Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Origins: The Role of Archaeology in Reconstructing the Past

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students read information about the ancient origins of art and archaeology with a focus on the Malian culture. In this art origins lesson, students read background information for the topic and compare ancient and contemporary objects....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Reefs: Gardens Under the Sea

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is It Getting Hot In Here?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students describe several factors and ways climate change could effect communities.  In this climate change instructional activity students research climate change and complete a worksheet. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hypothermia on the High Seas

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students identify and present the effects on humans when the body temperature falls, demonstrate and explain how the body loses heat, and understand hypothermia and cold water survival techniques.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Natural Connection to the Azores

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students use primary sources to examine whaling voyages, biology, and geography. In this geography lesson, students analyze ship logs and plot locations of animals and determine routes using latitude and longitude.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

For the Last 10,000 Years...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and discuss why they have important cultural artifacts.  In this estuarine weather lesson students use the Internet and complete a worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can You Swim in Chocolate Water?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discss water pollution and its affects on animals. They watch a demonstration using a plastic fish in a fish bowl in which various types of water pollution are illustrated.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's A Water Column Profile?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate water column data. In this earth science and seawater lesson, students determine how temperature, salinity, and density have an impact on sea water by viewing and analyzing data obtained from a number of websites....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Lights

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate materials that emit light. In this deep ocean lesson, students compare and contrast materials that emit light under certain conditions and infer the light-producing process. They explain three ways this evidence is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hawaii's Sea Turtle Exploration

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students investigate the life cycle and body parts of Hawaii's sea turtles. In this sea turtle lesson, students watch a video about the turtle life cycle and make a model of a "Honu," sea turtle. They complete an associated worksheet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea and Ice Salinity

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners conduct an experiment.  In this salinity lesson, students learn about sea ice, why it is important and how changing amounts can affect the sea.  Learners conduct an experiment to find out the effects of salinity on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wild Arctic

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore key terms, including food web and food chain. They discuss Arctic plants and animals, devise at least three Arctic food chains and create a food web showing connections among Arctic life.
Lesson Plan
Aquarium of the Pacific

Turn a Cow into a Whale

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore animals that might have a common ancestor and resemble one another.  For this cow and whale lesson, 3rd graders recognize the similarities between the whale and the cow.  Students complete worksheets based...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceans-Coral Reefs

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders investigate coral reefs. In this oceanology lesson, 2nd graders discuss what constitutes a coral reef and the wildlife that lives there. Students watch a video about coral reefs and take an online quiz.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Fish or Not to Fish?

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Young scholars demonstrate the decision-making process for marine reserves designations. In this role-playing instructional activity students analyze maps and data relating to a proposed reserve. They formulate the best decisions based...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Piece of Cake

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine life under the sea to discover coral gardens and microhabitats. They demonstrate learning by creating an edible marine ecosystem with a sheet cake, icing, and different candies.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Diverse is That?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss biological diversity in ocean communities. In this diversity lesson, students examine the variety of organisms compared to relative abundance. They will write an analysis and discuss their findings with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can Photosynthesis Occur at Saturn?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify the different requirements for photosynthesis to take place. For this space science lesson, students simulate conditions in Saturn to investigate if photosynthesis is possible there. They use data and observations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fishing for Solutions

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the many ecological and economic issues related to over fishing the world's marine resources. Working in committees, students research the related topics of equipment and fishing techniques.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ping!

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders study side-scan sonar and discover how it can be used to locate objects underwater. They complete a sonar simulation activity in which they create and map mystery landscapes inside shoeboxes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Narrative vs. Expository Texts

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use examples of narrative and expository text to analyze and compare the two styles. Students read articles on life in Lesotho and Madagascar and use graphic organizers and discussion to compare them. Young scholars write...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Play Under the Sea

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Pupils explore the hazards of ecosystems and utilize their writing skills to create a studenT book. Threats to the ecosystem of the coral reef are discussed and used as a model for the research of the group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sound of Calm

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the relationships that exist between ocean currents, wind and climate. Using those relationships, they discuss how they affect the oceans. They create their own music to represent the sounds of the ocean and share them...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Desalination: Creating a Solar Still

For Teachers 4th - 6th
To better understand how solar power can aid in creating desalinated drinking water, the class creates a model still. They will build a model of a solar still, make observations, and discuss how the process works. While the idea behind...