Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Debris

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Now is the time to educate tomorrow's citizens to care for the planet, and here is a lesson to help facilitate the process. Collect some marine debris and bring it into class. Have your class separate it into types and then test each...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Debris

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Learners perform experiments to examine if debris float, or blow in the wind. The effects of these characteristics on the marine debris are then discussed. They determine how a material can influence what becomes marine debris.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Watch the Screen!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Can a sponge cure cancer? Life science pupils visit the drugstore under the sea in the fifth lesson of six. Working groups research the topic then get hands-on experience by testing the inhibiting effects of several plant extracts...
Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Can Small Pollutants Harm Aquatic Organisms?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Nanoparticles have toxic effects on plant and animal life—even though you can't see them. The second instructional activity of a two-part series has young scientists conduct an experiment that exposes plant and animals to nanoparticle...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Life

For Teachers 6th
Students explore the topics of ocean water salinity, ocean life zones, marine life classification, and ocean food chains. They observe demonstrations, conduct experiments, complete quizzes and handouts, and analyze key vocabulary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Types of Marine Debris

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students conduct an experiment.  In this marine debris and environment protection lesson, students categorize trash into piles, predict whether these trash items will sink, float or be picked up and carried by the wind and then test...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Effects of Oil Spills on Environment and Marine Life

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore oceanography by conducting an environmental experiment in class. In this oil spill lesson, students discuss the human need for oil and what is at stake when we drill for oil in our oceans. Students read a book in class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching about the Effect of pH on Aquatic Organisms

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars perform experiments to determine the PH, acidity, and buffering qualities of a lake that make them sensitive to acid deposition.
Lesson Plan
NOAA

What Killed the Seeds?

For Teachers 7th - 8th Standards
Can a coral cure cancer? Take seventh and eighth grade science sleuths to the underwater drugstore for an investigation into emerging pharmaceutical research. The fifth installment in a series of six has classmates research the wealth of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Construct a Buoyant Scuba Diver

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Groups of young oceanographers get to use action figures to experiment with the property of buoyancy! This memorable lesson plan provides detailed background information, a link to the laboratory worksheet, and thorough instruction...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Digging up the Dirt on Soil Microbes

For Teachers K - 8th
Young scholars are introduced to the idea of soil as a habitat for many different organisms. They are introduced to the links between the biological adaptations of an organism and the physical demands of its habitat. Pupils are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand Explorations

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students experiment with different samples of sand from Maui leeward and windward beaches. They create a sand map to suggest at least one contributing factor for the formation of each beach sample. They test the samples to determine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trash Traits: Marine Debris, Litter, Ecology, Oceans

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students perform experiments to examine whether trash can float, blow around, or wash away. The effects of these characteristics on the presence of marine debris in the environment are then discussed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Marine Objects

For Teachers 1st - 7th
Students identify the sources of water on Earth. In this life science lesson, students list the different plants and animals that live in the ocean. They explore marine objects in the lab and draw them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Venomous Marine Animals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers name and describe six venomous marine animals. After participating in an activity, they define new vocabulary words. In groups, they complete worksheets to use while researching a specific venomous animal of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Rainbow Under the Sea: How do Animals Survive in the Ocean?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders read books, watch videos, complete worksheets and participate in class discussions about ocean animals. They, in groups, design PowerPoint presentations on selected marine animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phytoplankton and Ocean Color

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify function of phytoplankton in the biospere by conducting experiments and simulations and reading for information. They detect the presence of phytoplankton in bodies of water by examining ocean in satellite images...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Art and Science of Impressionist Color

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Discover Impressionist painting as students investigate the 19th century combinations of colors characteristically used. Students experiment with their own paintings, utilizing primary and secondary colors.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Debris

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students will perform experiments to examine if debris will float, or blow in the wind. They discuss the effects of these characteristics on marine debris.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Debris on the Chesapeake Bay

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine problem of litter and marine debris on the Chesapeake Bay, and experiment with density of marine debris.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: Ocean Acidification - the Chemistry is Less than Basic!

For Teachers 7th - 10th
A video and laboratory investigation are highlights to this lesson on acidification of ocean water due to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide. Using bromothymol blue (BTB) as an indicator, pupils analyze the amount of carbon dioxide...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of the Deep

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students observe, describe, and record characteristics of ocean animals (mammals and fish) and sea shells. They conduct an experiment comparing and contrasting sugar water, salt water and fresh water and create a mural of coral reef...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WET Science Lesson #11: How Light Affects Water

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Scientists listen to the story of Wadja Egnankou who works to save African mangrove forests. They experiment with refraction and the introduction of particulate matter to water. They conclude with creative writing about the need for a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Effect of Salinity on the Density and Stability of Water

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Water with varying amounts of dissolved salt are dyed and then used to compare densities. The objective is to discover the effect of salinity, and therefore density, on ocean water on the stability of the ocean. Many branches of science...