Human Disturbances: Links for Teachers
Estuaries 101: A Terrible Spill in Grand Bay
In this activity students make a model of a pollution spill that occurred at Bangs Lake, a tidal lake within the Grand Bay estuary in Mississippi. Students measure water quality parameters in their model, study data from the actual spill, determine how the spill changed the water quality in the estuary, and speculate how various life forms in the estuary were affected.
http://estuaries.gov/estuaries101/Doc/PDF/PS3_HumanImpact.pdf
Features: Hands-on Investigation, Lesson Ideas, Assessment, Data Sources, Inquiry Materials
Where's the Point?
Using this lesson plan, students learn the causes and impacts of contaminated runoff, as well as solutions for tracking this problem. Students are asked to construct a 3-D model of an actual watershed in their community and provide that information to a local audience.
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/classroom/
lessons/09_coastmanag_point.pdf
Features: Hands-on Investigation, Lesson Ideas
Estuaries: Finding the Balance
This lesson plan examines the conflict between development and the environment, and explores attempts for compromise. Students are encouraged to consider the interaction between environmental and economic demands and to seek a balance.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/
11/g912/tgestuaries.html
Features: Hands-on Investigation, Lesson Ideas, Assessment
Prince William's Oily Mess: A Tale of Recovery
How does an ecosystem recover from a major one-time insult such as an oil spill? Read about the Exxon Valdez oil spill's effect on Prince William Sound. Then use real data to investigate the impact of the disaster.
http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/stories/oilymess/teachers.html
Features: Lesson Ideas, Online Interactivity, Graphics/Multimedia, Assessment, Data Sources, Ask an Expert, In the News, A Bit of History, Inquiry Materials
Spill Tools: An Oil Spill Response Exercise
This interactive exercise begins with a report of an oil spill near a port city. Users are the challenged to decide how to allocate response resources to remove as much of the spilled oil from the sea surface as possible before the slick reaches the sensitive site.
http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/type_audience_entry.php?
RECORD_KEY%28entry_audience_type%29=entry_id,audience
_id,type_id&entry_id(entry_audience_type)=566&audience_id
(entry_audience_type)=2&type_id(entry_audience_type)=3
Features: Hands-on Investigation, Lesson Ideas, Graphics/Multimedia, Assessment, Inquiry Materials
Oil Spill: An Event-Based Science Module
Use satellite images and other data to determine the best place to locate an oil drilling rig near six different harbors.
http://www.ebsinstitute.com/ebs.OilSpill.html
Features: Lesson Ideas, Online Interactivity, Graphics/Multimedia, Career Info
