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Author

Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Grades

5th, 6th, 7th, 8th

Subjects

Science, Social Studies, Biology, Economics

Resource Types

  • Lesson Plans
  • Interactive Media
  • Worksheets
  • Presentation Slides
  • Assessments
  • Videos
  • Charts, Graphs, and Tables
  • Games

Regional Focus

North America, United States, USA - Northeast, South and Central America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Maine, Coastal

Format

Google Docs, Google Slides, YouTube Video

Local Seafood in Maine Schools

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Synopsis
  • In this set of five lessons, students will learn about the importance of seafood worldwide, the impact of seafood on the local economy, and examples of local seafood ventures and programs in Maine.
  • Students will explore seafood in different cultures using an interactive map, analyze graphs and readings about the environmental and health aspects of local seafood, participate in a model seafood marketplace, compare the journey and economic impacts of local and imported fish, and create an artifact to influence others to eat local seafood.
Teaching Tips

Positives

  • The choice board in Lesson 5 is a great way to honor student preferences.
  • The ThingLink research activity has an incredible accessibility feature that reads the text aloud and can translate it into several languages.

Additional Prerequisites

  • Teachers will need seashells for Lesson 2 and to prep game materials for Lesson 3.
  • The link for Seattle Aquarium: Seaweed Search at Home under extension resources for Lesson 2 and the links to purchase play money are broken.
  • Students should understand how people buy and sell goods.

Differentiation

  • Teachers can use the vocabulary list for the module to create a word wall to support student understanding.
  • Students may need to slow the video playback speed on videos in other languages with English subtitles.
  • Science classes can research the impact of climate change on Maine waters and discuss the impact these changes will have on the local economy.
  • Math teachers can pose questions that help students practice analyzing the data in Lesson 2.
  • Consider including reflection questions or additional content about overfishing, trawling, bycatch, and commercial fishing practices that may harm corals or other marine life.
  • Advanced students can research pollutants that bioaccumulate in seafood, such as PCBs, mercury, DDT, PFOA, or others.
Scientist Notes
This series of lessons explores the benefits of implementing more seafood into school lunches. While there are many environmental factors and benefits to consider, teachers should note that this lesson does not give a complete picture, so it would benefit students to add some of the negatives of seafood, such as overfishing and how dangerous the practice can be. That said, this resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.

  • Social Studies
    • U.S. History: America in the World - Economics, Innovation, and Technology
      • 6.1.5.EconEM.3: Describe how supply and demand influence price and output of products.
      • 6.1.5.EconNM.5: Explain how the availability of private and public goods and services is influenced by the government and the global economy.
  • Science
    • ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
      • MS-ESS3-3. Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.
  • Comprehensive Health & Physical Education
    • Physical Wellness
      • 2.2.8.N.4: Assess personal nutritional health and consider opportunities to improve health and performance (e.g., sports drinks, supplements, balance nutrition).
  • English Language Arts
    • Writing (K-12)
      • W.AW.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • Related Resources

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