Global Oceans
-
In this resource your group will look into the benefits nature can have on your physical and mental health. We’ll also bust some myths along the way.
In this activity you and your students will:
Research what are known benefits of getting out into nature.
Learn about mindfulness and how we can use it to enjoy nature more.
Optional: Run an experiment on the effects of nature on your group.
-
The illegal wildlife trade has devastating impacts on animal populations and ecosystems. It can also fuel organised crime and undermine local communities. Learn more about the problems of poaching and trafficking and how you can help, no matter where you live.
In this activity you and your students will:
Learn definitions of poaching and trafficking.
Learn about some of the problems that these can cause, for animals, people and the environment.
Learn about how you can become a more savvy consumer to help stem demand for illegal wildlife products.
-
Farming on land (agriculture) is familiar to everyone, but not all young people will have heard of its water-based equivalent, aquaculture. Just like agriculture, the environmental impact of aquaculture varies depending on which species are being farmed and the methods used.
In this activity you and your students will:
Compare and contrast the environmental impact of salmonid (salmon and trout) farming to the farming of bivalve molluscs such as oysters and mussels
Brainstorm ways that you can make a difference.
-
It is estimated that 260 million people worldwide are supported by marine fishing. This resource examines the fishing industry and suggests choices that consumers can take to help steer it into more sustainable practices
In this activity you and your students will:
Learn about the jobs supported by the fishing industry across the world.
Learn about some of the problems associated with commercial fishing and how it can be made more sustainable.
Learn about the concept of consumer pressure.
Carry out a survey of the fish available at a local supermarket and write to them to ask about their sourcing policies.
-
What kind of plants and animals live in our ocean? Why is the life we see in a warm sea like the Indian Ocean different from what we see in a cold sea like the North Atlantic?
In this activity you and your students will:
Look at the environment of the northern North Atlantic and northern Indian Ocean.
Look at some typical animals of each ocean.
Look at the differences and similarities between these fauna and relate them to the environmental differences.
Optional: Take it further by exploring the effects of climate change on life in our oceans.
-
What makes one sea warm and another sea cold? What makes water flow from one part of the world to another? And how does this affect where we find life in the oceans of the world?
In this activity you and your students will:
Carry out some simple experiments that explain the basics of ocean currents.
Carry out some experiments that show the conditions plant life needs to thrive and how this relates to water temperature.
Learn about the impact this has on the diversity and location of marine life.
Create maps showing the major ocean currents and life ‘hotspots’.
-
The oceans and seas of the world are truly amazing and beautiful places full of life … and our pollution! Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans having a huge impact on the wildlife and their habitats. Use this resource to discover the types of waste floating around the ocean and how you can help, no matter where you live!
In this activity you and your students will:
Learn about what types of waste end up in our oceans and how it gets there.
Create a map of where that waste is piling up.
Learn about actions people are taking to clean up the oceans.
Get involved by taking action, for example by running a local beach or waterway clean.
-
London Gateway in Essex is the newest and most advanced container port in the UK. Jebel Ali in Dubai is home to the biggest and busiest port in the Middle East. Separated by thousands of kilometres, what do they share in common and what sets them apart?
In this activity you and your students will:
Learn about the founding, development and present day operations of the ports of London Gateway and Jebel Ali.
Compare and contrast the two ports.
Speculate what the future holds for each port.
Objectives
Learn how regional and global pressures shape how cities and nearby communities develop.
-
Around 80% of world trade is transported by ships, but how often do you think about the environmental impact of shipping? In this resource we will think about the impact shipping has on us and our planet and come up with some ideas for creating more sustainable shipping.
In this activity you and your students will:
Research the impact of shipping on us and our planet
Design and build a model of a ship for the future.
Test their ship on water!
Objectives
To find out about the impact of our most common form of trade transport, and think of ways to make it more sustainable.
