Introduction

This education kit was designed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada to explore species at risk in a Newfoundland and Labrador context with a focus on aquatic species.

In this province, the species that live in our waters have shaped our history, culture and economy for hundreds of years. In recent times the status of some of these species has become an important and often controversial issue. The subject of debate and a major focus of the media, many children have heard about the cod moratorium, they have probably heard about species at risk and most have felt in one way or another the impact of changes in species status on our economy, our way of life and our culture.

This education kit will help Newfoundland and Labrador students explore the interconnections between human beings and aquatic species. It will help children understand what Species at Risk means, and provide them with an understanding of how people are working together to protect these species. It will also provide real suggestion for how children can contribute to the protection of aquatic species. We hope to inspire children to think about marine life and marine resources in a new way and help to create a generation of Ocean Stewards.

Curricula Connections

This kit has been developed with the intent to match some Newfoundland and Labrador Science and Language Arts elementary curriculum outcomes. In the instructions for each activity we have highlighted curriculum correlations for easy identification by teachers.

Many of the activities can be adapted by teachers for use at other grade levels as well.

Included in this kit

• Reference materials including species fact sheets, whale ID sheets and information about internet resources
• Step by step lesson plans
• Masters of student activity worksheets for reproduction by teachers