Water Pollution Lesson Plan: How Oil Spills Affect Ocean Animals
Submitted by: Rebekka Stasny
Grade Levels: 3-5
In this water pollution lesson plan, which is adaptable for grades 3 to 5, students use BrainPOP resources to determine causes of ocean oil spills and explore how birds, marine mammals, and fish are affected by oil spills. Students will also identify ways to clean the water and animals after an oil spill, and create a public awareness poster of the effects of oil spills in the ocean and ways to help keep the oceans clean.gr
Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments
Grade: 03
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1
Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.
Grade: 03
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7
Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
Grade: 04
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1
Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Grade: 04
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7
Interpret information presented visually, orally, or quantitatively (e.g., in charts, graphs, diagrams, time lines, animations, or interactive elements on Web pages) and explain how the information contributes to an understanding of the text in which it appears.
Grade: 05
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1
Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
Grade: 05
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.7
Draw on information from multiple print or digital sources, demonstrating the ability to locate an answer to a question quickly or to solve a problem efficiently.
Grade: 03
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7
Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
Grade: 03
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.8
Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
Grade: 04
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.7
Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
Grade: 04
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Grade: 05
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7
Conduct short research projects that use several sources to build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.
Grade: 05
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.8
Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; summarize or paraphrase information in notes and finished work, and provide a list of sources.
Grade: 05
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Students will:
- Determine causes of ocean oil spills.
- Describe how birds, marine mammals and fish are affected by oil spills.
- Identify ways to clean the water and animals after an oil spill.
Materials:
- Access to BrainPOP
- Access to Microsoft Publisher
- Copies of downloadable resources below
- Feathers from a bird
- Dawn Dish Soap
- Ivory Soap
- Water
- Motor Oil
Vocabulary:
pollution; adaptations
Preparation:
Students will explore possible cause and effects of oil spills in the ocean. Students will conduct an experiment where they will feel the effects of an oil spill first hand, determine environmental problems that are caused by oil spills, determine effective ways in cleaning wildlife that has been affected by oil spills, and create public awareness posters to help keep ocean wildlife healthy. Prepare materials so that each group of students has all of the required materials.Lesson Procedure:
- Have the students watch the Brainpop movie Water Pollution. Use BrainPOP's interactive features (Activity Pages, Related Reading, Experiment, Quiz) before, during, or after the movie to enhance the lesson.
- After the students have completed watching the movie, ask them to brainstorm about what they know about oil spills, where the oil might come from and possible effects that it can have on the ocean and the wildlife living there.
- Explain the Dirty Birdies Activity (downloadable below) to the students.
- Break the class into small groups and provide each group with materials and a Dirty Birdies Observation Sheet.
- Have the students complete the Dirty Birdies Activities by following the directions on the Dirty Birdies Activity Sheet.
- After the students have completed their Dirty Birdies Activity Sheet, discuss the results of the activity and which of the cleaners cleaned the oil off of the feather the best.
- Have the students complete a Public Awareness Poster about the possible environmental effects that oil can have on the water and the animals that live on or in the ocean.
Extension Activities:
The Dirty Birdies Activity Sheet provides the lab instructions and activities for the students to complete while they are conducting the activity. BrainPOP Jr. and BrainPOP both have suggested extension activities for home and school to check out!Downloadable Resources:
DIRTY BIRDIES OBSERVATION SHEET.doc
Related:
Filed as:
3-5, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.8
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.8, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.9, Economics, Energy, Energy Technology, Fossil Fuels, Gas and Oil, Groundwater, Humans and the Environment, Marine Life, Math, Our Fragile Environment, Social Studies, Teachers' Resources, Water Pollution
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