Curated OER
Deep Lights
Students investigate materials that emit light. In this deep ocean lesson, students compare and contrast materials that emit light under certain conditions and infer the light-producing process. They explain three ways this evidence is...
Curated OER
Hawaii's Sea Turtle Exploration
Students investigate the life cycle and body parts of Hawaii's sea turtles. In this sea turtle lesson, students watch a video about the turtle life cycle and make a model of a "Honu," sea turtle. They complete an associated worksheet.
Curated OER
Wild Arctic
Students explore key terms, including food web and food chain. They discuss Arctic plants and animals, devise at least three Arctic food chains and create a food web showing connections among Arctic life.
Curated OER
Living Light
Students 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.
Curated OER
Nature Superfish
Students examine the billfish as a predator in the ocean. In this ocean, creatures, and tides lesson, students view video clips and discuss the sea creatures and scientists in the videos. Students create their own videos. students...
Curated OER
Oceans-Coral Reefs
Second graders investigate coral reefs. In this oceanology lesson, 2nd graders discuss what constitutes a coral reef and the wildlife that lives there. Students watch a video about coral reefs and take an online quiz.
Curated OER
Saved by a Shark
Students explore the marine ecosystem and the importance of sharks. In this shark lesson, students look at photos of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and discuss the animals that live there. They discuss which animals...
Curated OER
To Fish or Not to Fish?
Students 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 on...
Aquarium of the Pacific
Ecosystem Comparison
Fifth graders examine plants and animals in two ecosystems and compare them. In this ecosystem survival lesson plan, 5th graders compare and contrast a coral reef and kelp forest ecosystem. Students investigate the abiotic and...
Curated OER
How Diverse is That?
Learners discuss biological diversity in ocean communities. In this diversity lesson, students examine the variety of organisms compared to relative abundance. They will write an analysis and discuss their findings with the class.
Curated OER
Web of Predators and Prey
Students investigate the food chain by researching the Internet. In this ecosystem lesson, students view the video "Competitor and Predator" and read a book from the series "The Magic School Bus." Students utilize a worksheet...
Curated OER
Fishing for Solutions
Young scholars investigate the many ecological and economic issues related to over fishing the world's marine resources. Working in committees, students research the related topics of equipment and fishing techniques.
Michigan Sea Grant
Sea Lamprey
Learners discuss the types of technology that are used to control the population of sea lamprey in the Great Lakes. They explain the parasite/host relationship and understand the devastating impact invasive species have on ecosystems....
Curated OER
Ocean Scale Drawing
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.
Curated OER
Ocean in a Bottle
Students create an enclosed ocean in a bottle and add different pollutants to explore the effects of pollution on the environment.
Curated OER
Play Under the Sea
Students explore the hazards of ecosystems and utilize their writing skills to create a studenT book. Threats to the ecosystem of the coral reef are discussed and used as a model for the research of the group.
Curated OER
Desalination: Creating a Solar Still
To better understand how solar power can aid in creating desalinated drinking water, the class creates a model still. They will build a model of a solar still, make observations, and discuss how the process works. While the idea behind...
Curated OER
Survival of the Fittest
Sixth graders create their own "never before seen" marine creatures and examine how not all creatures in the sea swim, not all have sharp teeth
Curated OER
The Coral Reef
Fourth graders discuss life in a coral reef, and view photographs and a computer program about coral reefs. They design and create colorful watercolor, ink, and crayon drawings of coral reefs.
Curated OER
The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing
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...
Curated OER
Water Sources in Cape Verde and West Africa
Young explorers study the scarcity and importance of a continuous supply of fresh water in Cape Verde. They research the five main ways that fresh water is obtained in these countries. Each research group prepares a presentation, and...
Ocean Explorer
Looking for Clues
Upper graders become "shipwreck detectives" by studying the debris field from a shipwreck in the Aegean Sea which took place in the 700s. A website is accessed that gives specific information about the debris field, and pairs of...
Curated OER
March of the Polar Bears: Global Change, Sea Ice, and Wildlife Migration
Students study global change and how these changes impact wildlife. In this polar bears instructional activity students analyze maps and data to understand climate change.
Curated OER
Who Has the Light?
Students 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.