Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Ocean Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed website that was a companion to a 1995 traveling exhibit of the Smithsonian. Links to lesson plans and other educational materials are at the bottom of the page. Enter the exhibition to explore the world of the ocean.
Unit Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education: Teaching Box: Seasonal Upwelling

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A suite of lessons focusing on the process of upwelling. Inquiry-based exploration of seasonal upwelling includes marine food webs, food production in the ocean, wind-driven ocean currents, and seasonal changes in biotic and abiotic...
Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Decomposers in the Ocean: Role and Examples

For Students 4th - 6th
Describes five different types of decomposers that feed on decaying organic matter in the oceans and that are at the bottom of the ocean food chain.
Handout
Other

Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: Fitting Algae Into the Food Web

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A lesson that helps students understand food chains and food webs. With the background information, interactive activity, and extensions, students will see the interconnectedness and interdependence of organisms. Activity has students...
Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Marine Invertebrates

For Students 9th - 10th
Students learn about invertebrates found in the ocean, their individual methods of adaptations, identifying characteristics, and contributions to the marine ecosystem.
Handout
Missouri Botanical Garden

Missouri Botanical Garden: Food From the Sea

For Students 9th - 10th
Did you know that 80% of the fish we eat comes from the ocean? Since oceans cover so much of the earth you would think that we would never be in danger of running out of its resources. Learn how overfishing is causing many problems with...
Unit Plan
Other

Rutgers Marine & Coastal Sciences: Cool Classroom

For Students 9th - 10th
Students and teachers can explore the work of marine scientists and observe the ocean from their computers. Learn about Rutgers Coastal Ocean Observation Laboratory, discover why oceanography is important, and see what life is like in...
Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: Big Questions: Oceans

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn more about the oceans that cover so much of our planet. Five big Q and A's are addressed including why oceans are so important, how oceans soak up energy and gases, the relationship between climate and oceans, and the function of...
Website
PBS

Pbs: Nature: The Fascinating World of Jellies

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about the mysterious jellyfish blooms that have occurred in the world's oceans. Because the resulting alteration to the marine food web has had devastating effects, researchers grow and study jellyfish at the Monterey aquarium....
Activity
Texas A&M University

Texas A&m University: Fisheries Activities

For Students 9th - 10th
Site from the Texas A&M University provides activities on fisheries that teachers can use in their classrooms to help students learn more about them. Some of the topics included are ecosystems, ocean food chains, fish prints and more.
Handout
BiologyWise

Biology Wise: A Brief Guide to the Steps of the Carbon Cycle

For Students 4th - 8th
Outlines the steps for the movement of carbon along the carbon cycle through photosynthesis, food chains, being dissolved into the ocean, the decomposition of organisms, fossil fuel formation, industrial use of fossil fuels, carbon...
PPT
Tom Richey

Slide Share: Ecosystems and You

For Students 9th - 10th
Slideshow that looks at energy flow in an ecosystem. Explains what an ecosystem is, how energy flows through it, the producers and consumers of energy, and food chains. Links to a video about plastic debris in the ocean.
Handout
World Wildlife Fund for Nature

Wwf: Our Earth: Ecoregions: Habitats: Oceans

For Students 3rd - 8th
An introduction and overview of the ocean habitat, the largest habitat on Earth. Includes links to information about three animals that live in this habitat.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Why Are Sharks So Awesome?

For Students 9th - 10th
Sharks have been celebrated as powerful gods by some native cultures. And today, sharks are recognized as apex predators of the world's ocean. What is it that makes these fish worthy of our ancient legends and so successful in the seas?...