Website
NOAA

Noaa: National Ocean Service: Education: Currents

For Students 9th - 10th
Illustrated tutorial explains the numerous factors which shape ocean currents. Animations help students visualize how these aspects constantly affect the water movement in the ocean and how scientists use this information to study ocean...
Activity
Other

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: Salinity and Deep Ocean Currents

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
For this activity, students will investigate how temperature and currents affect the salinity of ocean water, making predictions after studying ocean maps. It is recommended that teachers do the experiment themselves before presenting it...
Website
NOAA

Noaa: Ship Okeanos Explorer: "America's Ship for Ocean Exploration"

For Students 9th - 10th
Follow teams of scientists as they explore marine life and habitats of the deep ocean. Covers past and current expeditions in various regions of the world. Includes webcasts, videos, lesson plans and modules, and career resources. An...
Handout
University of Southern California

University of Southern California: Ocean Currents and Climate

For Students 9th - 10th
The climate of our planet is greatly affected by Earth's oceans. Learn here about the different oceanic currents and the role those currents play on climate.
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Ocean Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed website that was a companion to a 1995 traveling exhibit of the Smithsonian. Links to lesson plans and other educational materials are at the bottom of the page. Enter the exhibition to explore the world of the ocean.
Unit Plan
US Navy

Office of Naval Reasearch: Ocean Floor

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site that provides information on the characteristics of the ocean floor, continental margin and rise, deep ocean basin, and the mid-ocean ridge. A quick quiz follows at the end of this site.
Lesson Plan
Other

Ocean Tracks: Fact or Artifact? Interpreting Patterns in Ocean Tracks Data [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Ever wonder where marine animals go? How fast they swim? How deep they dive? Electronic tagging has opened a new window into the world of the open ocean. Ocean Tracks gives you access to data collected by tags on real live migrating...
Article
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Oceans' True Boundaries and "Garbage Patches"

For Students 9th - 10th
A deep look at ocean circulation returns a surprise: Currents transport water - and non-degradable, floating plastic - between the ocean basins. Thus, some of the plastic in the South Atlantic "garbage gyre" was actually thrown away in...
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Wind Waves

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Wind picks up water and forms ocean waves that travel along the surface.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

For Teachers 7th - 9th
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is an interesting and somewhat publicized environmental problem. A swirling soup of trash up to 10 meters deep and just below the water surface is composed mainly of non-degradable plastics. These...
Activity
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: Earth's Oceans

For Students 9th - 10th
Windows to the Universe provides a general overview of the importance of the oceans and seas to the Earth. Content includes information on how the oceans impact Earth's weather and contribute to the water cycle.