Ocean Education 2002
Give Ocean Life a Safe Harbour from Climate Change

Each year, the Canadian Wildlife Federation and its Oceans Day partners develop a classroom-ready unit aimed at encouraging young Canadians to become better stewards of our seas. The theme of Oceans Day 2002 — and this year's learning package — is "Give Ocean Life a Safe Harbour From Climate Change." What sets this unit apart from other learning resources on climate change is that it focuses not only on human concerns but also on the impacts of warming temperatures, rising sea levels, declining lake levels, and other phenomena on Canada's aquatic species and spaces. It addresses the challenges facing life forms, from piping plovers to polar bears, and habitats, from salt-marshes to sea ice. It encourages young people to ask questions and find solutions to protect marine habitats from the ravages of climate change.

This Ocean Education unit (Learning About Oceans, Unit 8) is designed to inform Canadian youth about the value of marine ecosystems, the impacts of climate change on aquatic wildlife and habitats, and the need to conserve them. It is:

• packed with classroom-ready materials, including a resource sheet, information poster, learning activities, and cards, that communicate fundamental concepts through a student-centred, hands-on approach;
• supplemented by online activities relating to climate change;
• linked thematically with the Common Framework of Science Learning Outcomes (Pan-Canadian Protocol for Collaboration on School Curriculum) and suitable for use with K to 12 students;
• complemented by our Blue School program, a five-year endeavour that encourages youth to raise awareness about ocean health and to make the Earth a bluer planet;
• closely connected with other WILD Education programs, such as Fish Ways, Project WILD, Below Zero, and WILD School, plus this year's National Wildlife Week educational kit, which deals with the impacts of climate change on terrestrial and freshwater habitats; and
• compatible with a wide variety of school subjects, including art, biology, oceanography, health, earth science, environmental science, geography, language arts, math, physics, and social studies.

Download the complete unit entitled "Give Ocean Life a Safe Harbour from Climate Change." In order to use lesson 4: Climate Connections you will need a set of 27 activity cards. Download the front of activity cards and back of activity cards. Print or photocopy the front of the cards onto the back, then cut to make playing cards. Additional resources for lesson 1 and 4 can be found here.

If you would like to order a copy of the Oceans Day poster shown above, contact CWF.

More Ocean Education learning activities

Want to become a Blue School?

Schools across this watery land are becoming blue. Now in its fifth and final year, the Blue School program was launched in1998 — the International Year of the Ocean — to encourage youth to raise awareness about ocean health and to make the Earth a bluer planet.

Becoming blue, or ocean friendly, is a reachable goal for every school in Canada. It means achieving important goals, such as curbing climate change, preventing marine pollution, conserving aquatic habitat, and celebrating Oceans Day, June 8.

Any class, school, or youth group can enrol in the program. You too can take part by developing and carrying out a "Blueprint for Ocean Action." You will receive a beautifully crafted medallion for each year you keep us informed of your progress. Not only will you be setting a positive example for your community, you will also be earning recognition for your school. Your local efforts will be part of a growing movement in Canada that will make healthy oceans a reality.

To qualify as blue, your school must meet key criteria and register its Blueprint for Ocean Action with WILD Education. Funding is available to groups that demonstrate how their efforts will help conserve ocean health.