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How Can We Inspire Others to Protect Elephant Seals and Their Habitat?

Students will videotape elephant seals on their field visit and use the video to foster stewardship with elementary classes or via local programming.

Time required: 15 minutes on field visit, various amounts of time dependingn on strategy Location: Point Reyes National Seashore Suggested group size: small groups Subject(s): language arts Concept(s) covered: stewardship education Written by: Trudie Behr-Scott, Hill Middle School, Novato Last updated: 12/12/00

Stucdent Outcomes
At the end of this activity, the students will be able to:

• Formalize a presentation on elephant seals that will impart stewardship values to other audiences.

National Science Standard Links (grades 5 – 8)
This activity is linked to the National Science Standards in the following areas:

• Content Standard F - Populations, Resources, and Environments: Causes of environmental degradation and resource depletion vary from region to region and from country to country; Risks and Benefits: Important personal and social decisions are made based on perceptions of benefits and risks.

Materials
To be provided by the teacher:

• Camcorder and video tape to be used on visit

Procedures

1. Identify audience
   Research local public access channels. Most are required to show 20 minutes/ month local programming. Or, identify other elementary classes that would be interested in viewing a presentation on Elephant Seals created by your class.



2. Secure camcorder/tape for day of field visit
   One adult chaperone could rotate the camcorder to each of the two groups for 5-10 minutes of videotaping. (If you have access to editing equipment, students may tape longer segments.)



3. Finalize video
   Back at school, have students create a script (to go along with video images) discussing some of the following points.
   • Why are elephant seals at Point Reyes National Seashore?
   • What are some threats to elephant seals and their habitat?
   • What can we do to protect elephant seals right to exist?
   • What was the most enjoyable aspect of viewing elephant seals?
   • What do we mean by stewardship?
   • What have we done already to help elephant seals?
   • What would we like to be able to do in the future?

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