Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turning the Tide on Trash: Marine Debris Curriculum

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Six different lessons comprise this unit on marine debris. Science, language arts, social studies, and art projects make this an ideal interdisciplinary unit. The result will be well-informed future citizens who can help make a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Census of Marine Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain diversity and abundance in marine life. In this oceanic biology lesson plan, students collect information for various geographical areas to collect a census of marine life.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Energy

For Teachers 7th - 12th
In small groups, energy engineers research and make a topographic map of a marine natural resource. They report to the rest of the class pros and cons of extracting their assigned resource. The two activities may take up to four class...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Marine Sanctuaries Shipwrecks

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Junior oceanographers access the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Database and plot the locations of several shipwrecks. Shipwrecks are always an enthralling subject and this activity allows your learners to act as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring National Marine Sanctuaries

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students research marine ecosystems by creating class presentations.  In this oceanography lesson, students research the different locations of marine sanctuaries by identifying them on a transparency map in class.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waters of the Earth - Friends or Enemies

For Teachers 10th - 12th
High Schoolers observe the paintings and drawings of Robert Harris, and do a study of the ocean that delves into human and physical geography. Learners make prints, listen to music, create a database, and perform research on a specific...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rubber Duckies and Ocean Currents

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore marine life by conducting a rubber duck experiment. In this water currents lesson, students practice identifying latitude and longitude coordinates on a map and define the currents of major oceans. Students discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dolphins

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students explore sea life. In this cross curriculum fine arts, science, and P.E. "dolphins" lesson, students sing songs and play games about dolphins, perform water experiments, create mosaics, and use their five senses to explore sand...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wreck Detectives

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Junior archaeologists examine types of artifacts from the Bronze Age on the internet. In collaborative groups, they create a story about a ship from this period and then construct a model of the ocean floor after their ship has sunk....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Marine Debris and Me

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the environmental issues that pertain to the marine environment. In this research ocean landfills lesson students come up with alternative means of disposal. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Connections

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars, after locating different marine habitats on a globe, play a card game about ecosystems, food webs and organisms.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in the Water?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine how pollutants can affect ocean animals. In this pollution lesson plan, students read a story about the ocean floor, think about what would happen to the plants and animals if the ocean became dirty or polluted, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World Oceans

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this geography worksheet, students list the five oceans and write the names of the different sea life found in each ocean. Students choose from a list of different ocean animals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Pollution

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore ocean pollution.  In this ecology lesson, students view a video entitled This Pretty Planet and identify common biodegradable products. Students participate in activities designed to simulate the negative effects of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Fashion 101

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars explore fish anatomy. For this fish anatomy and adaptation lesson, students define and identify the location of fish body parts. Young scholars add these parts of a fish's anatomy to a life-sized fish costume worn by a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Fish or Not to Fish?

For Teachers 6th - 11th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fishing for Solutions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students 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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

One World Ocean

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students compare and contrast the properties of salt water in the oceans/seas and freshwater elsewhere on the planet. They also analyze mixing caused by currents in the ocean, including the effects of warm and cold water as well as with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take Only Photos and Leave Only Bubbles: Learn About American History from a Sunken Spanish Galleon

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students simulate the research process of investigating a shipwreck. In small groups, they conduct Internet research, and develop and write a proposal for excavation of the archaeological site.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunken Slave Ship

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students investigate shipwrecks. In this marine archaeology instructional activity, students create the site of a shipwreck by using a tub filled with sand and items from a "ship". Students excavate the site and analyze the findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Planet: Sea Secrets

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students identify ocean features and draw a profile using data points on a map. Through discussion and research, they discover the importance of oceanography and plot a profile of the ocean floor in search for a vessel full of precious...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seashore Sweep

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students gather information about sea animals. In this ocean lesson, students read a story about the ocean and seashore. They discuss the needs of seashore animals and create a Mystery Ocean Animal riddle book. Students also discuss...
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

Hawaiian Hot Spots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss how plate tectonics and volcanic activity have affected Hawaii. In this Hawaiian lesson, students look at maps and photographs of Hawaiian Islands and discuss their formation through multiple volcanic eruptions. They...