesson where your students will uncover how human actions affect marine life. Kick things off with a fun game of "Three Truths and a Lie" about the ocean to spark curiosity and get everyone talking. Then, break into small groups and tackle a jigsaw activity as students watch short, thought-provoking videos about ocean animals and human impact. Together, they’ll share insights, tackle discussion questions, and use their newfound knowledge to create eye-catching infographics. These creations will inspire others to take action and protect our incredible oceans!
Students will: Identify what they already know about the world’s oceans; Analyze real-life footage to construct an explanation about the causal relationship between human activity, ocean conditions, and the health of marine life; Create an infographic that explains how human actions can negatively and positively affect marine life.
In Sperm Whales: Giants of the Ocean, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows one mother sperm whale and her calf. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In A World of Whale Sound Beneath the Sea, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows scientists as they track whales. This tracking enables the scientists to redirect shipping and reduce collisions. Tracking also allows them to monitor how the whales use sound as a vital means of communication deep beneath the sea. Unfortunately, human activity and noise pollution is masking some of that sound, having an impact on whale behavior in ways that we’re still learning about. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Horizon: The Death of the Oceans, which reveals what scientists are learning about what is happening in the oceans and whether it is too late to save their remarkable diversity.
In Giant Creatures of the Great Barrier Reef, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how certain animals work together to find food. Teamwork makes the dream work for these largest animals in Australia's Great Barrier Reef! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In The Tool-Using Tusk Fish, narrator Sir David Attenborough suggests that tusk fish, and perhaps other fish species, may be more intelligent than people ever thought possible. When the tusk fish finds food, such as a clam, it uses coral as a tool to crack open the clam and feed itself. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In Earth’s Heat Blanket: The Power of Carbon Dioxide, geologist Iain Stewart explores how volcanoes play a vital role in releasing carbon dioxide, a gas that helps trap heat and keeps Earth warm enough for life. Without it, our planet would be a frozen wasteland, but too much of it can cause rapid climate changes. Scientists are now studying Siberia, one of the coldest places on the planet, to understand how melting permafrost could be a predictor of Earth’s future climate. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
Play Three Truths and a Lie about oceans and answer questions about human impact on whales, tusk fish, and the Great Barrier Reef. Plus, complete an infographic activity on how to reduce human impact on our oceans.
In Sperm Whales: Giants of the Ocean, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows one mother sperm whale and her calf. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In A World of Whale Sound Beneath the Sea, narrator Sir David Attenborough follows scientists as they track whales. This tracking enables the scientists to redirect shipping and reduce collisions. Tracking also allows them to monitor how the whales use sound as a vital means of communication deep beneath the sea. Unfortunately, human activity and noise pollution is masking some of that sound, having an impact on whale behavior in ways that we’re still learning about. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Horizon: The Death of the Oceans, which reveals what scientists are learning about what is happening in the oceans and whether it is too late to save their remarkable diversity.
In Giant Creatures of the Great Barrier Reef, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores how certain animals work together to find food. Teamwork makes the dream work for these largest animals in Australia's Great Barrier Reef! This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In The Tool-Using Tusk Fish, narrator Sir David Attenborough suggests that tusk fish, and perhaps other fish species, may be more intelligent than people ever thought possible. When the tusk fish finds food, such as a clam, it uses coral as a tool to crack open the clam and feed itself. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Blue Planet II, a natural history series that explores the world's oceans, the animals that live in them, and the threats they face, using modern filming techniques and equipment to capture previously unseen areas of the ocean.
In Earth’s Heat Blanket: The Power of Carbon Dioxide, geologist Iain Stewart explores how volcanoes play a vital role in releasing carbon dioxide, a gas that helps trap heat and keeps Earth warm enough for life. Without it, our planet would be a frozen wasteland, but too much of it can cause rapid climate changes. Scientists are now studying Siberia, one of the coldest places on the planet, to understand how melting permafrost could be a predictor of Earth’s future climate. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Earth: The Power of the Planet, a documentary series in which Dr. Iain Stewart discovers how Earth's forces can shape nature, species, and even the climate.
Play Three Truths and a Lie about oceans and answer questions about human impact on whales, tusk fish, and the Great Barrier Reef. Plus, complete an infographic activity on how to reduce human impact on our oceans.
Teaching the Lesson
Engage
1. Build curiosity for this lesson by playing the ocean fact game Three Truths and a Lie with your students. Explain to your students that you will share four facts about the oceans. Three of the statements will be true, and one will be false. How much do they already know?
2. Use the Three Truths and a Lie Handout to play the game. Students can hold up one, two, three, or four fingers to give their answer. It may be helpful to read through the four facts twice. Once students have guessed, confirm which one is not true and share additional ocean facts included.
Analyze
1. Explain to the class that they will be watching video clips that explore the effects humans have on the ocean and the creatures that live there.
2. Over one or more class sections, share the video clips with the full class. Each clip is less than five minutes and explores a different aspect of human impact on the oceans.
3. Distribute the three activity sheets (Whales, The Great Barrier Reef, Tusk Fish) to your students so that one-third of the class receives each one. (Alternatively, choose one or more for a deeper dive for the whole class.)
4. Review the activity sheets with your students. Have students who are watching the same video work in small groups.
5. Encourage pairs to work together to complete Step 1. Tip! If students need help, refer to the Video Summaries Handout for key points from each video.
Collaboration & Create
1. Once the class has finished watching the videos a second time and filling out the activity sheets, bring students together to review. What are all the ways they have learned that humans can negatively affect the ocean and the creatures that live there? Why is ocean conservation important?
2. Then, invite students to create posters about ocean conservation using their new knowledge. Students can design and illustrate posters that highlight the effects of pollution, overfishing, or climate change on ocean life. They can include ways people can help, like reducing plastic use or supporting sustainable fishing. Display the posters in the classroom or a school hallway for all to see.
