Elakha. Phtot courtesy of the Elakha Alliance.
Overview
Lesson 1: Introduction to Relationships between Humans and the Environment
Lesson 2: Keystone Species and the Food Web
Lesson 3: Native Americans, Science, and Salmon
Lesson 4: Native Americans and Science
Lesson 5: Dangers to Sea Otter and Responsibility of People
Extending the lessons/References
Standards
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
EL.06.RE.05—Demonstrate listening comprehension of more complex text through class and/or small group interpretive discussions across the subject areas.
EL.06.RE.06—Listen to, read, and understand a wide variety of informational and narrative text.
EL.06.RE.26—Draw conclusions about reasons for actions or beliefs based on an analysis of information in the text.
EL.06.WR.02—Discuss ideas for writing with classmates, teachers, and other writers, and develop drafts alone and collaboratively.
EL.06.WR.10—Write for different purposes and to a specific audience or person, adjusting tone and style as necessary.
GEOGRAPHY
SS.05.GE.07.02—Describe how human activity can impact the environment.
CD Segments to Play
Background
Suggested Strategies
In preparation for today’s lesson, print out the letters from kids at HYPERLINK “http://www.seaotters.org/Kids/index.cfm?DocID=90″http://www.seaotters.org/Kids/index.cfm?DocID=90.
Activities
1. Listen
Begin the class by reading the book Baby Sea Otter. Give the class time to discuss the book. Have the class bring out their Sea Otter Portfolio.
2. Discuss
There are many dangers to sea otters. Ask the students for some of the dangers; make a list on the board and have the students copy the list for the Portfolio.
Oil spills from huge barges are lethal to sea otters and other sea life
Commercial fishermen place nets out in the ocean and the sea otters get caught in them and die
Loss of habitat (the place where they live) and destruction to their habitat
Chemicals that get into the waters and end up in the ocean
Garbage
Ask: what can we do about these things?
When you go on a picnic or camping, always take your garbage with you.
Never dump anything into the water.
Save (conserve) water.
Ask your parents if they use chemicals for gardens, and tell them how chemicals get into the waters that sea otters live in; maybe they can figure out a different way to take care of their gardens.
After it rains really hard, look at the water that runs down the streets. All that water eventually ends up in the ocean, the sea otter’s habitat…so never throw garbage out, not even gum.
When you help you parents wash their car at home (or if they wash it alone at home), the soapy water will end up going to the ocean; ask your parents if they use biodegradable soaps. These are the only safe kinds of soap, and even they will end up in the ocean.
Walk whenever you can. Every time we use our cars, we are using gasoline which is what the oil barges are carrying across the ocean: oil to convert into gasoline.
Ask: Who should do these things to help the sea otter?
3. Read
Pass out copies of the letters that were written to Friend of the Sea Otter.
4. Writing exercise
Have the students write a letter to the Elakah Alliance and send to HYPERLINK “http://www.ecotrust.org/nativeprograms/elakha.htm”http://www.ecotrust.org/nativeprograms/elakha.htm.
