The Marine Conservation Society's yearly report is based on reports from the public through an online form or app. From October 2022 to September 2023, jellyfish sightings went up by 32%, with most sightings happening on the west coasts of the UK, especially in Cornwall and Wales. The survey also reported large groups of more than 100 jellyfish.
The increase in jellyfish sightings might be part of a 20-year cycle, but it also shows how climate change is affecting marine life. Dr. Abigail McQuatters-Gollop, a plankton expert at the University of Plymouth, noticed a lot of jellyfish this year, including the crystal jellyfish, which isn't usually found in UK waters. The warmer waters from climate change might be making more jellyfish in the UK.
The long-term effects of warmer UK seas are expected to change the country's fish stocks as the food that current fish species eat will change. Also, the survey found more turtle sightings, with four of them being leatherback turtles. People are told not to touch jellyfish or turtles and to tell the Marine Conservation Society if they see any. In conclusion, the increase in jellyfish sightings in UK waters shows how climate change is affecting marine life. The warming of UK seas is making it easier for jellyfish to grow, and we need more research to understand what this means for the future.
Original news source: Boom in unusual jellyfish spotted in UK waters (BBC)
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Students work in pairs to summarize the article in their own words. They should aim to condense the article into four sentences that capture the main points. Afterward, each pair presents their summary to the class, and the class discusses any differing details that come up in the summaries.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Create a series of statements related to the article about jellyfish sightings and climate change. For example: "The increase in jellyfish is a significant indicator of climate change," or "Marine heatwaves are the most concerning effect of climate change on marine life." Students move to different areas of the room to show how strongly they agree or disagree with each statement. Then, have students discuss their positions in small groups.
– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word "jellyfish" on the board and ask students to call out words or phrases they associate with this word after reading the article. Expand the web of associations with related terms such as "climate change," "marine heatwave," and "marine conservation." Discuss the associations and how they interlink, reflecting on the content of the article.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of key vocabulary from the article, such as "conservation," "sightings," "marine," "species," and "ecosystem." Divide the class into two teams. Members from each team take turns drawing a word for their team to guess. Use a timer to add pressure, and award points for correct guesses.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: Based on the article, ask students to work in small groups to predict the future of UK marine life and the global implications if the current trends continue. Each group should present their predictions, and then the class can discuss the likelihood and potential impacts of these predictions, referencing the article's content to support their arguments.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
There was a 32% increase in jellyfish sightings in the UK over the past year.
The large barrel jellyfish was the most commonly seen type in UK waters and beaches.
The increase in jellyfish sightings is due to climate change, which has caused a marine heatwave and raised UK water temperatures by 3-4C in June.
The Marine Conservation Society collects data through reports from the public via an online form or app.
The increased jellyfish sightings were recorded from October 2022 to September 2023.
The most jellyfish sightings were reported on the west coasts of the UK, especially in Cornwall and Wales.
More turtle sightings were mentioned in the survey, including four leatherback turtles.
The article advises people not to touch jellyfish or turtles and to report any sightings to the Marine Conservation Society.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
The Marine Conservation Society has found that there were 32% more sightings in UK and on beaches in the past year. The most commonly seen jellyfish were the large barrel jellyfish, but they also spotted rarer warm-water jellyfish. This increase in jellyfish is because of climate change, which has caused a marine heatwave and UK water temperatures by 3-4C in June. The Marine Conservation Society's yearly report is based on reports from the public through an online form or app. From October 2022 to September 2023, jellyfish sightings went up by 32%, with most sightings happening on the west coasts of the UK, especially in Cornwall and Wales. The also reported large groups of more than 100 jellyfish. The increase in jellyfish sightings might be part of a 20-year cycle, but it also how change is affecting life. Dr. Abigail McQuatters-Gollop, a plankton at the University of Plymouth, noticed a lot of jellyfish this year, including the crystal jellyfish, which isn't usually in UK waters. The warmer waters from climate might be making more jellyfish in the UK. The long-term effects of warmer UK seas are expected to change the country's fish as the food that current fish species eat will change. Also, the survey found more turtle sightings, with four of them being leatherback . are told not to touch jellyfish or turtles and to tell the Marine Conservation Society if they see any. In , the increase in jellyfish sightings in UK waters shows how climate change is affecting marine life. The warming of UK seas is making it easier for jellyfish to grow, and we need more research to understand what this for the future.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is climate change and how do you think it affects our oceans?
2. Have you ever seen a jellyfish in person? How did you feel about it?
3. Do you think it's a good idea for people to report jellyfish sightings? Why or why not?
4. How would you feel if you found a rare animal in your local area?
5. What kind of wildlife is common where you live? Do you like seeing them?
6. Do you think marine heatwaves are a serious problem? Why or why not?
7. Have you ever used an app to report something about nature? If so, what was it?
8. How do you think an increase in jellyfish might affect other sea creatures?
9. What is a marine conservation society, and why do you think their work is important?
10. Do you think the world is doing enough to fight climate change? Why or why not?
11. If you saw a turtle on the beach, what would you do?
12. How do you think changes in the sea temperature can affect the fish we eat?
13. What do you think could be done to protect marine life from climate change?
14. Do you think there are any benefits to having more jellyfish in the sea? Why or why not?
15. Why do you think it's important for scientists to study changes in marine life?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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