Living near a coastline has advantages as well as disadvantages, which students will explore when they research coastal ecosystems and depict a community by the sea.
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Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
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30 to 60 minutes
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Have students explore coastal ecosystems such as marshes, mangroves, beaches and more. Ask them to research facts about how coastlines form, what animals live in coastal habitats, how wetlands along the coast play a significant role in keeping the coastline healthy, how climate change is affecting the regions, and more.
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Ask students to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living along the coast. For example, the views are beautiful and there are many opportunities to observe and connect with nature, but these areas are susceptible to natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tsunamis, and rising sea levels.
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Ask students to choose a coastal region to explore. Have them look at images of the area and learn some facts about it, including the flora and fauna that can be found there and any threats to its health. Then have them create a drawing of the locale using oil pastels on paper.
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Have them present their drawings and discuss the location they depicted and some of the things they learned about the region.
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SCI: Use evidence to support the concept that behaviors can be influenced by the environment and the environment is impacted by behavior.
SCI: Ask questions about the features of phenomena observed and conclusions drawn from investigations or models.
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Kelp forests are underwater areas that cover a large part of the world's coastlines. Have students research this ecosystem, which is one of the most productive and diverse system on Earth. How are they formed? How do they act as carbon sinks? What are some threats to their health?
Have students investigate threats to coastal ecosystem including climate change, pollution, harmful algal blooms, and others. What is being done to monitor these effects and help protect coasts from further harm?