Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Ocean Water: Density

For Teachers 11th - 12th
For this lesson students will learn about the stratification of the ocean by using a simulation to show the different densities. The simulation explores how temperature, salinity, and wind affect the development of water stratification.
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Freezing Temperature of Ocean Water

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity makes use of the Temperature Probe to measure the temperature of water as it cools and freezes. Students' determine and compare the freezing temperature of fresh water and ocean water.
Interactive
Other

Project Wet: Discover Water

For Students 3rd - 5th
Interactive opportunities which emphasize the impact water has on our lives. Explore watersheds, ocean water, fresh water sources, and ways to use water responsibly by engaging in activities, coloring pages, and short quizzes.
Unit Plan
The Franklin Institute

Treasures@sea: Exploring the Ocean Through Literature

For Students 2nd - 6th
This extensive resource consists of learning activities that integrate language arts with oceanography. Each activity is based on one of seven books about the ocean and are written to be adaptable. Includes writing activities, games and...
Unit Plan
Utah State Office of Education

Utah State Office of Education: Water's Importance to Life on Earth

For Students 9th
A variety of activities to help students explore the relationship of water to life on Earth. Provides an opportunity to see how ocean levels have changed over time and what effect that can have on living things.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: What Happens to Ice in Water?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate the properties of water in the ice and liquid phase as it relates to convection in the ocean and density driven circulation, and ultimately the climate.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Ocean Currents

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Young scholars map the patterns of the major ocean currents, and learn about the influences of wind, water temperature, landmasses, and water density on currents.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Saltwater Circuit

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students build a saltwater circuit, which is an electrical circuit that uses saltwater as part of the circuit. Students investigate the conductivity of saltwater, and develop an understanding of how the amount of salt in a solution...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Mn Step: Sinking Water: Glaciers, Ocean Currents and Weather Patterns

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
A lesson where students learn how warm water is less dense than cold water, and what this means for global climate change as ice from the polar regions melts. Students will do experiments in buoyancy and water density when hot or cold,...
Lesson Plan
National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion: La Hidrosfera Terreste

For Teachers 9th - 10th
For this site learn about the origin of water on Earth, water in other planets, the molecule of water, the sea water solution, the water on the continents and water and health. It contains many illustrations and 14 interactive activities.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Density Differences

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students investigate differences in ocean water density, and record density data from salt, ice, and hot water samples in their notebooks. Students then simulate ocean water temperature levels in a simulation.
eBook
Other

Earth Science: Earth's Surface and Heat [Pdf]

For Students 6th - 8th
This textbook chapter looks at the role of temperature in sustaining life on Earth and on weather and climate. It discusses the Earth's movements and the seasons, the circulation of the oceans, wind and weather, and the water cycle....
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Oil on the Ocean

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about oil spills and their environmental and economic effects. They experience the steps of the engineering design process as they brainstorm potential methods for oil spill clean-up, and then design, build, and re-design...
Lesson Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic Instructor: Seashore Science

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Come and learn with this incredible seashore science resource. The content includes fun facts, experiments, reproducible activities, resources and more.
Website
Other

Aurora Trust and Aurora Institute of Maritime Studies

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about human interaction with the world's oceans through education support activities in the fields of ocean exploration, research, and education.
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Finding the % Salt in Seawater

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this experiment, students are asked to collect data in order to prepare a calibration curve showing the relationship between the percentage of salt and the mass of salt water. Using this graph, students will be able to determine the...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Engineering for the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young students are introduced to the complex systems of the Earth through numerous lessons on its natural resources, processes, weather, climate and landforms. Key earth science topics include rocks, soils and minerals, water and natural...
Website
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Tsunami: An Interactive Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
A complete, interactive learning activity covering the science of tsunamis, preparedness, research, and historical tsunamis. Excellent animations and real, historical recordings of survivors allow the learner to experience what happens...
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Jason: Pinniped Body Shape Conserving Warmth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
From Shore to Sea: To survive in cold ocean environments an organism's body must be adapted to life under water. A body will cool very quickly when in contact with water. The body shape of an organism is one adaptation that helps to...
Handout
Scholastic

Scholastic: Ocean Life

For Students 9th - 10th
Good starting point for researching ocean life. Find general information, research-topic ideas, a glossary of important terms and people, and numerous links to related sites.
Lesson Plan
American Geosciences Institute

American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Sea and Ice Salinity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students investigate the effects of salinity on the formation of sea ice, and whether salt water freezes more quickly or more slowly than fresh water.
Lesson Plan
Climate Literacy

Clean: Hurricanes as Heat Engines

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, students examine the effects of hurricanes on sea surface temperature using NASA data. They examine authentic sea surface temperature data to explore how hurricanes extract heat energy from the ocean surface.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: How Does the Temperature of the Great Lakes Change Over Time?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity allows students to use water surface temperature, bathymetric data, and weather data to look at trends in the water temperature of the Great Lakes.
Website
Other

K 3 Learning Pages: Tsunami Disaster

For Students K - 1st
This site features several links to tsunami relief sites. Students and teachers can access information about the tsunami relief efforts through these resources.