The Power of Seaweed: How Can Kelp Capture Carbon?
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Biology
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Provided by The Kid Should See This
What it is
- This video explains how fast-growing kelp combats climate change by capturing and storing large amounts of carbon, but that ocean acidification, pollution, and warmer waters are making it harder for kelp to grow.
- It also highlights that seaweed farms can produce kelp for biofuels, plant-based plastics, animal feed, and biomaterials.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This video offers an innovative and hopeful solution to the complex issue of climate change.
- The video uses interesting visuals that will keep students engaged.
Additional Prerequisites
- The article misquotes the video saying, "...even just a 0% replacement of seaweed in wheat production or meat production in foods would have a major impact." It should say, "a 10% replacement."
- Students should be familiar with the concept of carbon sinks and carbon capture.
Differentiation
- Engineering students could research a kelp product from the video and present their findings to the class.
- Biology classes could use this lesson plan and experiment to learn more about how plants absorb carbon in water.
- Other resources on this topic include this video on biofuels, this video and lesson plan on ocean acidification, and this interactive lesson about climate change and the ocean.
From the scientist review
This 7-minute video from the BBC showcases the importance of seaweed. The oceans are absorbing most of the excess heat caused by global warming, and it is having tangible effects on ocean life. Kelp offers many potential uses, such as protein sources and plastic replacements, but climate change is threatening the kelp forests in the ocean. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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