Online Resources

If you are wanting to take a deeper dive into marine issues check out our multimedia section below to learn more about ocean acidification, sustainable seafood and social justice issues, and other shellfish resources.

If you are interested in pursuing a career in fisheries this NOAA pamphlet is a great resource.

We also have a document of web resources for teachers and students.

Virtual Lessons

Click here for an index of all of our virtual lessons

**Teacher note: these google drive documents are view only, but you can make a copy of them to use in your google classroom, download, or print them. Each folder contains a lesson that guides students through the materials as well as all the supporting documents to use in your virtual classroom.

Birch Bay State Park Virtual Field Trip Series

In our BBSP Virtual Field Trip Lesson we take students on an exploration of the intertidal zone. Video topics include:

Drayton Harbor Virtual Field Trip Series

In our Drayton Harbor Virtual Field Trip Series, students explore the intertidal zone at Semiahmoo Park. Current video topics include:

Creatures of the Salish Sea

Based on the K-3 GSSC unit, for more details and lesson plans click here.

  • Sea Creature Yoga Video

    The intertidal zone is a difficult place to live since organisms have to survive being both underwater and exposed during low tides. Many organisms have parts adapted to live in specific parts of the intertidal zone. GSSC introduces students to different sea creatures through our yoga routine video. 

    Each lesson in this series includes a video about the organism and a worksheet about it: Kelp, Eelgrass, Whale, Bivalve, Barnacle, Salmon, Snail and Plankton plus two bonus creatures: Seastar and Hermit Crab!

Human Impacts in the Watershed

Based on the 5th grade GSSC unit, for more details and lesson plans click here.

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to the Salish Sea - As a start to this unit we introduce students to the Salish Sea watershed and how we are all connected to it. 

  • Lesson 2: Watersheds - Actions we take every day have an impact on the health of our watershed. This lesson looks at a watershed model to explore some of the common sources of pollution in our watershed.

  • Lesson 3: Drayton Harbor Oysters - Since oysters are filter feeders, they can be an indicator for how healthy our watershed is. We need to keep our water clean if we want to eat the shellfish in our watershed. 

  • Lesson 4: Eat or Be Eaten - By playing a virtual card game, students can explore the intertidal food web and get to know some of the cool critters that live in the Salish Sea. 

Ocean Acidification Unit:

Based on the 6th grade GSSC unit, for more details and lesson plans click here.

  • Human Smokestack and the Carbon Cycle - Carbon is the basis for life on Earth and we interact with the carbon cycle every day. Using a simple demonstration with red cabbage indicator students begin to connect themselves with the carbon cycle and reflect on the balance of the natural system. 

  • Carbon Footprint Calculator - Curious about your impact on the carbon cycle? This lesson walks students through assessing their carbon footprint to find ways to lower their emissions based on their lifestyle.

  • pH of Household Solutions - A great way to begin to understand pH, and start to think about how ocean acidification affects ocean life, is to look at the pH of solutions you have at home!

  • Lesson 4: Ocean Acidification & the Oyster Life Cycle - In this lesson students compare the chemical, biological, and local economic effects of ocean acidification through learning about oysters. 

  • Lesson 5: A Tale of Two Cities - By designing two cities, carbon heavy and eco friendly, students reflect on what they have learned about ocean acidification and actions they can take to improve the health of the ecosystem. 

Micro to Macro Unit:

Based on the 8th grade GSSC unit, for more details and lesson plans click here.

  • Watersheds & Stewardship - Learning about how water moves through the system helps students understand how their everyday actions can impact on the health of their watershed. This simple model introduces them to some common pollution sources to prepare them to take the Salish Sea Challenge and practice new habits. While this model is extremely simple, it does a great job of showing students how the pollutants travel through the Salish Sea watershed.

  • Microscopy - In order to get a closer look to what is living in the water around us we first need to learn how to use microscopes! In this lesson we have compiled some online resources to teach the basics of microscopy.

  • Organisms in the Watershed - Once students are familiar with the microscope we can use it to explore what is living in our water! This lesson takes a look at some of the aquatic organisms we can find in three different water bodies in the same watershed.

  • Water Quality & Macroinvertebrates - When studying water quality we can use not only water quality tests, but also what biological indicators live in the waterbody! This lesson takes a look at both water quality tests and the macroinvertebrates in Cain Creek to help students classify the health of the creek.

  • Marine Mammals - For the last lesson in the unit we take a look at the megafauna that live in the Salish Sea watershed and how some of the actions we take have impacts on these marine mammals.

Stormwater slideshow series:

If you feel like exploring the broader applications of shellfish in the Pacific Northwest, take a look at this three-part slideshow series.

Multimedia

WE LOVE EXPLORATION! LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MARINE TOPICS BELOW.

CHECK OUT A RESOURCE ABOUT BECOMING A MARINE BIOLOGIST THAT WAS FOUND BY ASPIRING MARINE BIOLOGIST DOMINICK, WHO USED GARDEN OF THE SALISH SEA CURRICULUM RESOURCES TO RESEARCH THE PROFESSION: A STUDENT'S GUIDE TO MARINE BIOLOGY

CHECK OUT A RESOURCE ABOUT MARINE LIFE IN FLORIDA THAT WAS IDENTIFIED BY MARYANNE, A STUDENT IN ARIZONA WHO UTILIZED GARDEN OF THE SALISH SEA CURRICULUM FOR A SCHOOL PROJECT: MARINE LIFE IN FLORIDA

INTERTIDAL ECOSYSTEMS

What is it?

The intertidal ecosystem is the area between high tide and low tide and the organisms that live in it!

Teacher Resources

Additional Resources

Videos for Students

Farming The Tidelands (9:33)

An educational video about shellfish farming on the West Coast of the United States. Covers the many different farming methods and types of shellfish grown as well as the environmental & economic impacts. Narration by Bill Dewey of Taylor Shellfish.

All About Intertidal Zones (4:26)

This video talks about intertidal zones and what they are.

Rocky Intertidal Ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest (12:27)

Explore the rocky intertidal ecosystems of Mayne Island, British Columbia. This video covers vertical zonation, intertidal adaptations, blue mussel distribution, and numerous species of seaweeds and invertebrates. Eight different sites are explored during extreme low tides.

Intertidal Biome (6:41)

LOOKOUT! Toxic Starfish! (16:41)

On this episode of Beyond the Tide, Coyote and Mark go on their first official scuba diving adventure off the coast of Hawaii!

SHELLFISH

What are they?

Shellfish are aquatic invertebrates that have an exoskeleton. This includes species of molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms.

Where can shellfish be found?

Click on this link to learn more about where shellfish live around the world.

Teacher Resources

In the News

Community Connections

Additional Resources

World's oldest animal? Read up on the calamity of Ming the clam. 5th grade +

Did you know that you can count the number of rings on clams to find out their age, much like tree rings? Learn more about clams & their relatives on A Snail's Odyssey.

Olympia Oysters, our native Washington species, provide important habitat and water quality services. Efforts are being made in Puget Sound to restore these populations.

Videos for Students

OCEAN ACIDIFICATION

What is Ocean Acidification (OA)?

Roughly 30% of the CO2 released into the atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean. The CO2 being absorbed by water triggers a series of chemical reactions which results in an increase of hydrogen ions. This increases the water's acidity and causes carbonate ions to be relatively less abundant. It is estimated that by the end of the century the surface waters of the ocean could be nearly 150% more acidic. This would result in a pH that the oceans haven't seen in more than 20 million years.

Why do we care?

Click here for an interactive video about OA and building shells.

Carbonate ions are a key building block of seashells and coral skeletons. A decrease in carbonate ions makes building shells and other calcium carbonate structures difficult for calcifying organisms such as oysters, clams, sea urchins, corals, and calcareous plankton.

Local Data and Research

The Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS) is a great database for oceanic data sets. Check out their information on ocean acidification in the Pacific northwest. Their explorer application is a great resource for looking at multiple real-time oceanic datasets, which includes local stations in Bellingham and Cherry Point. 

Here is a power point about local research by Brooke Love (Shannon Point Marine Center) on OA and eelgrass. 

Teacher Resources

In the News

Additional Resources

Videos for Students

The Other CO2 Problem (7:46)

Clay animation about the potentially disastrous rise in ocean acidity.

Ocean Acidification (1:48)

Learn about the effects that carbon dioxide emissions have on ocean invertebrates.

Ocean Acidification - Hermie the Hermit Crab (1:36)

Ocean acidification is one of the most worrying impacts climate change will have on the Reef. This is a highly complex topic and this animation does not explain the process in detail, rather uses a characters experience of this phenomenon to illicit an emotional understanding that ocean acidification will alter life on coral reefs.

Acid Test: The Global Challenge of Ocean Acidification (21:34)

This groundbreaking NRDC documentary explores the startling phenomenon of ocean acidification, which may soon challenge marine life on a scale not seen for tens of millions of years.

Acidifying Water Takes Toll on Northwest Shellfish (6:27)

Puget Sound has some of the world’s most corrosive waters. Scientists are finding that marine waters in the Northwest have become so corrosive that they are eating away at oyster shells before they can form.

Carbon Cycle (8:36)

SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD & SOCIAL JUSTICE

Big Picture: Why do we care?

Bycatch

Some current seafood harvesting methods accidentally catch animals like sea turtles or damage habitats like coral reefs.

Overharvesting

Current demand for seafood has caused fish to be harvested at a faster rate than the population’s reproduction can keep up with. This has caused many fish populations to decrease over time.

Bottom line: we have to harvest seafood sustainably in order to have tasty seafood for generations to come.

Farmed Fish

One of the key concerns with farmed fish is pollution. Net pens often contain densities of fish that are much higher than would occur naturally. Since they are in nets the fish require food inputs, and carnivorous fish like salmon require two pounds of wild fish as feed to grow one pound of salmon. Excess food, fish waste, as well as antibiotics and other chemicals being used flow through the cages into the surrounding ecosystem. This can cause algal blooms and other issues from the reduced water quality.  One benefit of farmed fishing is that it can relieve pressure off of overharvested wild fish populations.

Farmed Shellfish

While farmed fishing may get a bad reputation for its ecological impact, farmed shellfish are a very different story. It has been estimated that 80% of the world’s wild oyster beds have been wiped out and now 95% of the world’s oyster consumption is being supplied by farmed oysters. Since the vast majority of oyster consumption is farmed, the sustainability of this industry is something worth thinking about.

One great thing about oysters is that they are filter-feeders. An oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, eating tiny particles, plankton, and organic matter found in the water column. Unlike fish which require food inputs and have the resulting waste which can pollute the environment, oysters can actually improve the water quality. This results in a sustainable food source, especially if you can buy locally to reduce your carbon footprint!

Social Justice

In recent years many human right issues have come to light from the seafood industry. While this is not included in most scientific determinations of sustainability, it is important to consider social justice issues when looking at the overall function of a fishery. 

The Seafood Slavery Risk Tool produces a rating indicating the likelihood that human trafficking, forced labor and hazardous child labor are occurring on fishing boats in a specific fishery. The tool incorporates information from a variety of accurate, credible reports by authoritative institutions (U.S. government reports, EU and UN reports) and civil society organizations (universities, NGOs and media outlets) that are available in the public domain. 

How to be a responsible consumer

Additional Resources

Videos for Students

Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture in Washington (3:55)

WATER QUALITY

What is it?

What is in that water that comes out of your tap? Is it just hydrogen and oxygen atoms? Water quality is most commonly viewed from the perspective of what you are doing with it. Water full of dirt might be okay for watering your garden, but you would not want to drink it. There are physical, chemical, and biological characteristics that make up water quality, and they are not always visible.

Additional Resources

City of Blaine Water Program

The Birch Bay Watershed and Aquatic Resources Management District - a stormwater management district established in 2007 to reduce the impacts of stormwater runoff in the Birch Bay Watershed.

Whatcom Conservation District - Whatcom Conservation District's mission is to assist land managers with their conservation choices.

Drayton Harbor resources

Videos for Students

Macroinvertebrates: Understanding Water Quality (3:04)

Studying macroinvertebrates is one indicator used by scientists to determine water quality in stormwater ponds and natural waterways.

The Basics of Water Quality (2:26)

These videos examine the ways water is used, profiles types of pollution, and presents a variety of perspectives on the issue of water quality. What are the biggest threats to water quality in your area?

Birch Bay State Park Virtual Field Trip Part 3: Red Tide (5:36)

Our next video in our Birch Bay State Park series explores what a red tide is!

Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) (10:08)

Shellfish made poisonous by toxic algae (5:22)

Katie Campbell of KCTS in Seattle reports on the growing prevalence and toxicity of that algae, and how scientists are studying a possible link to climate change.

PLASTICS & MARINE DEBRIS

What is it?

Many of the items we see and use everyday are made of plastic. It is cheap, lightweight, and strong; making it great for many uses. Over 300 million tons of plastic are produced every year, half of which is used to design single-use items such as shopping bags, cups and straws. Out of these plastic items produced, at least 8 million tons of plastic make their way into our oceans each year.

In the News

Additional Resources

Videos for Students

Are You Eating Plastic for Dinner? (4:39)

This novel 3-D animation dives into how our consumption of plastics has affected marine species deaths and increased human health risks, and it explores possible long-term solutions.

How Cane We Keep Plastics Out of Our Ocean (3:10)

Plastic pollution poses one of the biggest known threats to the ocean, influencing all ecosystems from beautiful coral reefs to abyssal trenches, eventually accumulating in our own food.

Why there are plastics in Pacific Northwest shellfish (6:20)

Scientists predict that plastic in the ocean will eventually outweigh fish in the ocean. But how many of those plastics are ending up in our seafood, and where are they coming from? In the Pacific Northwest, new research is helping to answer those questions.

Synthetic Sea (10:00)

Captain Charles Moore describes the marine debris research he has conducted on behalf of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation over the past 12 years.

MARINE MAMMALS

What are they?

Marine mammals are any mammal that makes the sea its home for part or all of its life. This includes cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), sea otters, sirenians (manatees and dugongs), and polar bears. Marine mammals are found worldwide. We have over 30 species off the Washington, Oregon, and California coasts.

Teacher Resources

Community Connections

Additional Resources

Videos for Students

Humpback Whales Feeding on BILLIONS of Krill (4:01)

Nick Baker crosses some of the world's most treacherous seas as his mission to get close to some of the wildest animals on Earth takes him to Antarctica. Despite the cold, these oceans are rich with marine life as the mighty humpback whale demonstrates as it gorges itself on krill.

The Scoop on Southern Resident Killer Whales (5:00)

So how does a wildlife veterinarian make a house call to do non-invasive medical tests on 10-ton killer whales in the open sea?

Steller Sea Lions, the Grizzlies of the Sea (11:45)

Steller sea lions are the world’s largest species of sea lion. Early observers called them sea lions because the males grow large, furry manes, but when we compare these top predators to land animals, we think of them as the grizzlies of the sea.

Whale rescue: Saving a stranded orca in British Columbia (2:09)

On July 23, 2015, a female orca became trapped on the British Columbia coastline. Rescuers worked for almost eight hours to keep the killer whale wet until the tide came back in.

Common Marine Mammals of the Salish Sea (4:10)

Ever wonder what marine mammals you might see in the Salish Sea? Here is a short 4 min video of the common marine mammals that live here and a some fun facts about each!

Video on how pearls are formed naturally (1:45)

Sunflower Sea Star (1:06)

This whimsical look at one of the ocean's less known predators may change your perception of sea stars forever.

Exploring the Coral Reef (9:21)

Come learn about the amazing creatures that inhabit the coral reefs and how to protect them!

Our Planet - Netflix (49:27)

Experience our planet's natural beauty and examine how climate change impacts all living creatures in this ambitious documentary of spectacular scope.

Maiden of Deception Pass (26:46)

Long ago a maiden named Ko-kwal-alwoot risked her life to save the Samish people from starvation. She did so by agreeing to marry a man of the sea, who threatened to take the plentiful waters away from the area if she did not. And so Ko-kwal-alwoot lives eternally underwater, ensuring her land has an abundance of food for her people. Glimpses of her can still be seen around Deception Pass, where her hair flows with the cycles of the tide.

Garden of the Salish Sea Curriculum is funded in part by a Washington Department of Ecology Waste Reduction and Recycling Education grant, with general support provided by the Pacific Northwest Grassroots Fund, and Grow Your Roots Min-grant funds administered by the Rose Foundation for Communities and the Environment, Alicia Rule funds through the Washington State Legislature and the Whatcom Coalition for Environmental Education, Whatcom Community Foundation’s Sustainable Whatcom Fund, the Everson Lions Club and donations. In-kind contributions from the Drayton Harbor Oyster Company and volunteers help us deliver programming!

We kindly thank them all!

We acknowledge and respect the treaty rights of the Coast Salish Peoples to the lands and waters of the Salish Sea and we recognize their stewardship since time immemorial.

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