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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.
Procedure
- Participate in ocean awareness activities from “Discover the Ocean in Your Backyard”.
- Discuss what a festival is, identify your main audience, and brainstorm a list of activities.
- 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.
- Draw up a schedule and create a floor plan/map of events (use as handouts for festival-goers). Consider ease of access and washrooms.
- 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.
- Contact local media to cover your event.
- Have fun!
Extensions
Connect with other events in your area.
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