SEACOLOGY CLASSROOM ADOPT-AN-ISLAND PROGRAM
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| Huff School students in Mountain View, CA take part in a question and answer session with a Seacology staff member. |
WHAT DOES SEACOLOGY DO?
Seacology is a non-profit organization that works with indigenous islanders around the world to prevent island wildlife, marine life and plant life extinctions. Seacology searches for win-win solutions where both the local island environment is protected and islanders receive some lasting benefit for doing so.
WHAT ARE WE OFFERING?
Seacology is offering a free program of minimal time commitment to teachers and classrooms to save endangered species and improve the quality of life on islands around the world. At the same time, students will learn about culture, geography, conservation and philanthropy.
DISCUSSION TOPICS
Seacology's free program is open to all students at all grade levels. Seacology will provide background materials to help teachers develop curriculum about the people and environments they are supporting. Some appropriate subjects that can be covered by discussing a Seacology project include:
Science:
- Conservation strategies
- Environmental science
- Threats to island land and marine areas
Social Studies and History:
- Geography
- Cultural/Ethnic studies
- Economics
- Government
- Social structure
- Art, dance and music
- Colonialism
- Civic engagement through direct participation in philanthropy
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| A participating classroom in the Adopt-an-Island Program. |
MINIMAL TIME REQUIRED
Example of commitment: Michael Kahl, a fifth grade teacher at Huff Elementary School, spent about six hours over a period of three weeks gearing up for his students' walk-a-thon - where they raised $1,000!
Week One (two hours): Mr. Kahl contacted Seacology and chose a project to build a medical clinic in Ensem, Indonesia. During one class period, his students conducted a scavenger hunt on Seacology's website to gather information to use when soliciting donations.
Week Two (one hour plus daily reminders): Mr. Kahl created pledge forms to send home with his students and asked them daily about their fundraising.
Week Three (three hours): The one-hour after school walk-a-thon was a success, raising $1,000! A Seacology staff member also visited the fifth graders to give a presentation and collect their donation to support the Ensem medical clinic project.
According to Mr. Kahl, "It was great to get the children involved in the global community through Seacology. After reading more about the project, the children embraced it and were eager to do what they could."
Other teachers have held Battle of the Bands, auctions, bake sales, etc. to raise funds. The only limit is your imagination!
TEACHER'S CHECKLIST
Choose a Seacology project to support.
Sign up with Seacology (FREE!) and we will send you pictures and background information about your chosen project.
Discuss your project with your students, integrating subjects as suggested in this brochure.
(See Discussion Topics.)
Develop a fundraising strategy. Ideas include an auction, walk-a-thon, car wash, etc.
Fundraise to support your island project!
Because building schools or community centers on developing islands is relatively inexpensive, any amount of money a classroom can raise is instrumental to the success of a project.
When possible, a Seacology staff member will visit your classroom to give a presentation.
Seacology will send certificates for students, acknowleding their participation in conservation and philanthropy.
MORE REASONS TO JOIN
- This program is free and requires a minimal time commitment.
- Gifts to Seacology are tax-deductible.
- Our projects are moderately priced, so the money you raise makes a real difference in the lives of people and animals throughout the world.
- Seacology runs trips to our project sites throughout the year, and students and their parents may be able to join us. The trips are rewarding, interesting and fun, though space is limited.
- Students and teachers have the satisfaction of conserving island habitats, preserving biodiversity and helping indigenous people.
- The most important lesson is that all of us - even students - can make a difference in improving the world!
