Islands and waters of Mexico’s northern Gulf of California are refuges for sea creatures, still reliant on decreasing fish stocks and beset with the uncertainties of climate change.

Learning Objective

Students will learn about the impact of environmental changes on the islets in the Sea of Cortés.

Social Studies Standards

Power, Authority, And Governance: C, H

Discussion Prompts

• According to the video, Baja California was part of the Mexican mainland, and it is now connected in California to the San Andreas fault. What argument would the Mexican government use to reclaim their land? What would the benefits be for a reclamation?
• What might happen to the inhabitants of the peninsula if the peninsula gets attached to another country? Could the new country claim ownership? Would the people in this case be governed by the new country? Justify your answer using historical facts.
• What surprised you most about the islets and their role in the ecosystem? Share at least one fact that they learned and one action they could take to help conserve marine ecosystems.]
• What is an islet and how is it different from an island? Which one would you prefer to live on and why?

Lesson Activities

• Although are there some entrepreneurial activities in San Felipe, there could be more. Create a new survival plan for a fisherman who has lost a good part of his income due to the government banning. Present your survival plan to your classmates.
• Overfishing, tourism, pollution, climate change, and rising sea levels are some of the threats to the islets. In pairs, brainstorm how each of these threats might affect specific species of the ecosystem and how small changes in our daily lives can help protect ecosystems like the islets. Create a problem-solution chart of the small changes that will make a difference.
• Divide the class into small groups. Each group will create a mini-conservation campaign to protect the islets. Assign roles: researcher, artist, writer, and presenter. Include a slogan, an infographic explaining the importance of the islets, and a list of 3-5 conservation actions in the final product.
• Researchers need to make a recommendation to the governor about the 5 most important species from the ecosystem that must be saved and transferred to a designated preservation area. Create a priority list along with a picture of what needs to be preserved and a justification for the selection.

Vocabulary

• abundance
• convoluted
• coveted
• endemic
• erosion
• flank
• islet
• reclamation
• rift
• peninsula

Download

In the Americas Season 11 Lesson Episode 10