SCHOOL LESSONS
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
ORCA works with schools, homeschoolers, scouts, and community organizations across the Treasure and Space Coasts to provide both classroom and field-based lessons that are exploratory, educational, inspiring, and impactful. Our participatory educational experiences were developed to bridge the gap between citizen science and education by offering students of all ages, the opportunity to engage in real-world science and citizen science that challenges them to problem solve, inquire, engage, and think critically.
For more information on ORCA’s educational program contact Missy Weiss at mweiss@teamorca.org.
LESSONS OFFERED BY ORCA
Ecotoxicology studies the toxic effects of natural and man-made pollutants on biota (plants, animals, and humans). ORCA measures relative toxicity in both sediments in the lagoon, as well as organisms such as oysters to better understand the level of pollution entering the lagoon. This unique laboratory experience allows students the opportunity to test relative toxicity of various household and personal care products using bioluminescent bacteria cultures. Students will practice serial dilutions using pipettes, learn plating techniques, and compare relative toxicities between products.
- Grade Level: Middle & High School
- Duration: 3 hours
- Location: ORCA’s Center for Citizen Science
- Cost/ Class: $200*
- Class Size: up to 25
*An additional laboratory supply fee is not reflected in the price
One Health recognizes that human health is closely connected to the health of animals, plants, and our shared environment. ORCA’s One Health Fish Monitoring Citizen Science Project looks at the transfer of toxins from the environment to fish in the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding waterways. Students will learn about ORCA’s citizen science research and conduct a fish dissection to collect tissues and organs to be tested for various toxins. This is a hands-on, interactive, purposeful lesson appropriate for secondary students.
- Grade Level: Middle & High School
- Duration: 2-2.5 hours
- Location: ORCA’s Center for Citizen Science
- Cost/ Class = $200
- Class Size: up to 25
Scientists rely on remotely operated vehicles to explore ocean depths and discover new and exciting locations too deep for humans to dive. Join ORCA as we have student teams design, build, field test and play with PVC ROVs. Building ROV’s naturally incorporates all disciplines of STEAM and is great team-building activity.
- Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Middle & High School
- Duration: 2-2.5 hours
- Location: ORCA’s Center for Citizen Science
- Cost/ Class = $200
- Class Size: up to 30
Students will be provided a glimpse of ORCA’s field-based citizen science project, ADIL, as they conduct biodiversity surveys via seining, collect water quality data, and study the sediments of the Indian River Lagoon. This lesson allows students the opportunity to get their feet wet while investigating and better understanding the complexity of the lagoon.
- Grade Level: Upper Elementary, Middle & High School
- Duration: 2 hours
- Location: Indian River Lagoon
- Cost/ Class = $200
- Class Size: 40
Many of the pollutants threatening the health of the Indian River Lagoon are making their way from activities upstream and can be invisible to the naked eye. This lesson will help visualize the impacts of pollution through an engaging problem-based activity, as well as, instigate conversation about actionable change and personal involvement. Critical thinking, teamwork, and problem solving are skills students will require to crack the code!
- Grade Level: 3rd-6th
- Duration: 1.5 hours
- Cost/ Class = $200
- Class Size: 25