Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Predators Among Us

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study environmental science. In this ecosystems lesson, students discover how humans have an impact on life in the coral reef. They watch video clips and work on small group activities. This lesson includes links to the videos...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mazes

For Teachers 7th - 8th
In this mazes worksheet, young scholars configure the most efficient way to help a marine iguana through a maze find some rock weed to browse on.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Species on the Edge

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine sea turtles. In this endangered species lesson, students analyze sea turtle habitats. Students hypothesize why sea turtles could go extinct.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Big Fleas Have Little Fleas!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars study seamounts and learn the importance of structures to species. In this ocean explorer lesson, students participate in an activity that teaches them how to modify a seamount so that they are more suitable for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Friend, The Volcano

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students describe the positive impacts of volcanic activity on marine ecosystems. In this volcano lesson students explore the process that causes volcanic activity along the Mariana and Kermadec Island Arcs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Does it Take to be a Survivor: Part 2

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore adaptation by completing worksheets. In this fish anatomy lesson, students identify the different survival strategies fish utilize to live in the ocean and the adaptation their bodies have gone through over millions of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Coast is Clear

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
In this environmental worksheet, students become aware of the animals that inhabit the sea coast by reading a paragraph and coloring the picture. Students learn the importance of keeping beaches clean.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep it Complex

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students consider the importance of biodiversity in the ocean layers. For this oceanography lesson, students use the Shannon-Weaver diversity index to analyze data.  Students analyze the information collected and write a report...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living With the Heat: The Ring of Fire

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate the planet Earth's infamous ring of fire and the life that thrives from it.  In this ocean environment lesson, students investigate hydrothermal vents and how organisms thrive off their heat.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Create an Underwater Scene

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Pupils apply knowledge of underwater ocean life by creating an ocean life scene with marine animals and plants placed at appropriate ocean depths.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creative Writing - I AM A FISH

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders write a letter to the editor about the impact of people on marine life from the point of view of a fish.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seashore Limitations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students demonstrate the movements and behaviors of creatures from different parts of the ocean.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Magic School Bus Goes to Mussel Beach

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students participate in a hands-on activity where they explore tidal zones. They explore tides and marine life. This is an experiment that can be accomplished in class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wildlife

For Teachers 5th - 7th
First, biology pupils research land and marine habitats along the route of skipper Rich Wilson's Great American II. Then, using colored paper clips scattered across a colored paper background, they play the predator-prey game to...
Lesson Plan
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NOAA

El Niño

For Teachers 9th - 12th
El Nino, La Nina ... and the Santa Maria? The 11th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program explains the mechanism of El Nino/Southern Oscillation. Pupils use previous data to determine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Water Mixing and Sinking

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate the role of temperature and salinity in determining seawater density. They use a Temperature-Salinity Diagram to examine the effects of mixing on density.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish and zooplankton habitat through remote sensing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are exposed to the variety of ways in which scientist use remote sensing and it used in everyday life. They investigate about zooplankton and fish. Students list the two important groups of organisms in both aquatic and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light Stick Chemistry

For Teachers 5th - 8th
In groups of three with the lights off and the shades drawn, investigators place inactivated light sticks, in three beakers: one filled with ice water, another with lukewarm water, and the other with room temperature water. They wait...
Lesson Plan
Florida International University

The Good, the Bad and the Nasty Tasting

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Examine the benefits of chemical defense mechanisms. Organisms in oceans use chemicals to ward off predators. Duplicate this adaptation using a hands-on experiment in which you ward off your predators (your pupils) with some...
Lesson Plan
Florida International University

Are You Concentrating?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Explore the importance of a concentration gradient in the rates of dissolution. Using the ocean ecosystem, learners study rates of dissolution around coral reefs. A hands-on experiment helps individuals discover the effects of changing a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where's Dinner?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Upcoming marine biologists consider a list of organisms residing near the Lost City hydrothermal vents and construct a food web. They compare the food web to that of a cold seep community, of which they should have previous knowledge....
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Banishing Bycatch

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Bycatch is a sad reality for many sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks; it occurs when they get unintentionally caught in commercial fishing nets. The class plays a game using popcorn and crackers, each child will attempt to catch the...
Lesson Plan
National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network

Can We Absorb Nanoparticle Pollutants?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Just because we can't see it doesn't mean it isn't there! A growing concern for environmental scientists is toxic nanoparticles in our air and water. Young scholars conduct an experiment to demonstrate how these particles can cross our...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish and Zooplankton Through Remote Sensing

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Ecology aces examine sea surface temperature maps and relate temperatures to concentration in fish and zooplankton populations. Take your class to a computer lab and provide experience with actual remote sensing data. Some of the links...