Teaching overview
Learning points
- A group of young climate activists has sailed across the Atlantic to raise awareness of the negative impact flying has on the environment.
- New laws have protected a huge area of seafloor off the west coast of the USA from bottom trawling, a fishing technique which can destroy important habitats.
- An electric eel named Miguel Wattson is helping to spread festive cheer at an aquarium in Tennessee. Every time Miguel produces electricity, a Christmas tree lights up!
Curriculum keywords
- Climate
- Oceans
- Electricity
Video viewing guide
This graphic organizer supports your students to capture their thoughts and questions as they watch the news update.
Spark a discussion
Climate Activists
- Why did the activists sail across the Atlantic ocean?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of sailing as a means of transport?
- How would you prepare for a two-month sailing trip?
Seafloor Protections
- How do the new laws protect the seafloor?
- How could the ban on bottom trawling help make sure there are still enough fish to catch in future?
- Imagine you’re a scuba diver exploring the seafloor. What evidence would you look for to find out if an area has been bottom trawled?
Eel-ectrifying Decorations
- What kind of animal is Miguel Wattson, and what makes him special?
- Why do electric eels produce electricity?
- Sometimes, staff at the aquarium need to move Miguel from one tank to another. How do you think they protect themselves from getting an electric shock?
Classroom resources
Use these resources to get the most out of the news update and engage your class in topical science!
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Video viewing guide
This graphic organizer supports your students to capture their thoughts and questions as they watch the news update.
Make your own science news update
This simple guide helps your students to create their very own science news updates.
ELA activities
This guide gives you ideas for how the news update can be used to support ELA activities.
Discover more about the topics covered in this week's News update
Twig Science: A Complete Pre-K–8 Program for the NGSS
Immersive Investigations with High-Quality Multimedia
- Investigating, designing, building, and understanding phenomena
- Hands-on, digital, video, and print investigations
- Synchronous/asynchronous distance learning