The Ocean's Green Machines

• This video provides information on phytoplankton, the microscopic photosynthetic organisms that live throughout the ocean.
• Students will learn how warming ocean waters are affecting phytoplankton populations and how decreases in phytoplankton affect the ocean food web and the ocean's ability to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Positives

• The video features easy-to-follow narration and simple animated graphics.
• Students will make the connection between the phytoplankton population and the health of the ocean ecosystem.

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should be familiar with the terms nutrients, photosynthesis, and carbon sinks.
• The graphics in the video are dated, but the information in the video remains valid.

Differentiation

• The video can be integrated into a lesson on CO₂ emission rise and the impact on ocean ecosystems, specifically on food webs and biodiversity within those ecosystems.
• Students could research how scientists gather data about phytoplankton from satellites and what pattern that data shows.
• Other resources on this topic include this lesson on carbon sequestration methods, this experiment on how plants absorb carbon dioxide in water, and this video on the role of whales in fighting climate change.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.