Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Reflections of the Sea

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students, after listening to a selection of Gulliver's Travels, complete a worksheet about basic terms associated with boats, ships, and sailing. They create flag after researching semaphore flagging systems.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make Your Own Paper Bag Manatee Puppet

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this science craft worksheet, students learn about the Florida manatee by constructing a paper bag puppet with extra pattern pieces for the head and flippers. Students read the information and study the drawings about manatees, then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"Five Little Seeds"

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete various activities related to the plant life cycle. They read the book "The Tiny Seed," read and discuss the poem "Five Little Seeds," complete a "Plantenstein Mystery" and other online activities, write and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I, Robot, Can Do That!

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners describe the three types of underwater robots and the advantages and disadvantages of using them.  In this underwater lesson students are given a task and identify the best robot for the job. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Search

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students research topics related to space and the planets using the Internet. They explore various websites, construct scale models of the solar system, and create a travel brochure using HyperStudio computer software.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teaching Lewis and Clark: Tribal Cultures and Homelands

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine the attributes of the tribes that inhabited the Columbia River Basin. In this Lewis and Clark lesson plan, students participate in a classroom simulation that requires them to participate in a seasonal round, in which...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christopher Columbus

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Young scholars read about the good and bad aspects of Christopher Columbus in Jean Fritz's book, "Where do you think you're going, Christopher Columbus?" They conduct and analyze a survey about common myths and create a pop-up book.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shifting Coastlines

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students study North Carolina's changing coastline during the Paleoindian and Archaic periods and determine the positions of the coastline at different times and decide what types of archaeological information has been lost due to rising...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Climate Change: Is there a Controversy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore climate changes. In this climate changes instructional activity, students research what causes changes. Students search the Internet, summarize reports they find and create a poster with the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Habitats and Adaptations

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners research and describe the habitat and adaptations of a reef animal. After the student is assigned a habitat, they design and draw a cresture adapted to eat each food and to live in each habitat.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rust Never Sleeps

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate oxidation-reduction reactions involving iron by conducting an experiment in which they expose iron filings to different atmospheric and ocean conditions. They relate the results to the oxidation banding patterns seen...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Confronting Two Challenges-One Physical, One Intellectual

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine how the author confronted the challenges of a new language and a new culture. They examine how the author's penchant for running featured in his adjustment to the culture of Fuling and in his learning of the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Under the Sea Coloring Page

For Students K
In this coloring worksheet, students color a picture of underwater life including fish, starfish, and coral. This can be used for an ocean related theme.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Marine Life Match-up

For Students 5th - 6th
In this science learning exercise, students match the names of oceanic and coastal creatures with their descriptions. No information is given on the page.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mighty Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway System

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars participate in a variety of activities in a unit about the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway System. They create a diorama, read related stories, and correspond with other classes located in other port cities along the St...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Knowledge Quiz

For Students 4th - 6th
In this oceans quiz activity, students complete a 10 question multiple choice quiz covering a variety of concepts related to the ocean.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food for Thought

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Learners understand the importance of each member of a food chain through a game.  In this food chains lesson, students receive background information and then play a game to simulate what happens in the food chain of an endangered...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Diatom Ooze

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore seafloor sediment. In this ocean environment lesson, students describe the characteristics of different types of seafloor sediment and oozes. They compare and discuss locations of sediments and oozes by plotting the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Types of Scientists

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, students match each type of scientist listed in the left-had column to its correct description found in the right-hand column. There are 34 different scientists to match on the sheet.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Biomes

For Students 5th - 12th
In this biomes worksheet, students review the characteristics of aquatic biomes and terrestrial biomes. This worksheet has 12 fill in the blank, 6 multiple choice, and 4 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

For Creative Minds: What Makes an Animal a Mammal?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students read about categories of mammals and their features. Students then construct a marine animal, using given print outs in the lesson. Students then create adaptations for their mammal, using a web site reference for guidance.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Reading: Emperor Penguins

For Students 4th
In this reading comprehension worksheet, 4th graders read a one page text with facts about the Emperor penguin. Possessive words in the passage are in bold type. Students then answer 8 true and false questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Genres, Genres Everywhere

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young readers assume the role of Genre Sleuths to investigate the characteristics of folktales, fantasies, and mysteries. For this session you will need to collect a variety of books on a topic you have been studying. Groups then examine...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Just Jelly

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify common gelatinous zooplankton in the Canada Basin and their ecological role. They compare and contrast feeding strategies of at least three different types of gelatinous zooplankton.