Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Drawing Fish

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students practice creating art by imitating the camouflage of fish. In this animal characteristic lesson, students identify certain fish and their ability to change colors in order to survive in the wild. Students utilize coloring...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Has the Light?

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners study ways in which the ability to produce light may be useful to deep-sea organisms. In groups, they research and present to the rest of the class, how a specific organism is able to produce bioluminescence.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mountain Magic: Identifying the Basic Physical Characteristics of Mountains

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students read about and identify on maps the physical characteristics of mountains. In this mountains lesson plan, students also write about the characteristics using personification.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Difficult Decisions: The Sakinaw Sockeye Case Study

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine Sakinaw Sockeye as species at risk, participate in role playing exercise to consider different perspectives of various interest groups, and try to come to consensus on how to deal with dwindling Sakinaw sockeye...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Big Deal?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore and define methane hydrates and describe ways that it can impact their own lives.  In this methane hydrate lesson students create a molecular model and research methane hydrate. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Seeds Tell the Story

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore sources of  pollution runoff and actions that can be taken to reduce runoff.  In this pollution lesson students complete a worksheet and see why bio-essays may provide a more realistic picture of toxicity.
Assessment
Curated OER

ESL Activity: The Titanic

For Students 4th - 6th
In this ESL Titanic worksheet, students choose answers that correctly complete sentences. Students may click on an "answer" button for immediate feedback. A reference web site is given for additional activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate and Change: Fitting the Facts Together and Acting on Them

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine climate change. In this current events lesson, students read the provided articles "Key Facts + Key Conclusions=0?" "Oil Companies Fund Climate Change Deniers," and "Acting on Climate Change Facts." Students respond to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Interrelationships Within the Marine Community

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create an electronic story showing the interrelationship of species within the marine environment. They utilize the educational software, 'Destination Ocean' during this engaging lesson.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Scale Drawing

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explain how to make pictures larger using a grid system by transferring scales images from 1/2 -1 inch to 6 inches - 1 foot. They create life-size scale drawings of ocean life studied in class using a grid system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

All That Glitters...

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students study that white light (visible light) is comprised of all colors of the spectrum. They study that the quantity of light decreases with increasing depth in the ocean. They study that the quality of light changes with increasing...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Who Am I?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this science worksheet, students examine 16 detailed pictures of different species of marine invertebrates. Students identify each species. There is no room to write the name under the picture. It is assumed this is an oral activity,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Regions of the US: Gulf Stream, States and Their Capitals

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders identify one way of dividing the US into geographical regions and then consider alternate ways of doing the same. They locate each of the fifty states and their capitals on a map. They research the Gulf Stream region.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Warm up to the Gulf Stream

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils find out the temperature difference between the Gulf Stream and the surrounding water. They locate the Gulf Stream on the infrared image of the eastern seaboard of the US.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fort Clatsop: The Corps of Discovery's Winter at Fort Clatsop

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars investigate the Lewis and Clark expedition and how it helped to shape American expansion during its early history. Students reflect upon the period of history and its implications for America.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

On the Mayflower Lesson Plan

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students build a model of the Mayflower inside of the classroom in order to learn about the voyage of the Mayflower and the hardships faced by its passengers. In this American history lesson, students work in small groups to construct...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tic-Tac-Toe for Layers of the Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the different layers of the earth. In this earth science lesson, 8th graders choose a project to do from a given list according to their learning style. They present their finished project in class.
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Fish Forms

For Teachers Pre-K - 2nd Standards
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, you can add art to any lesson! While little learners are discovering why fish have specific body parts such as, scales, fins, and gills, they start making three-dimensional fish forms. Children...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measure for Measure

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young mathematicians work to recognize the relationship between their scale models of the Joides research vessel and the real vessel. They calculate the relationships between various parts of the ship using fractions, ratios, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuarine Currents

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students experiment observing a demonstration on models of density-driven currents which are typically found in an estuarine system of water flow. They compare/contrast water temperature and salinity to the formations of estuarine currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's a Gas - Natural Gas

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use plastic bottles, water, and condiment packets to simulate how natural gas comes from decaying ocean plants and animals. In this natural gas lesson plan, students also fill out lab packets and answer exit questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Staying Up

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students will explain the Archimedes's Principle. In this lesson plan on plankton, students will describe three factors that can affect the buoyancy of plankton. This lesson plan contains extensive background information, extensions, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain bioluminescence. In this life science lesson, students discuss bioluminescence and conjure examples of organisms that carry this trait and how it is useful in their environment.