Lesson Plan
Curated OER

She Sells Sea Shells in Illinois??

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders sorted shells first by methods they thought appropriate and then were instructed on the scientific method of classification by univalve and bivalve. Students then sorted paper shells as a method of assessing knowledge. It...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great Blobs of Jelly!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain how zoo-plankton have an impact on the global process.  In this ocean zoo-plankton lesson students calculate carbon flux and plankton densities. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do You Have the Key?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students practice using a dichotomous key. In this classification lesson, students read an article about scientific exploration and identification of new species. They use a dichotomous key to identify objects and create their own key.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stranded Along The Coast

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students reflect and investigate how a seacoast is the dynamic border between two worlds-the terrestrial and the marine. In the realm of life science, we can observe marine animals that inhabit the shoreline and tidepools. In the realm...
Interactive
Curated OER

ESL: Animals

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this ESL naming animals instructional activity, learners read descriptions of animals and type the correct name of the animal in a box. Students may click on a "show letter" button for help.
Worksheet
World Wildlife Fund

Graphs and Charts

For Students 2nd - 4th Standards
A two-part worksheet incorporating bar graphs and pie charts, young mathematicians can practice their graphing skills. Pupils answer questions using graphs and charts but are also challenged to create their own using a given set of data.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's the Law

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars explain various scientific laws used in SCUBA diving. In this theory based lesson plan, students examine and explain how temperature, density, and salinity relate to SCUBA diving using various scientific laws to engage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Lesson: Caught in the Net

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students student the concept of bycatch, the act of unintentionally catching certain living creatures using fishing equipment. They determine the difference between bycatch and target creatures. They discover what species become bycatch...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get Out in the Field

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students visit a shoreline--of an ocean, a lake, a pond, a riverbank, etc., survey it and record what they find there. They map the shoreline and surrounding area and conclude where potential waterfront projects could occur.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LitterFlotsam and Jetsam: A Little Litter Goes a Long Way

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science lesson plan, students investigate data from the International Coastal Cleanup, identify sources of marine debris, and discover the impacts of this debris on...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Manatee Crossword

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this manatee crossword puzzle worksheet, students use the 10 clues and the word bank to fill in the blanks in this crossword puzzle.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Staying Up

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

Abiotic and Biotic Factors

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine abiotic and biotic factors. They define biotic and abiotic, categorize a list of items onto a Venn diagram, label various items from areas on the school grounds as biotic or abiotic, and diagram a magazine picture.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Animal Sorting & Matching

For Students 5th
In this animal sorting instructional activity, 5th graders first match animal pictures with their names and a fun fact. Students must then fill in 15 blanks based on information given on the matching cards.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Spelling Vocabulary Words with "PH"

For Students 4th - 5th
In this completing the "ph" words with missing letters worksheet, students read sentences with incomplete words, use the scrambled missing letters and context clues, and fill in the missing letters to complete the words and sentences....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toilet Paper Geologic Time Scale

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine and demonstrate the extent of geologic time compared to recent time. They develop a demonstration of geologic time using an unrolled roll of toilet paper, with each sheet of toilet paper representing 20 million years.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dolphin Brains

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students listen to an interview with Lori Marino regarding the development of dolphin brains and read a summarizing text. They conduct further research and participate in class discussion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Life

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students identify marine mammals according to specific characteristics. Students read about marine mammals and list their characteristics. Next, students play a Whale and Otter game on the playground to simulate whales swimming across...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Busy Otters

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students prepare for a trip to an aquarium by identifying otters, their body parts and behaviors as they read "Pup's Supper", do an otter pantomime and make a puppet. After their field trip, they complete a Venn Diagram of Otter behaviors.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blue Planet: Seasonal Seas

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study and research marine invertebrates.  In this marine activity students create an illustrated report and help complete a class exhibit. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blue Planet: Tidal Seas

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate how tides affect sea life. In this video based lesson, students view a video on how tides affect sea life. They do web-based research to find the answers to a series of questions and then play Tidal Trivia to test...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Animal Classification

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students list characteristics and features of animals found in their community. They then group the animals according to how they are similar and different and create names for each group. They then create a chart of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Are What You Eat: Plastics and Marine Life

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study the different types of plastics and see which ones sink or remain buoyant.  For this ocean environmental lesson students complete several handouts, and view a film on PBS.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Drifters

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students define terms, and identify three ways in which plankton are adapted for life in the open ocean.  In this ocean drift lesson students design a planktonic organism.