How Can Growing Seaweed Help Mussels?
Lesson Plans
Grades7, 8, 9, 10Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by National Science Teaching Association
What it is
- In this lesson, students will watch part of a 9-minute video to understand the issue of ocean acidification and shellfish, then design a solution.
- Students will understand why ocean acidification is a problem, consider the options for solutions, and discuss solutions as a class.
Teaching tips
Preparation:
- Gather different types of shells or images of shells.
- Consider having the video ready to go and in full screen to avoid sharing the title with students and giving away a solution.
Prerequisites:
- Activate students’ prior knowledge of how humans emit carbon dioxide.
- Review the engineering process, defining the terms criteria and constraints, if necessary.
Differentiation:
- Refer to the lesson instructions for how to cater this lesson to either middle school or high school students.
Related Resources:
- Use this experiment with middle school students for a hands-on demonstration of ocean acidification.
- Learn more about the impacts of climate change on the Gulf of Maine using this module.
From the scientist review
This resource tasks students with designing a solution to help mussels grow shells despite increasing ocean acidification. The text is clear, well-organized, and includes additional guidance in each section that addresses foundational science concepts. The text and video present an important consequence of climate change coupled with an adaptation that promotes aquaculture. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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