The Ripple Effect
Collective Climate Action for the Oceans
Introduction
The Ripple Effect Program brings youth together to take climate action for protecting oceans. Through this program learners will understand the need for climate action for ocean protection, such as in coastal communities, through effective ocean policies and explore how a blue economy ensures sustainable development of ocean resources.
The Ripple Effect Program is part of Waves of Change, a Canadian bilingual project (English/French) that engages youth through a continuum of educational opportunities in every province and territory, in both urban and rural communities. It blends physical events, digital engagement and a climate action tracking tool to further climate action across Canada. Waves of Change provides learning opportunities to Canadian K-12 youth that make clear connections between climate change, ocean health, and daily actions that can reduce greenhouse gases, to inspire their peers and broader communities to take climate action. Ocean Wise, TakingITGlobal and GreenLearning co-developed Waves of Change and were a successful coalition of applicants to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
The Ripple Effect Program is part of Waves of Change, a Canadian bilingual project (English/French) that engages youth through a continuum of educational opportunities in every province and territory, in both urban and rural communities. It blends physical events, digital engagement and a climate action tracking tool to further climate action across Canada. Waves of Change provides learning opportunities to Canadian K-12 youth that make clear connections between climate change, ocean health, and daily actions that can reduce greenhouse gases, to inspire their peers and broader communities to take climate action. Ocean Wise, TakingITGlobal and GreenLearning co-developed Waves of Change and were a successful coalition of applicants to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Environmental Damages Fund.
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Program Resources
Keywords
blue economy, marine policy, ocean policy, ocean protection, climate action, climate policy, sustainable development, ocean wealth, ocean resources, ocean stewardship.
CURRICULUM
CONNECTIONS
APPLICABLE UNITED NATIONS’ SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Program Activities
Length of Time: 3 hours
Monitoring Ecosystems
This activity provides two important activity modes, the first being a background reading, the second, an exercise in summarizing and analyzing environmental data. The backgrounder provides essential foundational knowledge about the main topic (environmental monitoring). The activity that follows tests learners’ comprehension of the ideas in the backgrounder and allows them to apply this understanding using a realistic example
Length of Time: 1.5 hours to build + 3 weeks to observe
Ecosystem in a Bottle
This activity encourages learners to observe an ecosystem by having them observe and investigate a class bottle biosphere. The investigation will allow students to make connections between the bottle and the Earth as a whole unit and ecosystem. The lesson is not dependent upon success in creating a thriving bottle, as a dying bottle may create more discussion than a successful one.
Length of Time: 2.5 hours
Ecosystem Benefits
The watershed activity challenges learners to visualize and ecosystem through a special representation, namely a map. By examining information about a local or familiar landmark, this activity also enables learners to transfer their theoretical understanding of ecosystem services and benefits to the real world in which they live.
Length of Time: 1 hour
Energy Flows
Learners will be re-enacting energy flow through a simplified ecosystem by assuming roles, moving around, and passing cards from person to person. This will reinforce several important ideas in ecology in a way that will appeal to learners who respond well to physical interactivity
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Carbon Cycle
Learners are introduced to terminology along with background information on the carbon cycle, then they will read a story about the life of a carbon atom as it is passed from one form to another.
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Nitrogen Cycle
This activity provides an introduction to terminology along with background information, then provides practice activities in which students identify some transformations that occur in the “lifetimes” of nitrogen molecules.
Length of Time: 1 hour
The Water Cycle
This activity provides an introduction to terminology along with background information, then provides practice activities in which learners identify some transformations that occur in the “lifetimes” of water molecules.
Length of Time: 1 hours
Relationships and Interactions
Learners will learn about the potential types of relationships that may be found in communities. Using the Species cards, they will sort information into various types of groups.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Natural Disturbances
This activity is designed to give a quick overview of the central topic, disturbance in ecosystems.
Length of Time: 3 hours
Enough is Enough
This activity is designed to help learners quickly grasp several key concepts related to ecological populations.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Succession
Once learners are acquainted with a variety of types of ecosystems and the general factors of which they are composed, both biotic and abiotic, this activity will provide the opportunity to predict what may happen should the conditions in an area change.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Sensible Science
This activity gives learners knowledge as to how to plan, analyze, and troubleshoot their scientific investigations by giving them some experience whereby they practice their analytical skills on a variety of recorded experiments.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Making Good Decisions
This activity will utilize personal thoughts and points of view to construct meaning and knowledge through taking on the role of another person.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Our Ecological Footprint
This activity will help learners become aware of the interconnectedness of personal lifestyle and its impact on the environment.
Length of Time: 1.5 hours
Creating Change
Learners will investigate and consider a variety of actions that may have an impact on the environment.
Length of Time: 45 - 60 minutes
Meet the Co-Author
Complete a guided reading of Sila and the Land with the co-author Ariana Roundpoint and explore the creative process that went into writing this book with co-author Ariana Roundpoint.
Length of Time: 45 - 60 minutes
Choices and Consequences
Learners will be able to identify positive and negative consequences of different choices, while understanding that small choices can have large consequences.
Length of Time: 2 - 4 hours
Climate Justice and Action Through Art
Learners are provided an opportunity to create art, think critically about elements of art, and connect art to a local and global context. The activities can be done in multiple sessions, but need to be done together.
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