Green Careers Lesson: The Ocean
Lesson Plan
1 hour 30 minutesGrades9, 10, 11, 12Science, Social Studies, Career Skills
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Written by Greta Stacy
About this lesson
Students explore their interests and passions, and how they can use those to improve the health of our ocean. Students research potential career paths to create a resume for their future selves 20 years from now.
Inquire: Students recall challenges facing the ocean and consider what skills may be needed to solve these problems.
Investigate: Students use My Next Move to better understand their own interests and research a potential career path.
Inspire: Students imagine what their resumes will look like 20 years from now if they follow this career path and complete a final reflection.
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Suggestions
- Students will learn how to visualize a positive outcome of collective work that addresses climate change.
- This lesson can be used in any career planning and exploration class or workshop, including those led by school counselors and teen centers.
- Students will gain motivation for their future and education commitment by exploring a career of interest that has a positive impact on the planet.
- Students learn how to research career possibilities and practice building a resume.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 2 of 2 in our 9-12 grade Science Unit: Green Careers & the Ocean.
- Students will need access to their own devices to complete the lesson.
Differentiation
- Students with similar interests or career paths can work on the resume together.
- For extension, students can research one local volunteer opportunity they could engage in now to help them prepare for their career path.
- This class could be taught as a stand-alone class or part of a series on other climate solution careers in the following areas:
- Transportation
- Electricity
- Food, Agriculture, and Land Use
- Industry
- Built Environment
- Physical and Mental Health
- Education
- Cities, towns, and communities
From the scientist review
This lesson builds on the first lesson on green careers by allowing students to brainstorm what skills (green careers) are needed to help restore the ocean from climate change impacts. The activity allows students to choose a green career path that will accelerate climate action towards the ocean. We conducted a review of the lesson and found it to be credible from a scientific standpoint, so it is recommended for teaching.
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About the teacher writer
Greta Stacy
Education Specialist
Greta Stacy holds a Bachelor of Chemistry from Smith College, a Master of Teaching from Hamline University, and a Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the University of Limerick. She has nine years of experience teaching chemistry, science, and mathematics for grades 9–12. Greta holds a Minnesota 9–12 Chemistry teaching license, UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Irish Teaching Council registration, and certifications in International Baccalaureate Chemistry and Advanced Placement Biology.
