Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sinking Races

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Students build plankton models and compete to see which sinks most slowly. They write, or orally present ,the adaptations they incorporated to slow the sinking rate of their organisms. Race results can be grounds for some prizes!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visual Vocabulary

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students interpret and name the vocabulary termed acted out by the mime. In this science/language arts/physical education lesson, students are given a set of vocabulary terms to discuss within their group. Next, students place all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Whale Watcher Game Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students participate in an online whale watching game. They identify the reasons for migration and describe the route. They make predictions on what would happen if the ways did not migrate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hawaii's Freshwater Animals - Species Report

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners explore biology by creating a report for the class. In this oceanography lesson, students research and identify the survival characteristics of a list of freshwater animals by utilizing the Internet and library. Learners...
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...
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.
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....
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...
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?...
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...