The Northwest Hawaiian Island Chain
A Hands-on Guide to Hawaii’s Northwest Hawaiian Island Chain Ecosystem
Click on the lessons to the left to download curriculum in individual sections or download the whole unit at the bottom. Also see some more examples of student work. Some of the files are large. Read on for a description of the Northwest Hawaiian Island unit or download the unit introduction for a complete description of the lesson format, assessment, and content.
Grade Level: 8th Grade
Purpose: This curriculum is designed to communicate:
- What are the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI), how these islands signify a National Monument, and what animals inhabit the NWHI?
- What causes ocean currents?
- What is marine debris?
- How do ocean currents influence pollution and marine debris in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands?
- How is the fragile marine life affected by pollution?
- What can humans do to lessen marine pollution and the risk to marine life?
Honoka'a students dissect a bird bolus. Students use technology to explore the NWHI.
Rationale: This unit is relevant to students academically as it allows them to experience a scientific inquiry-based lesson, meeting the requirement of Hawaii's Department of Education Standards. As functioning members of the community this unit will teach them how better to recycle and how to ensure that plastics used by humans do not end up in the oceans where currents will take them far and near- with potential to do harm to marine life around the globe. By practicing proper recycling methods and being as self-sustaining as possible students will learn that their efforts will have positive effects in the future for themselves as well as marine life in the NWHI and throughout the earths oceans. Students will also gain an understanding of ocean currents and the newly established Northwestern Hawaiian Island National Monument. To watch a movie of this curriculum in action with Honoka'a students click here.
Northwest Island Concept Map
Hawaii Content and Performance Standards Addressed (HCPS III): 8.1 Scientific Investigation, 8.2 Nature of Science, 8.3 Organisms and the Environment, 8.4 Structure and Function in Organisms, 8.5 Biological Evolution, and 8.8 Forces that shape the earth.
This curriculum was assembled and piloted by Roland Frayne and Kristi Martines