Students will learn what marine mammal stranding is, how to read and interpret data to determine where and why strandings are occurring, and create a PSA to raise awareness about proper response to strandings.

The data used in this lesson was provided by the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network. This lesson can also be adapted to use local data.

Topics

Authors

Brynn Johnson & Dana Mohn

Next Generation Science Standards

Crosscutting Concepts
  • Cause and effect
  • Stability and change
Core Ideas
  • LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
  • LS2.D: Social Interactions and Group Behavior
Practices
  • Analyzing and interpreting data
  • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Ocean Literacy Fundamental Concepts

  • 6.E: Humans affect the ocean in a variety of ways. Laws, regulations and resource management affect what is taken out and put into the ocean. Human development and activity leads to pollution (point source, non-point source, and noise pollution) and physical modifications (changes to beaches, shores and rivers). In addition, humans have removed most of the large vertebrates from the ocean.