NOAA
Introduction to the Ocean Sciences
Engage your class with a mock National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The first installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program provides an introduction to the ocean sciences, as well as to the rules of...
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Where Are All the Fish?
Young scholars identify the problems that marine life is facing today. In this marine science instructional activity, students explain how Marine Protected Areas can help the ocean and the fish. They brainstorm ways to help in the...
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Human Impact on the Life Cycle of Corals
Students study the life cycle of a coral reef. They then participate in a simulated village meeting in which they roleplay various characters who must review proposed legislation dealing with reef management.
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Journey To the Unkown
Students explore the ocean rift habitat off the Galapagos through an audio expedition, Internet research on deep sea animals, an explorer game and simulation of the exploration of the deep sea bottom. They focus on the actual NOAA...
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Blubber Gloves
The ways that animals adapt to their environments is quite remarkable. In this life science lesson, fifth graders take a look at some of the ways that aquatic animals that live in Arctic or Antarctic waters survive. They perform an...
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Fossil Fuels: Facing the Issues
Students explore energy by researching fuel usage on Earth. In this fossil fuel lesson, students define fossil fuels, the energy created by burning them, and the impact on the environment when using them. Students conduct pollution...
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Ocean Exploration
Young scholars explore whales. In this animal adaptation and whale lesson, students access prior knowledge about whales from previous lessons, then use background knowledge to predict the eating strategies of a baleen whale and a toothed...
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Under the Sea - Ocean Mammals/Fish
Learners explore the similarities and differences between ocean mammals and fish. The characteristics of the life forms observed are placed onto a graph. The classroom becomes the botom of the sea and is explored to gain the required data.
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Underwater Hide and Seek
Students explain why color patterns that are easy to see above water may be difficult to detect under water and experience the problems predators face when searching for camouflaged prey.
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Forests of the Sea
Students read about and conduct experiments to learn about the vegetation under Monterey Bay. For this Monterey Bay lesson, students read about and look at brightly colored pictures of the different types of seaweed that grows in the...
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Coral Reefs: Gardens Under the Sea
Students discover the wonders of coral reefs while listening to a book about them. In a Reading Rainbow video activity, they simulate a dive, check equipment and explore a reef. Role-playing as marine biologists, students uncover...
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Fishing For The Future
Students participate in a simulation using M&M's that highlights Garrett Hardin's concept of the "tragedy of the commons." They use the activities to study sustainability issues in the fishing industry.
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The Water Cycle and Sources of Pollution
Young scholars make an island that has a construction site on it. They spill siulated pollution and trash on top of the island and then water it to simulate rain. They will observe how the rain washes dirt, sand, and pollution off the...
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It's (Not) Just a Bug: Simulating Invasive Insect Predation on a Plant Population
Students reflect on challenges that face farmers in cultivating crops, including insects. They then simulate how crops are affected by native and non-native insect populations and the options farmers have to protect their crops. Finally,...
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Journey to the Unknown
Students explore the ocean depths. In this scenario based lesson, students pretend they are on a submarine in an unknown part of the ocean. By using clues the class discusses and determines where they are in the ocean. They follow up...
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Properties of the Ocean: Measurement
Learners simulate the development of an underwater amusement park after reading background on Coral Reef State Park. They decide which factors they would need to consider such as the ocean floor, currents, wave patterns and water...
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A WebQuest about Ocean
Fifth graders explore the realm of an ocean through an ocean WebQuest. The Problem Based Learning Theory is used within this lesson. They complete several activities on the different concepts of oceans. Students are challenged to solve...
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Chesapeake Bay Population Studies
Pupils determine how to use a quarter meter quadrant to find population density, relative density, frequency and how to calculate a diversity index while participating in a virtual field trip. They study how to establish a Correlation of...