Oceans and Human Health: Hand in Hand

Objective

Students will understand the relationship between human health and the oceans by learning about water quality monitoring, oceans and medicine, and human health threats posed by polluted waters and harmful algal blooms.

National Science Education Standards

• Content Standard C:  Life Science

Interdependence of Organisms (9-12)

• Content Standard F:  Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

Personal and Community Health (9-12)

Environmental Quality (9-12)

Natural and Human-Induced Hazards (9-12)

Personal Health (5-8)

Natural Hazards (5-8)

Risks and Benefits (5-8)

Warm-Up

 Ask students to brainstorm all the ways in which the oceans affect their lives, either positively or negatively.  Write their answers on the board. Ask them if/how their answers are related to human health, and discuss whether the relationship is direct or indirect.

Marine Pollution

The Ocean PharmaSea

What Are Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)?