Expedition 2:
What Goes In?
In
this activity, your team goes undercover to investigate the health of
the marine and estuary environment in either the San Francisco or Tokyo
Bay. You will publish your findings in a news magazine and also host a
press conference to summarize your results.
Your teams
goal is to create an "award-winning" piece of print journalism. Many of
your readers may not be aware of the health of their bay environment.
You can use the links provided below to help you include the following
facts and information in your news article:
-
History
of urban development. How has population growth and industrialization
changed the Bay in the last 100 years?
-
What toxic
substances enter the Bay? From what sources? What is the effect on
human life? On wildlife?
-
What is
the history of oil spills on the Bay?
-
What "accidental
tourists" (non-native aquatic species) have taken up residence in
the Bay? How have these species altered the local ecosystem?
-
What can
individuals living near the Bay do to protect, preserve and restore
the marine environment?
-
What laws
and policies do you think need to be enacted to protect, preserve
and restore the marine environment?
For your presentation,
consider the following roles on your team:
-
Editor(s):
This role helps choose story topics, organize stories into a related
whole, and writes editorial columns with a distinct point-of-view.
-
Investigative
Journalist(s): This role investigates story topics, assembles background
information and different viewpoints, and writes a story that deepens
understanding about an issue.
-
Graphic
Designer(s): This role prepares illustrations, maps and charts to
visualize the findings of your team.
-
Cartoonist:
This role draws a cartoon that brings irony and/or humor to an issue.
Your
final presentation should be structured like a live press conference.
You may want to prepare a press release and consider ways to dramatize
your findings.
Activity Links
Tokyo
Bay
The
News-Journal, EnviroLinks
Articles about the July 1997 oil spill in Tokyo Bay.
Recycling
- A Solution? Coping with Tokyo's Mountain of Waste
Tokyos huge amount of household waste has been used to build islands,
which seep pollutants into the bay.
Tokyo,
Water City
Renewed enthusiasm for Tokyos waterways and waterfront have led
to a clean up of the Sumida River.
San
Francisco Bay
Current
Pollutant Loads and Trends
San Francisco Bays high pollutant load and efforts to reduce input
to the water.
US
Geological Survey Pollution Study
A study on the effects of human-related inputs into the San Francisco
Bay. Includes a map of toxic sites surrounding the Bay.
Bioinvasion
Rates
One of the most invaded aquatic environments in the world, the San Francisco
Bay is home to an increasing number of non-native organisms and fish.
SF
Estuary Project
Watershed map of the San Francisco Bay and Delta and information on what
goes into estuary.
California
Department of Oil Spill Prevention and Response
News releases on California oil spills, including maps and photographs.
Bay
Area EcoAtlas
Historic and current maps of the San Francisco Bay and Delta.
US
Geological Survey
Urban development map animation of the San Francisco Bay Area.
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