Students build ocean floor structures, then map and model an unfamiliar ocean floor. They are introduced to bathymetry and sea floor features, and discover one of the most widely usd methods for studying the ocean.

Students examine the components of a sonar system. For this physical science lesson students explain how multibeam and sidescan sonar systems are useful to ocean explorers.  Students simulate sonar operations in an activity using a...

Students create a two-dimensional topographic map and a 3-D model of landforms.  In this creative lesson students create 2 and 3-D objects and learn how to interpret the data from these things. 

Students describe major topographic features on the Patton Seamount, and interpret two-dimensional topographic data. They create three-dimensional models of landforms from two-dimensional topographic data.