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Sea Otters versus Climate Change

Secondary, Middle

Description

By balancing their ecosystem, otters are playing a role in the fight against climate change. Students learn about the connection between sea otters, sea urchins and kelp forests and understand the importance of a balanced ecosystem in the struggle to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere.

General Assessment

What skills does this resource explicitly teach?

In examining the relationship among sea otters, kelp, sea urchins and climate change, students have an opportunity to practice those skills associated with system thinking.

Strengths

Sea Otters vs Climate Change provides a model for investigating the interdependence that characterizes ecosystems and the larger concept of system thinking. The video is accompanied by a list of curriculum standards that link the content to various topics, preview and postview questions, and a lesson plan on understanding climate change.

Recommendation of how and where to use it

The video may support the investigation of a number of curriculum topics from grades 7-12. These include:

  • global and regional climate change
  • ecosystem dynamics
  • factors in climate change
  • food webs
  • population dynamics

Relevant Curriculum Units

The following tool will allow you to explore the relevant curriculum matches for this resource. To start, select a province listed below.

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        • Specialized Science 12: Biodiversity is dependent on the complex interactions and processes between biotic and abiotic factors
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        • Environmental Science 12: Human activities cause changes in the global climate system
      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Specialized Science 12: Biodiversity is dependent on the complex interactions and processes between biotic and abiotic factors
        • Specialized Science 12: Climate change impacts biodiversity and ecosystem health

Themes Addressed

Air, Atmosphere & Climate (1)

  • Climate Change

Ecosystems (3)

  • Biodiversity
  • Endangered Species
  • Interdependence

Water (1)

  • Marine Environments