Objective:
The student will be able to explain at least one current event that impacts aquatic life in their community or state.
Materials Needed:
Activity:
Engage students in a discussion about interrelationships between land and water systems. Some questions to ask might include:
1. How could the lake/river/ocean in our community affect your life?
2. How could the aquatic animals that live in that body of water affect your life?
3. Why is it important that we make laws to protect bodies of water in our community/state/country?
4. Can you name a real event where aquatic animals were harmed or killed because their water became unsafe? (Students may know about oil spills, toxic pollutants, drought, etc.)
(Students may work in pairs or in small groups for this lesson.)
Tell students that they are on an Ecology Quest to learn more about the policies, laws and other activities that affect bodies of water and aquatic life in their community and state. Over a specified period of time, they are to check newspapers and, if possible, watch the local television news. They are looking for any piece of news, no matter how big or small, that has something to do with a nearby (or statewide) body of water and also news about the aquatic life within the body of water. Encourage students to read and listen closely for any news related to public policies or proposed laws or environmental issues that impact water and aquatic life. Also encourage them to write letters to local authorities requesting information on issues related to water and aquatic life.
Ask students to bring in the newspaper clips and post them on an Ecology Quest bulletin board. If the news was on television or the radio, students can record the news in a special Ecology Quest notebook. At the end of the time period allowed for this lesson plan, students can review the current events and determine if any action was taken on any of the issues at hand. Also, if students feel particularly strong about any of the issues, they can write a letter to the newspaper editor or even to their congressman/woman expressing their concerns about the issue.
Result:
Students will become more aware of news and current events related to their local and statewide environment. They also will understand how human decisions can greatly impact the lives of their aquatic “neighbors.”
