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Age: Grade(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Kindergarten
Subjects: Art, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
Duration: 30 minutes or more

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Objectives

Students will be able to:

  • use various methods to show links between fresh water and ocean systems

Method

Students of all ages prepare a celebration of Oceans Day, June 8.

Materials

any

Background

June 8 was declared Oceans Day by the United Nations Earth Summit in 1992 to raise awareness of the importance of oceans and inspire us to care for them. Once students have learned about oceans, encourage them to spread the word to family and community. Use the students' knowledge and imagination to celebrate Oceans Day, June 8. Emphasize fun, variety, and audience participation. Here are a few ideas.

  • Recruit a renowned speaker, musician, or celebrity.
  • Decorate with your own poems, posters, artwork, maps, and displays.
  • Play music with a maritime theme. Include a live choir production or interactive puppet show.
  • Screen ocean videos or films from sources such as Jacques Cousteau, Discovery Channel, Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
  • Offer sea-related snacks (such as shellfish, sushi, and kelp) or create an ocean foods display.
  • Display medicines and other products from the sea.
  • Celebrate biodiversity with colourful wall murals.
  • Organize games. For example, see the "Clean Getaway" activity, or the "Creature Connections Discovery Tour" board game. Also see the Project WILD Activity Guide or the Fish Ways Activity Guide for ideas for games.
  • Organize activities with prizes, such as a fish pond, an oceanic dunk tank, or a sponge toss.
  • Organize a colouring contest or a poster give-away.

Some Recommended Ocean Media
Give a little more life to your Oceans Day celebrations with some "Made in Canada" music and films. Here are a few recommended titles and artists.

Traditional Music CD's

  • The Sounds of Atlantic Canada (Compilation), Stephen MacDonald Productions (www.atlanticartists.com).
  • A Taste of the Maritimes (Compilation), Quality Special Products. Silver Sea and Sailing Ships and Sailing Men by Evans and Doherty, Tall Ships Art Productions Ltd.
  • Great Big Sea by Great Big Sea.
  • Salish Sea by Holly Arntzen.

Ocean Films and Videos from the National Film Board of Canada

  • Champions of the Wild is a series of 25-minute films that features sea otters, various whales, and others.
  • Cries From the Deep is a feature-length, classic Jacques Cousteau oceanexploration film.
  • Estuary is an 11-minute film on the ecology and threats to estuaries.
  • The Intertidal Zone is a 17-minute film that explores this biologically rich ecosystem.
  • The Treasure of the Grotoceans is a 15-minute underwater ocean fantasy with an ecology and conservation theme.
  • use various methods to demonstrate actions to improve freshwater and ocean health.

Procedure

  1. Participate in ocean awareness activities from “Discover the Ocean in Your Backyard”.
  2. Discuss what a festival is, identify your main audience, and brainstorm a list of activities.
  3. Choose the best activities and assign groups to organize each. Include "high profile" events, such as talks by well-known guest speakers, to attract your audience.
  4. Draw up a schedule and create a floor plan/map of events (use as handouts for festival-goers). Consider ease of access and washrooms.
  5. Promote the event to your audience in time for them to plan to attend. Use the school newsletter or, if you are hoping to draw broader community participation, local news media.
  6. Contact local media to cover your event.
  7. Have fun!

Extensions

Connect with other events in your area.

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