Lesson Plan
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Life on the Hardbottom

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students find similarities and differences between a biotrope habitat and an ecosystem.  In this hardbottom biotrope lesson, students research and respond to inquiry questions about a biotrope.  Students identify three...
Lesson Plan
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Puzzle of the Plates

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research tectonic plates and their movement. In this plate lesson plan, students describe the motion of these plates and the boundaries between them. They look into the San Andreas Fault and explore the earthquakes associated to...
Lesson Plan
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When Plates Collide

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate tectonic plates.  In this geology and geography lesson, students construct convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries using oobleck, foam, and tile. A large amount of background information and relevant...
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Entering the Twilight Zone

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students describe major features of cold-seep communities and the process of chemosynthesis as it relates to organisms in each habitat.  In this deep-sea habitats lesson plan, students study the categorization of ocean...
Lesson Plan
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Ship of the Line

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover boats by researching 18th century ships.  In this Naval history lesson, students identify and describe the different components of an 18th century naval ship after researching information on the Internet....
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What's the Connection?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain hardground communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea ecosystem lesson, students investigate the connection between deep-sea ecosystems and petroleum deposits. They discuss the relationship between hydrocarbon...
Lesson Plan
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The Robot Fisherman

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the use of robotic vehicles for fish surveys. In this ocean life lesson, students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using underwater robots and the requirements an underwater robot must meet in order to observe...
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A Valid Conclusion? Testing and Reporting on Hypotheses Using the Scientific Method

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore importance of accuracy in reporting, focusing particularly on articles documenting scientific discoveries, and practice scientific method by conducting experiments to test and report on scientific hypotheses.
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Aquatic Invertebrates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the impact that human development has on streams.  For this stream sampling lesson students compare macroinvertebrate data and graph it.
Lesson Plan
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The Big Burp: Where's the Proof?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the evidence for prehistorically formed methane hydrates contributing to global warming. In this climate change lesson, students work in groups to research methane hydrates, global warming, The Cambrian Explosion,...
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A Piece of Cake: Ocean Communities

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explain habitats. In this model based instructional activity students create a model to help describe a habitat that is typical of deep-water. Students will describe how organisms such as coral and sponges add to their habitat.
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My Wet Robot

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design an underwater vehicle. In this engineering lesson, students will design an underwater robot that includes specific systems for it to function properly. Each group will present their prototype to the class.
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Oil Floats, Right?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the properties in oil in water. In this mixture lesson, students read about the Lophelia II 2010: Cold Seeps and Deep Reef Expedition and look at images of deep sea ecosystems. They experiment or participate in...
Lesson Plan
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Cut-Off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explain the concept of gene sequence analysis. For this gene lesson, students draw inferences about phylogenetic similarities of different organisms.
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Animals of the Fire Ice

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine ocean life by identifying methane hydrates.  In this ocean life lesson, students research organisms that live in the coldest, deepest parts of the ocean and live off methane hydrates.  Students create a group...
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Microfriends: Medicines from the Deep Sea

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students explore the concept of beneficial microorganisms. In this microorganisms lesson, students observe different bacteria found in organisms  Students discuss and describe three ways that microorganisms benefit humans. 
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The Game of Life

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the game of life which refers to what happens to a species when most of the population is gone.  For this endangered species lesson, students describe what it means for a marine animal to be endangered. Students...
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Number Tick Tack Toe: Multicultural Awareness and Appreciation Adaptation

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students focus on this activity would be differences in ability and disability. Some of the students in the class do very well in this activity and often, or always, win in the games of Number Tick Tack Toe; other students struggle and...
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Wreck Detectives

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate shipwrecks. In this marine archaeology lesson ,students collect data and make inferences about the causes of shipwrecks. Students work in groups to create their own model of a shipwreck using clay. Students then...
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Have It Your Way...and FAST!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain the importance of technology in a wide range of businesses. They focus on the application of technology in fast-food restaurants, then interview an upper-level employee at a local business.
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Designing Musical Instruments

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students examine musical instruments as main part of the study of sound energy. In this designing instruments lesson plan, students focus on the elements of an instrument that cause sound to be created and design a unique musical...
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Wetland in a Pan

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders build a watershed from various materials. In this life science lesson plan, the students will be able to change the design of their watershed to see the changes in the way the water will drain. Each group will be able to...
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What's Down There

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write an essay about the coral reefs. In this oceanography lesson plan, students investigate the reef of Bonaire and compare it to reefs that are not thriving. Students then explore the differences that contribute to the...
Lesson Plan
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Who Has the Data? Monitoring Coral Reefs

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students access data to characterize coral reefs. In this scientific research lesson, students access data and explain the need for such data when monitoring coral reefs. They will identify and explain three major threats to coral reefs.