Marine Migration

Educator guide

(Adventure: Open Ocean)

How can we ensure the survival of migratory species?





What’s it all about?

Join youth host Sergio and lead scientist Dr. Boris Worm as they head out on our first open ocean adventure to Cocos Island, in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Scalloped hammerhead sharks have been decimated in this region because their large schools are easy targets for fishers. Although the islands in the region are all protected, the waters between these islands are not. With MigraMar scientists and Conservation International, we’re investigating critical habitats and pathways to find out: How can we ensure the survival of migratory species?

Estimated media time - 65m

Watch the trailer

Potential topics / Big ideas

  • Biological diversity

  • Ecological interdependence and adaptation

  • Human impact on ecosystems

  • Sustainable ecosystems

  • Habitat management and protection

  • Spatial diversity of natural and human environments and communities, on a local and regional scale

  • Scientific exploration

  • Technology as a tool to improve marine research, collaborate, gather and analyze information

  • Patterns and trends (e.g., habitats and species interactions)

  • Data collection and analysis

  • Stakeholder perspectives (e.g., scientists, community members, aquaculture farmers)

  • Global context of conservation

Competencies

Lines of inquiry

Marine Migration contains three lines of inquiry, each with a focus question. This guide describes all of the pieces of media in each line of inquiry by title, type, content and accompanying activity. We have provided estimated times for each activity.

Note. As an inquiry-based learning platform, Ocean School is designed to allow students to choose their own path according to their crew’s (group) decisions. If you would like the students to follow a prescribed path, you will need to tell them where to go.

For more information, read about our approach to Inquiry based learning.

Marine Migration

Click on the titles in this graphic to open them on the Ocean School platform. You must be signed in to Ocean School.

Take Action

The Take Action is the culminating activity in every module. Learners are asked to reflect about what they’ve learned and how they can put their learning into action. This activity is designed to support sustained inquiry, leadership and collaboration.

The Take Action is framed with a “call to action” from the youth host who poses the overarching module question and asks students to take action to answer it. In this case: How can we ensure the survival of migratory species?

Below we have described the call to action and a handful ideas of actions or products.

For more information, read the Take action guide.

Call to Action

How can we ensure the survival of migratory species?

2m

Migratory species need knowledgeable defenders to protect their critical habitats and migratory pathways. What migratory species are important near your home? What small thing can YOU do, right now, to make a difference? Let us know how YOU made waves!

Activity

Take action planner: A template is provided with the call to action and questions to scaffold the planning of an action.

Ideas for actions and products

  • Get outside! Volunteer to help protect a species and its migratory pathway.

  • Create a product to share learning and build awareness among others - Infographics, podcasts, digital stories, social media campaign.

  • Create a role play.

  • Become a citizen scientist.

OPEN OCEAN OASIS

What shapes the patterns of species migration?

In this line of inquiry: To the continental shelf ... and beyond, Of pirates and poop, Sharks are awesome, On the island, Tour the Argo

MIGRATORY MYSTERIES

How do we study migratory species?

In this line of inquiry: Seamount science, Shark tagging 360°, Secret life of sharks, Nautical network, How to build a submarine

CRITICAL CONSERVATION

How can we protect critical habitat for migratory species?

In this line of inquiry: Where do babies come from?, Current news: Trawling ban, Guardians of Cocos Island, Tropical treasures, Dive detectives

Inquiry tools

How can we boost our inquiry skills?

An inquiry tool is a piece of media that explicitly targets inquiry skills building. Ocean School is designed to facilitate and build inquiry skills, such as asking great questions. Each of the inquiry tools has an accompanying educator guide with a lesson plan.

For more information, read the Inquiry tools guide.


This module was made possible by the generous support of IOC-UNESCO and the Government of Sweden.