Curated OER
The Fossil Record
Young scholars research about the animals found in Burgess Shale. In this earth science instructional activity, students evaluate the significance of fossils in human history. They create models of their chosen animal.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Human Impacts on Marine Species
Students learn about three examples of human impacts on marine life: migration patterns and shipping, algal blooms and water chemistry, and marine debris. Some of these impacts are due to human activity in the ocean, and some impacts on...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian: Ocean Planet: Interdisciplinary Marine Science Activities
Smithsonian Institution presents ?Ocean Planet: Interdisciplinary Marine Science Activities?. Through this series of six interdisciplinary lessons, students will look at such things as the organisms in different marine ecosystems, the...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: Contrasts in Blue: Life on the Caribbean Coral Reef and the Rocky Coast of Maine
Smithsonian Education presents Contrasts in Blue: Life on the Caribbean Coral Reef and the Rocky Coast of Maine. Teachers can download this comprehensive teaching package in which learners explore two marine ecosystems, the coral reefs...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Inquiry Into High Resolution Ice Core and Marine Sediment Records
Activity in which questions are provided relating to interpreting paleoclimate data such as characteristics that make sites favorable for paleoclimate records, locating sites using a map, finding patterns and correlations in the data,...
National Geographic
National Geographic: Human Impacts on the World Ocean
For this lesson, learners are introduced to the idea that humans have enormous impacts on marine ecosystems and resources, and explore the stakeholders involved.
PBS
Pbs.org: Splash & Bubbles: Marine Biology & Social Emotional Learning for Your Classroom
Through play and exploration, Splash and Bubbles demonstrates and celebrates the amazing diversity of life in the ocean, building awareness and appreciation among its young viewers. All the while, viewers are exposed to concepts of...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Ocean Planet
A series of lesson plans designed to be used with the Smithsonian Ocean Planet exhibit (available online). Lesson topics include marine ecosystems, pollution of ocean water, animal strandings, and literature.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Diverse Life Forms of the Ocean
This lesson allows students to view and draw conclusions on the importance of life in the ocean. It uses student created movies to explore what is going on, as well as identifying the zones and diverse life associated with the oceans....
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Marine Organisms for Aquaria and Their Required Maintenance
What can you do with an ocean animal aquarium in your classroom? This website offers information about ordering, setting up, and taking care of marine organisms for a 10-gallon aquarium which is a great way for young scholars to observe...
National Geographic
National Geographic: The World Ocean
A collection of four lessons where learners look at the vital role oceans play in our lives, at the hydrosphere and the impact humans have on it, how humans use the oceans and who is responsible for protecting them, and the rationale...
Other
Ocean Tracks: Fact or Artifact? Interpreting Patterns in Ocean Tracks Data [Pdf]
Ever wonder where marine animals go? How fast they swim? How deep they dive? Electronic tagging has opened a new window into the world of the open ocean. Ocean Tracks gives you access to data collected by tags on real live migrating...
Climate Literacy
Clean: Understanding Ocean Acidification
The following is a series of 5 activities regarding ocean acidifcation Students will learn about rising Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere, climate change, ocean reefs, marine calcifers and ocean pH.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Ocean Activity Ideas
Explore ocean habitats, learn about the extreme weather of the ocean and examine environmental threats to the ocean. Conduct experiments on buoyancy and osmosis, and research sailing and ocean-based industry.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Ocean Research Project
Research paper writing is a lofty goal for kindergarten students, but this lesson will expose them to the process without being overwhelming. Students will divide into teams to learn about ocean creatures and then write a research paper...
Scholastic
Scholastic Explorers: Ocean Life
This lesson plan explores how human activity has an impact on turtles, sea otters, and dolphins in different parts of the world. Your students will read field reports from the sites and evaluate data that is offered.
Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy: Coral Reefs of Palau: Nature's Amazing Underwater Cities
This lesson plan takes students on a virtual field trip to the coral reefs of Palau where they will explore amazing underwater cities found near a remote network of islands in the Pacific Ocean. Learn all about an ecosystem of symbiosis....
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Ocean Careers Exploration
Investigate careers in oceanography and marine exploration. Create a report on the life, education and career of a member of the Ocean Adventures Expedition team and present it in a creative way.
National Association of Geoscience Teachers
Serc: Modeling Sea Level: Lateral and Vertical Facies Changes
What do sequences of sedimentary rocks tell us about how sea level has changed? Students will use a tube and bead (or ball) model to visualize and predict how changes in sea level can control the lateral and vertical facies distribution...
Kinder Art
Kinder Art: Construct an Artquarium (Lesson Plan)
This lesson plan gives students a chance to create their own underwater animal out of paper-mache, and their imagination. Provides a colorful photo example, assessment criteria, and a suggested book to use for inspiration.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Ecosystem Imbalance in the World
In this lesson, students build on their knowledge of individual impacts on the ocean to see how the whole system can react to threats and changes. They examine ways in which human actions throw marine ecosystems out of balance, explore...
Other
Nasa: From the Top of the World to the Bottom of the Food Web
Teachers and young scholars discover linkages among marine ecology, phytoplankton, the behavior of light at the ocean surface, and satellite-derived ocean color data. Explore the topics of phytoplankton, food webs, and algal blooms using...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Under the Deep Blue Sea (Lesson Plan)
Using language and resource skills to explore the ocean and the life within is what this lesson plan from EDSITEment is all about. The lesson is multi-level and resources and academic content standards are available.