Oceans Lesson Plans

Students identify environmental health issues. They describe how human actions affect the health of the environment. Students discuss some ways in which the ocean environment has been polluted by industry, business and vacationers.

Students identify the Seven Seas and the Five Basins, and examine the significance of ocean currents and how they affect humans. They label a map, answer discussion questions, conduct research, and write a letter.

How does the formation of currents and waves in the ocean happen? High schoolers will learn about the primary causes for ocean currents and waves by calculating a wave's amplitude and nautical mile speed. Then they will complete a problem solving worksheet. Finally, they will complete the study with write an essay how the Coriolis force affects them personally.

Students explore ocean pollution.  In this ecology instructional activity, students view a video entitled This Pretty Planet and identify common biodegradable products. Students participate in activities designed to simulate the negative effects of pollution on plants and animals, and brainstorm ways they can help keep the ocean clean.

Young scholars read Click Magazine and become familiar with the ocean and its creatures.  In this ocean activity students examine articles and gather information about various sea animals.  Young scholars write sentences about their imaginary whale watching trip. Students play Go Fish and discover new facts. young scholars draw an illustration based on the stories.

Students consider why so many people live near the coast and explore the impacts of this trend on ocean animals. They make posters to educate coastal residents and visitors about human impacts on marine life.

Students investigate how ocean currents affect our world. In this ocean currents lesson, students perform an experiment to show how cold water is near the poles and warm water is near the equator. Students use water, food coloring, ice cubes, and a baking dish to perform the experiment. Students create a report with their results, diagrams and an explanation.

Students examine the types of organisms found in oceans. In groups, they read articles about the research done at certain sites. They work together to research their own water ecosystems and report the findings to the class. To end the lesson, they also observe the behaviors of dolphins.

Students investigate surface ocean currents. In this oceanography lesson, students work in small groups to create models that demonstrate surface currents, the Coriolis Effect, and how surface currents move debris. This lesson includes a storybook and three classroom activities that are very hands-on.

Young scholars gain an understanding of the number of oceans and their names by learning a song. They become aware that there are three zones of the ocean and explore the plants and animals that are found at each level.