Curated OER
Exploring Explorations
Students describe human benefits from ocean exploration. In this ocean exploration lesson, students focus on the historical, biological, and physical features of the deep oceans and man's exploration.
Pyro Innovations
Beach Exploration
Little ones will absolutely love this lesson plan. It's all about the beach and what they can find while sifting through the sand. A large bucket of sand filled with hidden items is brought into the classroom. Learners will discuss what...
Curated OER
Fisheries Management in the Open Ocean
Students explore biology by researching fishing equipment. In this oceanography lesson, students discuss the impact of human technology on the fish population. Students utilize marbles as a visual aide and complete fish population...
Curated OER
Oceanic Habitat Zones
Students explore ocean habitats. For this oceanic environment lesson, students research various habitats in the ocean. Then, in a jigsaw format, students teach others in the class about the habitat they researched.
Curated OER
Design a Reef!
Students explore coral reef ecosystems. In this ecosystems science lesson, students research coral reef ecosystems to determine the major functions the participating organisms must perform. Students construct a miniature...
Curated OER
Bottled Water Ban
Convenience, taste, portability ... what's not to love about bottled water? Apparently, a lot. Scholars analyze the four main arguments supporting and opposing the sale of bottled water. They explore the health, environmental, and...
Curated OER
Down in the Dumps
After an introduction to municipal sludge, middle school ecologists consider the pros and cons of dumping in the Hudson River Canyon. The class is split into two groups: one to debate in favor or dumping and one to debate against the...
Curated OER
A Differentiated Way through Think Dots
Students examine reasons that led people to explore, identify "West" as defined following Revolutionary War, explain importance of finding natural resources, develop time line of dates and events leading up to Lewis and Clark Expedition,...
Curated OER
Wreck Detectives
Junior archaeologists examine types of artifacts from the Bronze Age on the internet. In collaborative groups, they create a story about a ship from this period and then construct a model of the ocean floor after their ship has sunk....
Curated OER
Introduce Vocabulary: Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story (Peters)
Lisa Peters presents macroevolution as a large-scale family tree in her book Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story. She suggests the process from single-celled organisms to modern-day humans, and learners explore new vocabulary...
Curated OER
Exploring National Marine Sanctuaries
Young scholars research marine ecosystems by creating class presentations. For this oceanography lesson, students research the different locations of marine sanctuaries by identifying them on a transparency map in class....
Curated OER
Exploring Fish Anatomy and Commercial Fishing Gear
Students investigate commercial fishing by exploring the technical methods. For this environmental lesson, students identify the fish that are most commonly consumed by humans and trace their path from ocean to plate. ...
Curated OER
Do Not Bleach!
Students explore the importance of protecting the coral reefs. In this Oceanography lesson plan, student examine how coral reefs benefit humans, identify major threats to the reefs, and discuss actions to reduce these threats.
Curated OER
Let the River Run
Young scholars explore the environment by reading a story in class. For this water formation lesson, students define environmental terms such as rivers, streams, gulf, oceans and lakes. Young scholars read the story A River Ran Wild and...
Curated OER
Bad Algae!
Learners explore algal blooms. In this ecosystem and health lesson, students define and describe harmful algal blooms, then discuss ways in which the impact of these algal blooms could be reduced. Learners work in groups to...
Curated OER
To Fish or Not to Fish?
Young scholars demonstrate the decision-making process for marine reserves designations. In this role-playing instructional activity students analyze maps and data relating to a proposed reserve. They formulate the best decisions based...
Curated OER
A Monument for Marine Conservation
Students explore the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands to discover what's there and pick up clues as to how people have both harmed and helped the native habitats. They study another protected area and see how to balance conservation efforts...
Curated OER
Reading Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie
Students explore Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie. For this reading comprehension lesson, students answer questions and define vocabulary words before, during, and after reading the book Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie.
Curated OER
Search for the Humpback Whale
Students work in teams to research and explore whale adaptations, behavior, migration, habitat, communication, and interactions with humans and present their findings.
Curated OER
Shark Attack
Students examine the white shark. They think critically about a set of shark facts and predict whether the statements are true or false. Students describe a year in the life of a white shark living in the Red Triangle. They create a...
Curated OER
Miracle of Winged Migration
Students explore the life cycle of insects by researching butterflies. In this insect migration lesson, students identify the Monarch butterfly, where they inhabit, and what their migration consists of. Students utilize the Internet to...
Curated OER
The Titanic Impact of Science
Discuss personal ideas about science and how a filmmaker can employ the arts to promote science. After reading an article, young scientists will discover how James Cameron is trying to interest people in the oceans. In groups, they will...
Curated OER
Building A Solar Still
Students investigate the water cycle by viewing an online video. For this drinking water lesson, students create solar stills at their campus in order to purify water that is tainted. Students view a video on their computers...
Curated OER
The Coffee House
Students study and write poetry. In this poetry project, students read, analyze, and produce poetry. Students examine and analyze fifteen poems and at the culmination of the unit, perform one of their poems for an audience.