Fifth graders, after brainstorming why conservation of resources is important, distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources. They make a list of different types of natural resources on the board and then sort them into two...

Learners use the internet to research the characteristics of hurricanes. Using this information, they read about past hurricanes and use a weather map to trace current disturbances in the oceans. They also discuss hurricane safety and...

Students sing the continent song and locate oceans between the continents on a map. They read "They Earth is Mostly Ocean" and copy notes into their journals. They watch a demonstration of water and saltwater evaporated to see what is...

Students explore an estuarine system to gather data on density driven currents. This type of current is contrasted with temperature and wind driven currents.

Students identify the sources of water on Earth. In this life science lesson, students list the different plants and animals that live in the ocean. They explore marine objects in the lab and draw them.

Learners identify ocean floor features. In this earth science lesson, students predict the object inside a close box to make them realize the difficulties scientists faced then. They label the different zones of the ocean floor after the...

Learners examine the Michigan state quarter and identify land and water on the quarter. They locate the Great Lakes and other bodies of water on a map. They compare and contrast streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans.

Students examine the different types of barrier reefs and how they are formed.  In this barrier reef lesson plan students complete several activities on coral reefs.

Students examine the Michigan quarter reverse and differentiate between bodies of water. On copies of the quarter reverse, they color the land green and the water blue. After observing photos of water bodies, they complete a worksheet...

High schoolers investigate various careers in the field of oceanography. They conduct Internet research, record data on a spreadsheet, write a justification to explain why someone should accept a position found online, and write a...

Pupils view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...

Students simulate bioluminescence in the marine environment. In this marine science lesson, students investigate how animals in the deep ocean communicate with each other. They explain the function of bioluminescence among marine organisms.

Students investigate the history of Liverpool and its place next to the sea. They focus upon the maritime industries found there while conducted guided research. Then students have class discussion of sea occupations and traveling.

Ecosystem, human body system, weather system. We hear the word system a lot, but what does it really mean? In the activity, pairs or groups of learners discuss how a bicycle is a system and then analyze objects in their classroom and...

Did you know that cutting down your shower by one minute a day can save five gallons of water? Learn about water conservation with a science reading activity. After kids finish reading key terms and water-saving tips in a reading...

Explore the world (our world) of melting ice caps. Why are these caps melting? What is the effect of melting ice caps? Dive into the ever-present issue of global warming with a resource that has learners looking at data and participating...

Class members are transformed into explorers as they work in groups to locate hidden items and map their journey along the way. They then leave clues for other groups of students to follow, and ultimately discover how past explorations...

What natural resources are available in your area? Your learners can consider this question after reading a brief passage about natural and renewable resources. After reading, class members respond to five questions related to the reading.

The last activity in the series of five is a short one where individuals show what they've learned about the causes and effects of climate change. Working independently, they fill in a graphic organizer, then compare their notes with a...

How can organisms light up in water? Bioluminescence is light produced in a chemical reaction that can occur in an organism's body. First, learners determine what happens to light/color as you move into the deep ocean. In groups, they...

Five short answer questions follow an informational reading passage that details the three different types of rocks—sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic—and their rock cycle.

What is the difference between a Cold War and a Hot War? Scholars research the beginning of the Cold War. They analyze diary entries as well as excerpts from various events during the 45-year standoff. To finish, they prepare final...

Five questions challenge scholars to make inferences after reading a poem, "Picture-Books in Winter" by Robert Louis Stevenson. 

Young scholars study that white light (visible light) is comprised of all colors of the spectrum. They study that the quantity of light decreases with increasing depth in the ocean. They study that the quality of light changes with...