Author Archives: oceanlifeeducation

Guide to Teaching Ocean Literacy in Australia

teaching ocean literacy principles

So, what’s all this about? What is Ocean Literacy? Ocean literacy is an understanding of the ocean’s influence on you – and the influence that you have on the ocean.

When we understand the ocean we can begin to comprehend how its works, giving us the information we need to take measures to protect it. Education is at the heart of ocean literacy and this is where we as educators play a crucial role in inspiring people young and old to want to take action and make a difference, transforming ocean knowledge into action. Here’s our guide to teaching Ocean Literacy at schools…

Who Developed the Ocean Literacy Principles?

The Ocean Literacy Principles were developed in 2004 through an international community-wide consultation, with agreement with hundreds of scientists, educators and policy makers. The original purpose of the campaign was to address the lack of ocean related content in schools in the US.

The fundamental aim of the Ocean Literacy Principles is that every human being should understand basic principles about the ocean by the time they graduate high school, thus creating an ‘ocean-literate’ society.

What is the Goal of the Ocean Literacy Principles?

UNESCO has set the following goal for the 7 Ocean Literacy Principles as:

“Ocean Literacy is included in curriculum frameworks of all 193 UNESCO Member States by 2025”.

What are The Ocean Literacy Principles?

 The Ocean Literacy Principles are:

  1. The Earth has one big ocean with many features
  2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth
  3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate
  4. The ocean made the Earth habitable
  5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems
  6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected
  7. The ocean is largely unexplored

 

What Does Being Ocean Literate Mean?

 Being Ocean Literate Means:

  1. Understanding the essential principles and fundamental concepts about the ocean
  2. Communicating about the ocean in a meaningful way
  3. Being able to make informed and responsible decisions regarding the ocean and its resources

 

Are Many Australians Ocean Literate?

Studies show many Australians are very concerned about the ocean, with ocean plastic being the biggest concern voiced, then overfishing and other human impacts. So a lot of good work is already being done to spread the message that we need to act now to preserve the ocean for the future. Many Australians are ocean literate but a lot more still has to be done as the ocean needs our help.

Teaching Ocean Literacy in Australia

The basic principles of ocean literacy do not fall within traditional science disciplines, they instead focus on integrated science. This is because of the interdisciplinary nature of ocean sciences.

As teachers, it is our responsibility to educate children (and adults) about the ocean in a meaningful way. This can be done under the standard school curriculum themes. Our free primary resources can help you get started, or why not book in an incursion so one of our expert marine educators can teach the children about the ocean using interaction with our live marine animals. Here are some great resources to assist with planning.

Ocean Life Education Programs & Resources

Ocean Literacy resources – Australia focused

UNESCO – Ocean Literacy Teachers Area

Marine Stewardship Council of Australia

World Ocean Day – Plan Your Event

Why is the Health of the Ocean So Important?

The ocean covers most of our planet, it regulates our climate and provides the air we breathe. It also feeds us, provides jobs and livelihoods and is a tool for economic development, as well as being fun to play in! We humans need a healthy ocean in order to survive. So, the health of the ocean is critically important to us.

Click image to download PDF.

why we need a healthy ocean

Read our blog – 10 reasons why we depend on our ocean

 

Further resources

OceansIQ

Ocean and Climate Literacy – Essential principles and fundamental concepts

UNESCO – Ocean Literacy for All

20 Teaching Activities for SeaWeek

SeaWeek 2024

 

Australia’s SeaWeek 2023 will be celebrated throughout the country from 4-12 March 2023 and from 2-10 March 2024. The initiative aims to spotlight community awareness, inform, and foster an appreciation for the sea. The theme for this year centers around Ocean Literacy Principle 2: The ocean and life within it significantly influence the Earth’s features.

This is a fascinating topic and a great basis for exploring all things relating to the ocean in schools and childcare settings. So, here is some background information plus 20 teaching activities for SeaWeek 2024 that will engage and inspire kids to want to learn more about and protect the ocean.

Why is the Ocean a Defining Feature of Our Planet?

The ocean is the defining physical feature on our planet Earth as it covers most of the earth’s surface – around 70% in fact.

It is also home to the majority of life on earth and responsible for around 70% of the oxygen we breath, as well as absorbtion of carbon dioxide, climate regulation, jobs, food, waste removal, , marine transport, medicine, travel, recreation and fun. We could go on…

Do we say Ocean or Oceans?

Many people ask the question, “Do we say ocean or oceans”?  The answer is that there is just one ocean, which contains many ocean basins, such as the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic. So, we should say ‘the ocean’ rather than ‘the oceans’.

What is SeaWeek Australia?

SeaWeek Australia started in 1987 at the Marine Discovery Centre, Queenscliff, Victoria. It began as an art competition that was promoted in all states of Australia and was accompanied by an educational kit consisting of marine activities and information brochures. Today SeaWeek Australia is a major public awareness campaign focusing on encouraging an understanding of and appreciation for the ocean and all things related to it. The campaign is promoted by the Australian Association for Environmental Education (AAEE) – see link below.

20 Teaching Activities for SeaWeek 2024

Schools and educators can use SeaWeek Australia as a focal point for studies accross a wide range of curriculum themes. Or they can simply use the event to inspire children through fun based ocean themed activities. Here are 20 teaching activities for SeaWeek 2023 to get you started…

Early Learning Teaching Activities for SeaWeek Australia

  1. Decorate your classroom or childcare setting ocean egg carton
  2. Read an ocean book like The Singing Mermaid or The Snail & the Whale by Julia Donaldson
  3. Host an ocean themed coloring or drawing competition or SeaWeek Poster Competition
  4. Colouring-in Competition
  5. Create an ocean in an egg carton
  6. Create an ocean sensory bin with ice
  7. Make your own socktopus
  8. Paint a puffer fish
  9. Make egg carton ocean animals
  10. Organise an ocean themed incursion – why not book one of our interactive Programs to give the kids a real hands-on experience of marine creatures with our lively team of animals!

 

Link to EARLY LEARNING RESOURCES

Primary School Teaching Activities for SeaWeek 2023

  1. Launch a Plastic- free class challenge – no plastic in lunch boxes for a day, then maybe extend to a week school beach clean
  2. Create a plastic diary
  3. Plastic ocean cycle activity – using our free infographic
  4. Organise a field trip to the beach to explore
  5. Organize a beach clean (& BBQ?) with prizes
  6. Habitat and adaptation activity
  7. Classification activity
  8. Organise an ocean themed incursion – why not book one of our interactive PROGRAMS to give the kids a real hands-on experience of marine creatures with our lively team of marine animals!
  9. Teach students curriculum topics using our Humpbacks online teaching resources.
  10. Fundraise for a local ocean focused charity – on the Sunshine Coast that could be: Coolum & North Shore Coast Care, Ocean Crusaders or Sea Shepherd.

 

Link to PRIMARY RESOURCES

 

Further reading

School’s Guide to Key Ocean Events in 2024

SeaWeek Official Website – packed with useful info and resources

UNESCO Ocean Literacy PORTAL

OCEAN EVENTS 2024 CALENDAR

BLOG – 10 REASONS WHY WE NEED OUR OCEAN

 

Why Fast Fashion is a Problem for the Ocean

fast fashion definition

 

Australians are considered to be the second highest consumers of textiles in the world. Clothing prices are often relatively low and many of us get a buzz from frequently wearing new clothes. But does striving to have the latest designs come at too high a cost to the environment? Read on to as we explain why fast fashion is a problem for the ocean.

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast fashion refers to trendy clothes that are mass produced and made and sold quickly and cheaply, enabling people to buy new clothes often. In order for the clothes to be sold cheaply, the workers who make these clothes are often paid very low wages and the materials are poor quality.

In the past, the fashion industry released new designs on a seasonal basis – four times a year. Nowadays some big fashion houses release a new line every week, producing almost twice the amount of clothing today than they did in 2000. Alarmingly, many of these garments are hardly worn at all and up to 85% go into landfill each year. In Australia that is thought to be enough to fill an area the size of Sydney Harbour. So, this is obviously a big issue.

The Role of Social Media in Fast Fashion

Social media has created social shopping and enabled fashion sellers to reach their audiences (the buyers) quickly, easily, constantly and cheaply. Most of us have been attracted to make a purchase by a quicky snappy offer and most of us enjoy a bit of retail therapy from time to time. But do we actually need all this stuff, or are we just on the fast fashion tread mill and being told what we need and making purchases without really thinking about it too much?

 

fast fashion ocean dump

 

The Fashion Industry

Creating trendy clothing takes a huge amount of resources. The fashion industry is one of the largest producers of carbon, the world’s largest user of water and produces 20-35% of the microplastics in the oceans.

Materials & Ocean Microplastics

Textiles used by the clothing industry fit into two broad categories: natural and synthetic. Natural materials such as cotton and wool are made from plant and animal sources and tend to be more expensive and last longer. Fast fashion relies on low-cost materials and quantity over quality, so synthetic, plastic- based materials such as polyester, acrylic and nylon are preferred. These synthetic materials produce non-biodegradable waste that is a major source of pollution in our oceans. Each time these garments are washed, thousands of tiny fibres are released from them and travel through our water ways to the ocean. Up to 75% of ocean creatures may have ingested ocean microplastics and suffer long term issues as a result.

 

ocean microplastics

How You Can Help Reduce Fast Fashion Waste

Obviously, the fashion industry need encouragement in the form of policy to encourage a refocus on making things that last and so encourage reuse and recycling. But if we don’t buy those garments in such quantity in the first place, we can make a significant difference ourselves.

The first and most simple thing you can do to help reduce fast fashion waste is to take a step back and think about whether you actually need the item. Do you already have something similar? Why not save the money? From here you can start changing your behaviour by simply shopping more mindfully.

 

Tips for Combatting Fast Fashion

-Think before you buy – do you actually need it and put the money to better use?

-Avoid buying new items cheaply each season, and instead be prepared to invest in high quality pieces that will last

-Start looking further into the brands you buy from and investigate their eco-credentials. Do you actually want to give them your money if they don’t care about the environment?

-Be prepared to ‘make do and mend’ – maybe you already have the item, but it needs a stitch or two?

-Check out the bargains in the op shops

-Share what you learn with your friends and others

-Support charities and organisations that are tackling fast fashion

Of course, there is no one simple solution to the issue of fast fashion but shopping mindfully and thinking about what that cheap items represents and whether you actually need it is a very good place to start.

 

Further reading

For more information about Human Impact on the Ocean, check out our website for courses and free resources

Sources

nature.com

greenpeace.org

 

marine biologist for a dayCheck out our Marine Biologist for A Day Program – Ages 7-12 years

 

Our Goal

Ocean Life Education’s goal is to educate children about how our lives are interconnected with our ocean and to inspire them to feel a responsibility to take action to protect it.

What Do Marine Teachers Do?

early years

 

Education is key to understanding the ocean and how crucial it is to our existence, as well as inspiring people to want to protect it. So, the role of a marine teacher is a very important one. But what do marine teachers do?

The Role of a Marine Educator in Schools

The crucial role of a marine educator is to foster curiosity, imagination, knowledge and enthusiasm. As humans, we only generally care about what we know, so education makes a big difference if you want people to connect with and protect the ocean. Creating awareness at an early age is crucial in the creation of life-long ocean guardians.

We aim to do this through introducing children to our diverse range of live marine animals and presenting engaging lively ocean-experience activities that teach all ages about marine science and ocean conservation.

vacation care incursionsOcean Life Education’s Marine Educators

Ocean Life Education’s lead marine educator, Richard Coward, is a qualified Marine Biologist and heads our crew of marine educators who travel around southern Queensland educating kids. Not only are they all very knowledgeable but they are also passionate advocates for the ocean and engage kids to want to learn.

Qualifications to Become a Marine Teacher

Marine teachers have a minimum degree and frequently a master’s in marine biology. They often undertake extensive research projects and have wide-ranging first-hand experience…and fascinating stories to tell!

Specialist Teaching Roles

An estimated 80% of all life on earth is found under the ocean surface and more still inhabits coastlines. So, as you can imagine teaching roles include many fascinating specialisations. Consider the range of animals alone, from the tiniest microbes and plankton to the massive blue whale! There will always be a need for marine teachers to pass on their knowledge about these things.

 Where do Marine Teachers Work?

As the ocean covers over 70% of the planet, you will find marine teachers all over the globe, from the icy north and south poles to the warm tropical waters of the Caribbean. In Queensland, marine educators may work on the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park or as expert guides on whale watching tours. Other areas of work include:

  • conservation and marine parks
  • fisheries and the fishing industry
  • planning and management
  • universities
  • museums and zoos
  • marine science institutions
  • power generation (sustainable please!)
  • engineering and consulting
  • government and industry.

Interested in Becoming a Marine Teacher?

Read our blog to find out How to Become a Marine Biologist in Queensland

Information about teaching in Queensland Marine Teachers Ass QLD 

marine biologist for a dayCheck out our Marine Biologist for A Day Program – Ages 7-12 years

 

Our Goal

Ocean Life Education’s goal is to educate children about how our lives are interconnected with our ocean and to inspire them to feel a responsibility to take action to protect it.