Curated OER
How to Hide in the Ocean
Students observe and discuss the advantages of camouflage, then try their hands at designing a well-camouflaged fish.
NOAA
An Ocean of Energy
Young biologists trace the path of the sun's energy through marine ecosystems in the second part of this four-lesson series. Building on prior knowledge about producers, consumers, and decomposers students are introduced to the concept...
Curated OER
Ocean Life Zones Notes
In this ocean zones worksheet, students label the ocean diagram with the different zones. Then students write in animals that live in each of the zones and research basic information about those animals. This worksheet has 6 fill in the...
Curated OER
Ocean Life Zones
In this ocean zones activity, students determine the factors that influence life in the different zones. Students list and explain the major ocean life zones. This activity has 6 short answer questions.
Curated OER
Restaurant Beneath the Waves
In this marine life worksheet, students fill in the boxes beside each ocean creature name with one of the following feeding methods: predator, scavenger, grazer, and filter feeder. Students then list or draw marine creatures that use the...
Curated OER
SOS!
Students examine natural and man-made threats to sea turtles. They create sea turtle mobiles while studying the range, environment, predators of and threats to sea turtles.
Curated OER
Seas Of Life
Students brainstorm examples of predator and prey that are featured in a video they watch. In this investigative lesson students will research an animal from the video and explain if it is a predator or prey and how it helps species...
Curated OER
Frozen Out
Students investigate how climate changes affect top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems. Students complete a worksheet and write a report based on their responses to a scientific paper.
Curated OER
Who Eats Whom in the Open Ocean?
Students examine how organisms interact with one another in the ocean. For this science lesson, students discuss predators and prey in the ocean. Students discuss food webs and how organisms interact with each other.
Curated OER
Survival in the Open Ocean
Students examine how scientists conduct pelagic research and identify pelagic predators as they study the open-ocean ecosystem. They discuss and conduct small group research of this environment in order to produce a presentation.
Curated OER
Blue Planet: Seas of Life - Tidal Seas
After viewing the video Blue Planet: Seas of Life, students review oceanic concepts. In this earth science lesson plan, students reflect on the effect tides have on living things and conduct research to create a "tidal trivia" game....
Curated OER
Life Has A History
In this biology worksheet, students identify and match various classes of species found today. Then they explain why biodiversity exists today on earth and define evolution. Students also describe who a paleontologist is and what they do.
Curated OER
Build a Polyp
Students research coral polyps. In this coral polyps instructional activity, students discover the anatomy of a coral polyp and how they feed. Students create an edible coral polyp model.
California Academy of Science
Coral Reef Habitat Match
Different animals live in different habitats, and each animal has specifically adaptive traits that make them tailor-made for their environments. This is true on land and in the ocean. Little ones examine how various marine animals have...
Curated OER
Food Chains
Learners take a look at the relationship between organisms in food chains, food webs, and energy pyramids. After an opening demonstration by the teacher, pupils are split up into groups. Each one is assigned an environment such as:...
Curated OER
Bering Sea Buffet - A Foodweb Activity
Life in the Bering Sea, food webs, and the ocean ecosystem are introduced with a map activity. The lesson starts as kids explore maps and images of the Bering Sea, then it kicks into high gear as they start to discuss the types of...
Curated OER
Food Webs
Students create a bulletin board display illustrating food chains they make from a list of ocean organisms. Students also play a game showing what happens when one of the organisms is removed from the food chain and how they are all...
Curated OER
the Journey of the Pacific Salmon in the Open Ocean and Fishing
Third graders discuss salmon and their life cycle. For this salmon life cycle lesson, 3rd graders recognize the difficulties researching the life cycle of salmon as they migrate. Students conduct an experiment and create a game.
Curated OER
How to Hide in the Ocean
Students observe the advantages of camouflage. They design a well camouflaged fish of their own.
Curated OER
How Are Open Ocean Organisms Structured for Their Environment?
Students explore biology by conducting an animal dissection. In this oceanography lesson, students identify the life cycle of a squid and other animals that are involved with commercial fishing. Students dissect a squid in class and...
University of California
Energy and Biomass Pyramids
Young scientists play tag as they act out the food pyramid in the ocean ecosystem. Energy circles pass from the smaller prey to the predators and at the end of the activity, a data chart and analysis questions allow pupils to apply their...
Curated OER
Wildlife
The centerpiece of this lesson plan is a predator-prey simulation in which colored paperclips represent different species of animals camouflaged against a colored background. Relevant follow-up questions are provided. The activity is...
Curated OER
Follow a Fish
Students choose a fish from anywhere within the Ocean Center. They observe it for a given time, recording its behavior. Students comprehend the concept that living things have individual characteristics that enable them to live in their...
Curated OER
A Lesson in Biodiversity: Making Comparisons Between Defensive Mechanisms Utilized by Marine Organisms
If your upper elementary or middle school marine biology learners are going to visit an aquarium, then here is a field trip activity guide for you. It is written specifically for The Maritime Aquarium, but the idea can be adapted to any...