BeMED 14. Under-the-water Experience

Title
Under-the-water Experience
Author
Ms Sharon Giordimaina
Age Guide
Year 6
Subject Area
Science and Technology, Education for Sustainable Development
Preparation Time 15 minutes
Estimated Duration 60 minutes
Site Just in case the school would be interested to organize a follow-up activity.  A safe diving-experience site can be found in the respective country or a submarine outing organized for school children.
Educational objectives Students will learn about some below-the-water species and plants.

– I can investigate and give examples of the adaptations of plants to suit their environment.

– I know that the environment is a system which can be harmed.

– I know about dangers posed to the environment such pollution and the destruction of marine life.
Learning Outcomess – I can identify priorities and evaluate potential consequences of different decisions and actions.

–  I can involve myself and others in real-world issues to bring about a positive difference.
Link to SDGs SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production.

SDG 14: Life below water.
Educational resources required Appendix 14.1 – Sea plants and animals templates

plastic waste to create an under-the-water scenario.

Appendix 14.2 – Handout activity with a list of species to tick the ones found in the sea.

Appendix 14.3 – Handout activity – Under the sea short questions.

Appendix 14.4 – A list of reflective questions.

Appendix 14.5 – Flashcards – Vocabulary related to marine life.

Appendix 14.6 – Video links

Internet connection
Remote preparation Introduction through a video-clip about a diving experience (https://youtu.be/isFBQFhfI_s) or part of it.

Setting up a below-the-water scene, using Appendix 14.1.

Students could also be invited to draw or colour in these creatures themselves during previous expressive-arts-related activities.
Planning Considerations It might be necessary to give some basic information about marine life, marine pollution with a possible link to water pollution.
Method Introduction

–    Talk briefly about sea life and see what the students know about this ecosystem.  Have they ever learnt about it in detail?  How do they feel when they are at sea or dive shortly under the sea?

–    Share a video-clip about undersea creature on earth (https://youtu.be/nvq_lvC1MRY).  Invite students to observe and look closely at life under the sea.

–    Introduce some vocabulary related to the sea plants and creatures.

–    Discuss how these can be affected by plastic residues thrown on the ground.

Development

–   Invite students to talk about the under-water scenario they can see, created with the use of Appendix 14.1.  Have they ever experienced an under-water observation?  Are they curious to experience it?

–   Distribute the handout with a list of species (Appendix 14.2).  Go through it together.  Then give some ample time for them to look around/think of sea life under water and write what they can see or be found in that habitat.  Refer to the short questions in Appendix 14.3.

–   Debate about what is proper and improper in the scenario.

–   Speak shortly about the divers’ experiences, how prepared they should be and what they would ask if they were to meet a diver. Refer to Appendix 14.4.

–   Create a questionnaire with some questions that can be asked to a diver who experiences going under the water frequently and think of a motto designed to share it with people in public to save the ocean life.

–   Check out together the ticking on the handout and the motto written about undersea Life.

Conclusion

–    Have a conversation using the list of reflective questions attached to the lesson plan.

–    Emphasize the importance of being responsible and using environment-friendly measures to sustain natural ecosystems.

–    Share the mottos written by the students with the school and maybe then with some environment entities.
Follow-up activities Possibility of inviting a diver to give a presentation about diving and have an interview with him/her.
Background information for educators Refer to the list of video-clip links in Appendix 14.6.
Adaptations Use of pictures provided in Appendix 14.5 can be used depending on abilities of students.
Extensions Write about an imaginary diving experience or an experience of a sea creature.