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.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Secrets of the Ocean Realm

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site students can read about sea creatures and ocean plant life, and see pictures of each.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Ocean Planet

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A series of lesson plans designed to be used with the Smithsonian Ocean Planet exhibit (available online). Lesson topics include marine ecosystems, pollution of ocean water, animal strandings, and literature.
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
Science Struck

Science Struck: A Helpful Guide to Understand the Photic Zone

For Students 9th - 10th
The photic zone is the upper layer of the ocean where sunlight can penetrate and support photosynthesis. This article explains the characteristics of this zone, the food chain that exists there, the adaptations of the plants and animals,...
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
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.
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
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.
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...