Ocean Literacy Campaign Uses Music to Promote K-12 Marine Science

Editor’s note– This story was provided by Monica Woelfel, administrator of the Banana Slug String Band.  The band provides educational entertainment about the environment, natural history and science through CDs, songbooks, activity guides, concerts and much more.  Below, Monica introduces their latest CD.

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This January, the Ocean Literacy Campaign released an innovative learning tool: a children’s music CD – titled ONLY ONE OCEAN – that introduces important K-12 Marine Science concepts.  The group commissioned the award-winning eco-group the Banana Slug String Band to write and record the 14 original songs.  Music styles range from rock to folk, reggae to rap.  Marine scientists previewed all lyrics for relevance and accuracy.

The CD is intended as a tool for teachers in ocean science lessons, with linked curricula available online.

Only One Ocean Cover

Because the National Science Education Standards (NSES) – released in 1996 – contain almost no mention of the marine sciences, K-12 classrooms across the U.S. rarely teach these concepts.  The new musical Marine Science CD is part of the Ocean Literacy Campaign, an effort to remedy this.  The Campaign aims to ensure that all Americans understand the precious resource of our ocean before graduating from high school.

Sponsors of the CD include the Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence (COSEE), the National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) at U.C. Berkeley, and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF) in partnership with NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research.

Contact:

Monica Woelfel (Administrator, Banana Slug String Band) 888-327-5847
Craig Strang (Lawrence Hall of Science at U.C. Berkeley) (510) 642-5008

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Copyright ©  2011 by Marine Science Today, a publication of OceanLines LLC