Teacher Pro-D: Ocean Literacy, Curiosity, and Action
Webinar
Session 3: Ocean Literacy, Curiosity, and Action (Grades K-12)
October 2026
In this session, Amy Charles will explore how educators can use storytelling, Indigenous Knowledge, hands-on learning, and real-world questions about oceans and water to create engaging learning experiences for young people. Drawing from her work in ocean education and Indigenous Knowledge and Relations at Ocean Wise, Amy will share practical approaches and resources that can be adapted across K–12 learning environments.
Together, we will explore how we can move beyond simply learning about the ocean to asking questions, sharing stories, connecting knowledge to specific locations, and providing youth with meaningful opportunities to turn curiosity into action.
Explore resources from the webinar
- Learn the language of the Indigenous community on whose territory you live. Visit FirstVoices.com
- Salish Country Cookbook
- Indigenous & First Nations Kids Books
- Dice Game
- Project WET Workshops for Educators
- Ocean Wise Education Kits
- Kelp in Hand Game
- Email Amy Charles if you have any questions here.
- Learn more about our education program and the free resources available to educators here.
Meet the Speakers
Amy Charles
Amy Charles is the Indigenous Knowledge and Relations Specialist at Ocean Wise, where she supports Indigenous engagement, relationship-building, and weaving Indigenous Knowledge into youth education and conservation programs. Her work combines Indigenous Knowledge, science, water literacy, storytelling, and place-based learning to create meaningful experiences for both young people and educators. Amy is passionate about helping youth see themselves in STEM and understand that there are many ways to be a scientist, educator, storyteller, knowledge holder, or changemaker.
She focuses on creating more inclusive opportunities for learners who have been underrepresented in STEM, while also designing programs that are relevant and welcoming to all students. Through professional development for educators, community partnerships, experiential programming, and youth engagement, Amy equips educators with the tools and confidence to become multipliers in their own communities. Her approach draws on Two-Eyed Seeing, community-based learning, and storytelling to help learners connect knowledge to place, build relationships with water, and move from curiosity to meaningful action. Amy also serves on the board of the Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE) and Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology (SCWIST), contributing to national conversations about ocean education, STEM, and creating more inclusive pathways into science and technology.
Photo Credits: Orca Spirit Adventures