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Overview:
People's perceptions of places and regions often influence what happens to those places. In the United States, citizens and the government have invested time and money in the National Park system to preserve the natural landscape, flora, and fauna of North America. Forest rangers, environmentalists, public policy specialists, and law enforcement agents all have influence over what happens to the lands and wildlife of these parks.
Similarly, oceanographers, marine biologists, and many others are hoping through their work to have a profound influence over what happens to our oceans' ecosystems. This lesson will help students learn more about recent advances in the study of sea life and how the people who do this work may ultimately affect the sea—its health and inhabitants. Students will investigate different careers in ocean study.
Connections to the Curriculum:
Geography, social studies, science
Connections to the National Geography Standards:
Standard 6: "How culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions"
Standard 14: "How human actions modify the physical environment"
Standard 18: "How to apply geography to interpret the present and plan for the future"
Time:
One to two hours
Materials Required:
- Computer with Internet access
- Paper and pencils
Objectives:
Students will
- read about the life and work of Tierney Thys;
- describe how Thys's interests and perceptions of sea life influence the work she does; and
- investigate career options for people interested in ocean study and conservation.
Geographic Skills:
Acquiring Geographic Information
Answering Geographic Questions
Analyzing Geographic Information
S u g g e s t e d P r o c e d u r e
Opening:
Tierney Thys, one of the National Geographic's Emerging Explorers of 2004, has made it her life's work to learn more about inhabitants of the sea in order to find ways to preserve the life and health of the oceans. Her work and the work of many others, combined with significant advances in technology, is providing information that may help people work within ecosystems to meet human needs while still preserving those ecosystems.
Development:
Ask students to name their favorite leisure activities. Record student answers on the board or on chart paper. Then, ask students how those interests might be reflected in their future careers. What kinds of jobs could they have—or create—that could incorporate those interests?
Tell students that National Geographic Explorer Tierney Thys is a marine biologist who parlayed her love of the sea into a dual career—studying the giant sunfish (Mola mola) and developing documentaries on sea life. Explain that Thys is using her own interests and experiences to help us learn more about marine ecosystems, and that there are a variety of career options for people who work in this field—from conservationists and businesspeople to oceanographers and marine biologists.
Activity 1:
Have students watch a brief video interview with Tierney Thys and then read the brief profile of her life and work. Ask students to consider how Thys's own life experiences have shaped her career choices.
After students watch the profile, ask them how Thys was able to build her interests into her work. (In particular, Thys's early experiences in the ocean sparked her interest in the field; her experience as a pilot made her more interested in working on the winged submarine; and, her interest in fish biomechanics led her to study the Mola mola—a fish that doesn't fit the conventional form.)
Activity 2:
Have students visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Research and Conservation and Careers sites to learn more about ocean study and the types of careers that can incorporate a love of the sea.
Have students work with a partner or in a small group and use the Interactive Venn diagram: Careers in Marine Science to compare two different career opportunities at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and how the two choices, while different, can both benefit marine biology and conservation efforts. Encourage students to add more items to their diagrams as they discuss the similarities and differences between the two careers.
Closing:
Ask students to think about the leisure activities and possible careers they discussed at the beginning of the lesson. Do they have any new ideas for how to take their interests and incorporate them into a career choice? Give students time to share.
Suggested Student Assessment:
Have students create a timeline of activities they imagine would help them on a potential career path. Encourage them to think about the career paths of the people they read about at Monterey Bay Aquarium and how one interest or experience can help them move into a new experience. Have them use paper and pencil or this interactive sequencer to create a timeline from now until after college, incorporating ways they can utilize their interests and talents along the way.
Extending the Lesson:
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