National Geographic
Rescuing, Relocating, and Rehabilitating Wildlife
Bring up the Deepwater Horizon (BP) oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Display the colorful diagram of the coastal and marine organisms living in the area. Show a video about relocating the eggs of the Gulf's sea...
Curated OER
Massive Migrations
Here is an exciting exploration of a fascinating topic for your emerging ecologists: bird migration! They begin by visiting the US Fish & Wildlife Service website to discover which Arctic birds come to their areas. They are assigned...
Curated OER
Wind Effects- A Case Study
Learners explore hurricanes. For this weather data interpretation lesson, students draw conclusions about the impact of Hurricane Floyd as it related to weather conditions. Learners read and interpret a tide data table, a barometric...
Global Oneness Project
At-Risk Communities
"Waiting to Move," a photo essay by Ciril Jazbec, brings into sharp focus the threats posed by climate change. Class members examine images of Shishmaref Island and the Native Alaskan Inupiate coastal villages that are impacted by rising...
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
More Tribal Homelands
Here is a very fun idea that introduces young learners to how geographical location affects cultural development. They are introduced to four areas where Native Americans have lived in the past by reading stories and examining images....
Curated OER
Long Island Beach Life
Have your class learn about marine life through this resource. This comprehensive instructional activity has learners discuss marine life, learn key vocabulary, discuss environmental concerns, and play games related to migration and...
Space Awareness
Oceans on the Rise
Temperature rises and land disappears! Through a lab exploration, learners understand the effect of temperature increase on water similar to the effect of global warming on our oceans. As they heat the water in a flask, they measure the...
NOAA
Investigating Sea Level Using Real Data
The news reports on rising sea level, but how do scientists measure this rise? Scholars use NOAA data including maps, apps, and images to work through five levels of activities related to sea level. Each level in the series adds a new...
Curated OER
Where's the Beach?
Students use beach profile data to analyze how erosion and sediment transport changed seashore slopes. In this geology lesson, students plot the data provided and analyze erosion patterns. They also assess coastal erosion management...
Curated OER
Energy Resources
In this energy resources worksheet, students read about the greenhouse effect and global warming. Then they explain why scientists are so concerned with greenhouse gases. Students also describe how global warming affects people worldwide.
Curated OER
Who Dirtied the Water?
Students develop a greater understanding and concern for the plight of our coastal waterways. Students begin to recognize that we are all partially responsible for water pollution.
Curated OER
North America Puzzle
In this geography instructional activity, students complete a crossword puzzle in reference to North America. They identify capitals of some countries, the specific landforms of different areas, and languages spoken. There are 21 clues...
Curated OER
Africa Puzzle
In this geography worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle about Africa. They identify the capitals of various countries located in Africa, the most fertile area, the largest desert, and the longest river. There are 19 questions...
NOAA
Ocean Acidification
Carbon dioxide is on the rise; does that also mean a rise in danger to humans and animals? Scholars learn what that means for the environment and more specifically the ocean. They examine data on the pH of different ocean areas and learn...
Curated OER
Marine Animals: Stranded on the Coast
Students identify marine animals that could become stranded due to coastal features and currents. They plot data on worksheets for locations of sea turtles actually beached or stranded. After plotting their points, they hypothesize...
Curated OER
Graphing Iron Data
Learners apply a data set to create a graph show how iron ore impacts an ecosystem. They explain how the iron effects the distribution and abundance of phytoplankton in coastal ecosystems using spreadsheet software.
Curated OER
Social Studies: Looking at Regions
Quiz your 3rd graders on why we have regions. This regions quiz includes 16 questions on why and how we group areas into regions based on physical features, culture, politics or religion. A class discussion on technology completes this...
Curated OER
River Run Through It
With vocabulary lists, worksheets, and more, this lesson sets learners on an exploration of the Hudson River area. They read an essay about the area, analyze a relief map of New York State, and complete a worksheet.
Curated OER
Rivers Run Through It
Using a relief map of New York State, learners answer questions about the distance between different cities, identify bodies of water, and more. First, they discuss vocabulary related to the Hudson River area. Then, they complete a...
Curated OER
Oceans of Trouble
Students investigate the illegal and legal nuclear waste dumping activities by various nations, including the United States. The effects of nuclear waste dumping in oceans and in coastal areas that share ecosystems with ocean life is...
Curated OER
El Nino
Students explain what El Nino is, where it is located and how it is created. They describe the weather changes caused by El Nino. They draw the patterns of El Nino on a world map. They predict economic effects El Nino has on the areas it...
Curated OER
Creative Problem Solving
Young scholars respond to a situation presented about the wetlands. In this wetlands lesson, students understand the various opinions over the use of areas in the wetlands. Young scholars complete a worksheet using critical thinking...
Curated OER
Coastal Ecology of the Bahamas
Sixth graders investigate the Bahamas through presentations and charts. In this ecology lesson, 6th graders utilize their library and Internet to research the life forms and species that inhabit the Bahamas. Students observe a...
Global Oneness Project
A Vanishing Island
The effects of rising sea levels on Isle de Jean Charles, located off the coast of Louisiana, are documented in Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee's poignant short video. Viewers are asked to consider not only the plight of residents but also what...