A collection of Chesapeake Bay oysters
Oyster Recovery
Grade 3
Oysters are essential for keeping the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem healthy and balanced. How exactly do these small, simple-shelled organisms help the Bay in such a great way? We will explore the answer to that question in this lesson.
Teacher's Guide and Related Standards
I can explain why oysters are essential to keeping the Chesapeake Bay healthy, and what efforts are being done to try to increase the oyster population in the Bay.
- Why are oysters considered keystone species, making them essential to keeping the Chesapeake Bay healthy?
- What solutions or efforts are being done to help maintain and increase the population of oysters in the Chesapeake Bay?
Creatures of the Chesapeake Clip
- What are the purposes of oyster gills and how do they work?
- What makes oysters essential to the Bay and how do other Bay organisms depend on them?
- Why are algae harmful to the Bay and what role do oysters play in removing algae?
- Why aren’t there nearly enough oysters in the Bay anymore? Why is this an issue?
- What solutions are being taken to boost the oyster population?
Vocabulary
Supplemental Enrichment Activities
Oyster Facts
Read the article to better understand oysters and what they can do for aquatic ecosystems.
Have students use the evidence from the article to explain why oysters are considered keystone species and what makes them essential to keeping the Chesapeake Bay healthy.
Ways to Help Protect the Chesapeake Bay
Explore and learn about ways students can help to protect the Chesapeake Bay and make it resilient, including:
- Picking up trash
- Planting trees
- Being citizen scientists
- Supporting wildlife
- Educating others
Chesapeake Wildlife
Explore the many resources from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation that explain how certain species help keep the Bay healthy. Have students develop a model to educate others on the importance that a particular Chesapeake Bay organism has on the Bay and the marine life within it.
Career Connections