For Instructors
Each Blue Planet Prize Story is accompanied by three supplementary units: Story Guide, Further Reading and Research, and For Instructors.
These contain useful information that instructors can use to help students understand the content.
We encourage you to utilize the Blue Planet Prize stories for environmental education classes in schools and for children's independent learning.
[Target Audience: Teachers, parents, and others involved in education]
Summary of the Story
IPBES, often referred to as the "IPCC for biodiversity," has conducted scientific assessments on biodiversity since its establishment in 2012. It has emphasized the loss of biodiversity, highlighted the importance of conservation, and provided a great deal of reliable data to support policy-making and concrete actions.
When guiding students, referring to the concept of "nature's contributions to people (NCP)," which was introduced by IPBES, can provide an opportunity to explore the relationships between nature and humans. It is important to adopt an approach that encourages students to consider various viewpoints, including both positive and negative aspects.
Teaching Examples
If you are having trouble finding teaching support material, please see the examples provided below.
Considering Our Connection with Nature
Let's think about the connection between nature and humans. The key is to consider a wide range of perspectives, including both positive and negative aspects.
(1)Let's consider what nature around you provides. Think about both the positive and negative aspects that apply to you personally.
| Example: The beach where you go swimming every year | |
|---|---|
| Positive aspects | Negative aspects |
| It's fun to swim and play there. | I dislike the sticky feeling on my body after swimming. |
| You can eat fresh seafood caught from the ocean. | The rocky seashore is uneven and dangerous. |
(2)Regarding both the positive and negative aspects you considered, let's think about if there are related or alternative viewpoints. If new questions arise, let's explore them further.
| Example: The beach where you go swimming every year | |
|---|---|
| Positive aspects | Negative aspects |
| It's fun to swim and play there. However, swimming in the ocean can also lead to water accidents. How can we prevent them? |
I dislike the sticky feeling on my body after swimming. The sticky feeling is due to the salt content in seawater. Why is seawater salty? |
| You can eat fresh seafood caught from the ocean. Apparently, the types and the number of fish caught have been changing recently. What could be the reason? |
The rocky seashore is uneven and dangerous. Various organisms inhabit the rocky shore. What kinds of organisms can we find there? And why do they gather in such areas? |
(3)Based on what we considered in (1) and (2), let's have an open discussion about how you would like to further interact with or play a role in nature.
- Examples:
- I want to enjoy the beach and be safe. I'd like to think about ways to play at the beach safely.
- I want to learn more about marine life.
- I want to tell people about the beautiful ocean and the delicious seafood.