Seven pages of fascinating reading on marine debris preface the activities in this lesson plan. Four different activities are employed to simulate how the debris is distributed in the ocean and along beaches. Early ecology learners...

Students bring in different trash items and define "marine debris" through a discussion about these items. They categorize debris and use statistics and graphing to better explain the types and amounts of marine debris found each yea

Young scientists access the EARTH Web site in order to engage in this lesson plan life forms found in the ocean. Student groups of 3 - 4 choose one set of deep-sea organism images. The groups decide how they would classify their...

Students explore the game of life which refers to what happens to a species when most of the population is gone.  In this endangered species lesson, students describe what it means for a marine animal to be endangered. Students then...

Dive into the world of plankton. The 17th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program introduces different types of plankton. Young scientists then use what they have learned to classify...

In this ocean zones worksheet, students determine the factors that influence life in the different zones. Students list and explain the major ocean life zones. This worksheet has 6 short answer questions.

Third graders demonstrate an understanding of the lifestyles and habits of the underwater life presented in the previous unit. They classify the various sea creatures according to the ecosystem and then use drama skills to present...

Using a magnifier, mini marine biologists examine the barbules of a bird feather. They swirl the it into a mixture of oil and water and then re-examine the feather. After the activity, discuss how the oily feathers pose a problem to...

Young scholars research sea life using laptop computers. For this sea life lesson, students participate in a field trip to the beach and enter observations into their laptop computers. Young scholars classify shells and sea life.

Middle schoolers study the different types of coastlines and their territories. In this marine coasts lesson students identify life forms that are in the coastal regions. 

Students describe what it means for a marine animal or fish to be threatened or endangered after playing game simulating extinction.

Students explore the beach. In this marine habitat lesson, students inspect sand grains, design beach profiles, classify marine life, and examine natural beach habitats. Students use spreadsheets to record data from their activities at a...

Humans have only inhabited the earth for a fraction of the time that life has existed. Young scientists explore the facts about the emergence of life on Earth with an interactive resource. While highlighting different types of life, the...

Students investigate taxonomy. They explore some of the commercial marine species caught in Magdalena Bay and develop a classification system for presented animals.

Young scholars classify sea life and shells and develop computer-generated tables and graphs. They observe a desalinization demonstration and enter information on their laptops through each step of the scientific experimental process.

Students complete a form that requires them to make decisions about how severely different types of marine debris affect people, animals, vessels, communities. Results are totaled and analyzed to determine which types of marine debris...

In this ocean activity, students answer questions about ocean life, the plants and animals of the ocean and their classification, the major life zones of the ocean and questions about an animal of their choice that lives in the ocean.

Students test tap water for hardness and mineral content. In this environmental science lesson, students identify the different stages of the water cycle. They classify plant and animals according to the rules of taxonomy.

Students investigate the orca whale. They participate in an online Webquest, listen to whale vocalizations online, answer discussion questions, and locate and read newspaper articles on marine mammals and orca whales.

Students recognize marine organisms and differentiate between plankton and nekton.  In this investigative instructional activity students create a concept map using their list of terms and study marine life forms. 

Students explain the different types of marine coasts and where they are located in the United States and its territories. They explain and identify some of the life forms that inhabit different marine coastal regions.

Young scholars, after exploring and analyzing diagrammatic and taxonomic keys and their association to marine sciences, identify and classify objects and organisms based on visual attributes/characteristics. They research and create...

Young scholars investigate the presence of specific organisms in a freshwater habitat to determine the quality of that habitat. They conduct a field study and distinguish and classify organisms found during the field study.

A fun collection of activities about marine life would be a great addition to your elementary science unit. From cute penguins to scary sharks, the unit features crafts, experiments, and basic research projects that will teach your...