Curated OER
Dissolved Oxygen Lesson
Students investigate what dissolved oxygen is and why it is important to aquatic life and what factors influence levels of dissolved oxygen in a lake. They study how to use MS Excel to make charts to show trends and correlations.
Curated OER
Reading the River
In collaborative groups, young ecologists measure the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen for three different freshwater samples. They examine each sample with a microscope and record observations on the microorganisms in the pond...
Curated OER
Snapshot Day Definitions & Activities
In this watershed worksheet, learners read through related definitions and complete 17 short answer questions about deposition and erosion in the Hudson River.
Curated OER
Monitoring Estuarine Water Quality
Students analyze water quality data from real data. In this environmental science instructional activity, students examine how salinity and dissolved oxygen affect the living organisms in the estuary. They interpret graphs to support or...
Curated OER
Freshwater Fish Water Quality
Sixth graders work together to complete an experiment about the quality of freshwater. In groups, they collect fresh water samples from a variety of sources and test the pH levels. After completing a KWL chart, they test the amout of...
Curated OER
Health of Aquatic Life a Real Problem
Learners explore the health of aquatic life in this science lesson They measure and track the oxygen level in the water to determine the health of the aquatic life. They collect this data using the TI explorer to graph and analyze their...
NOAA
History's Thermometers
How is sea coral like a thermometer? Part three of a six-part series from NOAA describes how oceanographers can use coral growth to estimate water temperature over time. Life science pupils manipulate data to determine the age of corals...
Curated OER
Water Quality and Nitrates & Phosphates
Students examine the effects of nitrates and phosphates on the dissolved oxygen levels in different water sources. In this series of 3 lessons, they consider the reasons for nitrate and phosphate level increases and their effects on...
Curated OER
Creek Monitoring
Sixth graders conduct a variety of assessments at a local stream to determine if it is a suitable habitat for salmon. They measure temperature, tubidity, dissolved oxygen, pH levels, bacteria and nutrients. In this unit, 6th graders work...
Curated OER
"Dead-Zones" and Coastal Eutrophication: Case-Study of Chesapeake Bay
Take an in-depth look at nutrient loading, eutrophication, and hypoxia using data on The Chesapeake Bay as an example. This comprehensive presentation includes detailed graphs, photos, and details about the changes in marine organism...
Michigan Sea Grant
Water Quality
Learners observe water samples and measure the samples' water quality. Students develop their own criteria for measuring water quality and test for temperature, acidity, oxygen levels, turbidity, conductance, sediment and hardness.
Kenan Fellows
Making Connections with Water Quality
What's in your water? And, why is water quality so important? Enhance your class's level of water appreciation through a lesson that demonstrates the necessity of water quality. Environmental enthusiasts explore the EPA's Clean Water...
Curated OER
Primary Producers
Middle schoolers examine the role of carbon in the oceans and how phytoplankton determine the levels present. In groups, they practice measuring primary productivity using two methods. They use the internet to research the role of...
Curated OER
Photosynthesis
Students conduct experiments with plants. In this photosynthesis instructional activity, students examine plants under different types of lights. They calculate the amount of dissolved ocygen concentration and compare it to the formula...
Curated OER
Aquatic Field Data
Students use laptops and sensors to measure water quality and graph their results. In this aquatics lesson students post their results to a website or email.
Curated OER
The Dead Zone: A Marine Horror Story
Students graph dissolved oxygen versus depth using data taken from NECOP Program. For this marine science lesson, students explain the causes of hypoxia. They recommend possible solutions to this problem.
Curated OER
Organic Materials in an Aquatic Ecosystem
Students evaluate the relationship between oxygen levels and the amount of organic matter in an aquatic ecosystem. They explain the relationship between oxygen levels, bacteria and the breakdown of organic matter using an indicator...
Curated OER
To Drink or not to Drink
Seventh graders discuss water quality, water availability and water resources and how water is used in the world around them. They view a video on water quality then test for pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen to indicate water quality.
Curated OER
Water Quality Testing
Student explore factors affecting ecosystems. They test local water samples for pH level. After creating a methodology for data collection, they collect data, compare results, and draw conclusions based upon results.
Curated OER
Save Your Breath
Students discuss metabolism. In this metabolism lesson, students evaluate evidence form a research report and discuss the basis for hypothetical metabolic adaptations to low-oxygen environments in the anchialine caves.
Curated OER
Solutions and Suspensions
Students explore matter by conducting an in class demonstration. For this liquid mixture lesson, students identify the difference between a solution in which a solid dissolves into liquid, and a suspension where the solid doesn't...
Curated OER
Message in the Bottles
Students identify the three realms of the Arctic Ocean, and describe the relationships among these realms. They explain the relationships between gross primary productivity, net primary productivity, and respiration.
Curated OER
The Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico
High schoolers explore hypoxic (low oxygen) conditions in the Gulf of Mexico. In this ocean habitat lesson, students hypothesis, design and implement an experiment to explain the existence of the "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Curated OER
Why Is Our Stream Changing?
Students test turbidity, pH, oxygen content and temperature of local stream. In this earth science lesson, students collect and record data from the experiment. They analyze findings and present it to class.