Creative Communication and Climate Change: The Ocean as Climate’s Heart
Provided by: UCI Science Project|Published on: May 1, 2024
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Visual and Performing Arts
Authors: UCI Science Project
Region: Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This 5-lesson unit focuses on ocean acidification, its causes, and its impacts on marine life while creating, refining, and analyzing artistic expressions on the topic.
- Students will interpret climate art by Alisa Singer and create personal works inspired by what they learn.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The unit embraces the students' artistic expression and leaves room for student choice and voice.
- Students are encouraged by the notion that you don't have to be a scientist to engage with data and make a difference.
Additional Prerequisites
- The link for the full-size climate-inspired images is broken. However, there are links to each art piece in the presenter's notes.
- There are a few links in the presenter notes section of the slides that do not work, including the worksheet link, NNOCCI Climate’s Heart, the creative journal (all three links), "7 things absolutely everyone should know about ocean acidification" (screenshots and PDF), Glow and Grow Protocol, Ocean-Atmosphere Carbon Dioxide Exchange, and Earth Overshoot Day Solutions PDF.
- Students should understand the pH scale, chemical notation, and chemical reactions.
Differentiation
- Teachers can take the vocabulary listed at the bottom of each Lesson Checkpoints section and create a word wall to support English Language Learners in acquiring the vocabulary.
- Students can plan a showcase to display and perform their artwork for others.
- Students can interpret other examples of climate art, such as Jill Pelto's "Habitat Degradation: Ocean Acidification."
- Math classes can focus more on the graphs by answering specific questions about data points.
- Language arts classes can use the framework to write poetry or other creative pieces that inform and inspire people.
This resource allows students to learn about the ocean and its role in regulating heat and sequestrating atmospheric carbon emissions. The resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
UCI Science Project
UCI Science Project is grounded in research-based educational practices and understands the paradigm shifts needed for the Next Generation Science Standards. Our goal is to support educators as transformative leaders who build capacity in their schools through empowering learning experiences. We are firmly committed to addressing racial, social, and environmental injustices through collaborative efforts that position educators as agents of change for community action.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
