The classroom activity package Winged Ambassadors – Ocean Literacy through the Eyes of Albatross is available free online courtesy of NOAA, Oikonos, and other partners. Albatrosses, charismatic and threatened seabirds, are ambassadors for a clean ocean because they traverse vast oceanic regions searching for floating food. Along their journeys, they ingest plastic trash and feed it to their chicks. These five lessons comprise new and modified activities, using inquiry-based science instruction, aligned to new standards for grades 6 – 8 with extensions for grades 9 – 12.
Unique features:
The activities are a combination of new and modified existing activities and use the “5E” model for inquiry-based science instruction (BSCS & IBM, 1989), which is considered to be a best practice in science curriculum design.
Each lesson includes:
We appreciate feedback and questions. Please email WingedAmbassadors@oikonos.org.
Unique features:
- Students will use real data from research tracking albatross migrations and ocean plastic pollution.
- Students will be inspired by paintings and photographs from scientist and artist Sophie Webb.
- Students will investigate albatross diets using detailed images of dissected boluses by National Geographic photographer David Liittschwager.
- Explore items and their origins in boluses regurgitated by albatross chicks, with art by Ilana Nimz
- Fillable PDF versions of student worksheets
- Tips for adapting lessons to distance learning
- Teacher key for the virtual bolus sorting activity
The activities are a combination of new and modified existing activities and use the “5E” model for inquiry-based science instruction (BSCS & IBM, 1989), which is considered to be a best practice in science curriculum design.
Each lesson includes:
- Lesson plan with learning objectives and procedures, an outline of necessary materials and preparation, time estimates, suggested discussion questions and possible answers, ideas for differentiating activities for diverse learners, and expanded resources, videos and links.
- Student Worksheets and Handouts for photocopying and/or projecting.
- Presentations with photos, art, video and teacher presentation notes to support the lesson.
We appreciate feedback and questions. Please email WingedAmbassadors@oikonos.org.
Lesson 1: Introduction to Seabirds
Students will be able to:
|
![]() |
Lesson 2 – Tracking Albatross Migrations
Students will be able to:
|
![]() |
Lesson 3 – Protecting Ocean Hotspots
Students will be able to:
|
![]() |
Lesson 4 – Bolus Analysis
Students will be able to:
|
![]() |
Lesson 5 – Campus Debris Survey
Students will be able to:
|
![]() |