Play the Ocean Links Simulation

Prepare students to participate in the Ocean Links project through a board-game simulation (order a copy from CWF). Playing Ocean Links helps students make an important connection: water that flows through their community in creeks, streams, rivers, or lakes is the same water that ultimately drains into the ocean. This insight assists students to fine-tune their observational skills by seeing how positive or negative conditions that influence freshwater locally can eventually help or harm ocean health.

The Ocean Links game engages students in simulated field experiences at school and along shorelines in their community. Students will identify at least 20 indicators of water quality and discover the connection between local freshwater and the ocean. They will then form opinions about human impacts on freshwater and marine resources and draw conclusions about what people can do to improve conditions for aquatic life. The game simulates involvement in the real-life Ocean Links project.

From Simulation to Reality:
Connect with Ocean Links in Five Easy Steps

Students have a stake in water health. Their voices deserve to be heard. Ocean Links is a learning activity that will fine-tune their observational skills in five easy steps.

1. Have your students play a simulated version of Ocean Links. This virtual field trip helps students identify conditions that affect local water health on school grounds, in school buildings, and along shorelines in their community. It's a perfect way to prepare them for participation in the real project!

2. After playing the game, have the students view a map of Canada's drainage basins. Ask them to identify the drainage basin in which their school is located. Have them trace the flow of water from their area to the ocean rolling their cursor over the map in the general area of their community. Announce that CWF will recognize their participation in Ocean Links by posting their school's name on the Ocean Links Schools map.

3. Apply what students have learned in the simulation by having them explore their school grounds and building for signs of positive and negative conditions that affect local water health. Divide the class into four teams. Provide each team with a copy of the "Ocean Links Project Report" as a guide. Using the "Our Ocean Links Observations" sheet, ask each team to record its observations. If time permits, have the students make and record observations about how the shoreline of a nearby creek, stream, lake, or river rates in regard to water health.

4. Back in class, ask each team to form opinions on how the conditions they observed may affect the health of
   (1) their local water, and
   (2) the ocean into which their local water drains.
   Have each team share its views with the rest of the class. Make a list of positive and negative conditions that affect water health. Through a class discussion, have the teams reach a consensus on five steps people can take to improve the health of local freshwater and oceans - no matter where they live in Canada.

5. Ask student volunteers to complete the "Our Ocean Links Water Health Report" on behalf of their class. The report may also be completed on-line. Later, have the students check out the Ocean Links Schools map on our Web site for a blue dot bearing their school's name.

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Blue School Makes a Splash

With almost 200 habitat improvement projects on the go, Blue School has inspired over 25,000 students to get involved in ocean-friendly ventures in virtually all parts of Canada. The Blue School program got off to a great start as a five-year project in honour of the International Year of the Ocean in 1998. IYFW marks the renewal of Blue School as it enters another half decade. From the Arctic Ocean to the Pacific to the Atlantic - and all points in between - schools are invited to be part of the "bluing" of Canada by joining this innovative program.

Enrol in the Blue School Program

As a Blue School, your school declares that it:

• acknowledges that global ocean health depends on local freshwater health;
• seeks to teach students about practices that boost water quality in their community;
• understands that freshwater and saltwater systems are interconnected, and
• recognizes the importance of being ocean-friendly by creating a "Blueprint for Ocean Action."

Benefits of Being a Blue School

• Recognition as a model community leader in ocean education.
• Access to free resources on water and oceans.
• Eligibility for funding of ocean-friendly habitat improvement projects.
• Advance information about new resources.
• Prizes and support materials for ocean-related school festivals and activities.

And much more!

All Blue Schools receive a beautiful plaque with medallions awarded for each year they participate as leaders in ocean education.
Look here for profiles on exciting projects carried out by Blue Schools.

Download a copy of the Blue School registration form.

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Track Aquatic Species From Space

Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk initiated the fascinating Space for Species Program that enables youth to monitor aquatic migrants from outer space. Students can follow the leatherback sea turtle, polar bear, and common eider. They create migration maps, record habitat data, and keep field notes as they apply scientific inquiry to wildlife conservation. They can even get acquainted with Thirsk and several conservation biologists. A free teacher's guide is available. Visit www.spaceforspecies.ca.

Let Us Support Your IYFW Ocean Celebration

Celebrate oceans any time of the year! It's a great way to recognize the connection between freshwater and saltwater during IYFW. We'd like to be part of your event by giving you posters, prizes, and suggestions on how to celebrate!

Schools enrolled in the Blue School program will qualify for a special bundle of give-away prizes for their events. Find a host of ideas for celebrations and festivals here and then register your event with CWF.

More Resources...

WILD Education is a growing family of environmental education programs that includes water education among a host of conservation and wildlife themes. Resources include:

• Project WILD, featuring over 100 activities with aquatic extensions.
• Fish Ways, a freshwater fisheries education program.
• Below Zero, an activity guide that promotes understanding about wildlife in frozen environments.
• WILD School, a hands-on program that uses habitat improvement projects as learning tools.
• One Earth, One Ocean, One Life, an educational CD-ROM that explores our connection with the sea (available for $24.95).

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Contacts for Even More Resources

Visit our Ocean Partners for additional ocean-related resources.

Biodiversity Convention Office (Environment Canada)
www.bco.ec.gc.ca

Canadian Association of Principals
www.oceanslearning.ca

Canadian Museum of Nature
Canadian Centre for Biodiversity
www.nature.ca, www.nature.ca/rideau (Portrait of a River's Biodiversity)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/canwaters-eauxcan

Intoinfo Inc.
www.intoinfo.com

Marine Environment Branch (Environment Canada)
www.npa-pan.ca

Parks Canada
www.parkscanada.gc.ca

Scouts Canada
www.scouts.ca

Canadian Wildlife Federation
www.cwf-fcf.org
www.spaceforspecies.ca

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