Lesson Plan
Aquarium of the Pacific

Turn a Cow into a Whale

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore animals that might have a common ancestor and resemble one another.  For this cow and whale lesson, 3rd graders recognize the similarities between the whale and the cow.  Students complete worksheets based...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seashore Explorers

For Teachers 1st - 5th
There are three separate lessons within this resource that can be used together, or that can each stand alone. In the first, five simple activities allow junior scientists to examine the amazing properties of water. In the second, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Top to Bottom

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Marine science classes read about the 2005 North Atlantic Stepping Stones Expedition and review climate change. They use maps to locate the seamount chains. In collaborative groups, they research how climate change may be altering the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Eyes Have It!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Reading essays about deep-sea expeditions open this lesson on crustacean vision. Marine biology explorers study the compound eye and then complete a worksheet in response to all they have discovered. Although the lesson doesn't offer an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Big Is A Humpback Whale?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore humpback whales. In this humpback whale lesson, students determine the actual size of humpback whales and use diagrams to identify the major features of the humpback whale.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's That?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Meant to be a simulation of a deep-sea exploration, this requires that another instructional activity be completed first. In that instructional activity, titled "Animals of the Lost City," marine biology buffs construct murals of benthic...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strange Bugs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
As individuals or in small groups, marine biologists research and discuss archaea and their unusual behavior as compared to bacteria. Teach them about the chemical makeup of the cell membrane of these strange organisms. This complex...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Action at Plate Boundaries

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars diagram the spreading of the ocean floor. In this earth science lesson plan, students read an article on plate boundaries of the ocean. Young scholars are expected to diagram the oceanic convergent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Sea" Me Race

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the ocean habitat. They race each other while portraying a different creature of the sea. They research various types of creatures found in the sea and portray that creature while racing classmate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Pollution

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers study their role in eliminating ocean pollution and helping keep the oceans clean. In this environmental issues lesson, students define pollution and brainstorm examples of ocean pollution. Middle schoolers define...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Natural Inquirer

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students interview wildlife experts to gain information needed to research and write a report about an aquatic plant or animal affected by climate change.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Collages

For Teachers K - 5th
Young scholars discuss sea life and what lives in the ocean. They examine patterns, and create fish collages using ripped construction paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sanctuaries-Providing a Safe Harbor

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the role of marine sanctuaries in the conservation of oceans and the lives of plant and animal species that live there. They write poetry to exhibit what they learn.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mazes

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

Coral Bleaching

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between corals and zooxanthellae, identify stresses to corals, and explain coral bleaching.  In this sea life lesson students predict the effects of increased temperatures on coral reefs. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea State

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the process of wave formation and analyze the relationship between the ocean and the atmosphere.  In this oceans lesson students use buoys to cast real time sea state conditions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Anomalies

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders participate in a simulation of a select scientific team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Lesson Plan
Marine Institute

Water Pollution

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Sixth graders investigate the various types of pollutants found in water and ways to help prevent water pollution. Through a hands-on experiment, students create samples of polluted water by mixing water with vegetable oil, dirt,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genres, Genres Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young readers assume the role of Genre Sleuths to investigate the characteristics of folktales, fantasies, and mysteries. For this session you will need to collect a variety of books on a topic you have been studying. Groups then examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Mollusc

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the different regions of our oceans by researching the Internet.  In this oceanography lesson, students discover the different jobs related to ocean research and examine their roles by reading related...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Blue Planet: Open Ocean

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners research facts about animal species.  In this ocean lesson  students view a video, prepare illustrated cards and create a food-web display.  
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Market

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify some consumer goods that come from the ocean. They classify these items into groups, identify their source, and calculate the cost of buying such goods.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Survival of the Fittest

For Teachers 6th
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
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Market

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students research how: The ocean is the source of many materials, from ores mined from its depths to relaxing mineral salts for a bath. Exquisite mother-of-pearl inlay, decorative shells, and pearl jewelry are found in gift shops...