Curated OER
9th Grade
Ninth graders discuss the principal source of energy entering the marine ecosystem. They name some of the autotrophs at the Maui Ocean Center. Students name some of the heterotrophs at Maui Ocean Center. They are taught that plants are...
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Wildlife
The centerpiece of this lesson plan is a predator-prey simulation in which colored paperclips represent different species of animals camouflaged against a colored background. Relevant follow-up questions are provided. The activity is...
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Friend, Foe, or . . .
As a result of this lesson, upper elementary ocean explorers will be able to describe several interrelationships: symbiosis, mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. They learn that the biological richness is increased near seamounts and...
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Iron Fertilization - Pumping Iron
The theory that adding iron to ocean water may increase phytoplankton ability to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere is examined. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute is monitoring conditions off the California coast to...
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What's That?
Meant to be a simulation of a deep-sea exploration, this requires that another lesson be completed first. In that lesson, titled "Animals of the Lost City," marine biology buffs construct murals of benthic communities. In this lesson,...
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See Turtles Nest! See Turtles Hatch!
Students graph data of sea turtles hatching rates from Watamu/Malindi Marine National Park and Reserve in Kenya. In this math instructional activity, students use real life science data to calculate mean and median...
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It's Going to Blow Up!
Get your ocean explorers online, reading articles about submarine volcanoes. They answer a series of questions and take a geometery challenge in which they calculate how much of a volcano has been blown away. Make sure to explore several...
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Common Visions, Common Voices
Students analyze common recurring motifs and themes found in literature and artwork from various cultures. They research and report of the "trickster" motif found in Native american, Mayan, and Ethiopian cultures.
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Tide Pool Discovery
First graders visit the Discovery Pool, where they use their senses to investigate the different tide pool species. They touch different species. Students describe how each one feels, and what they look like in words. They draw the...
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Strange Bugs
As individuals or in small groups, marine biologists research and discuss archaea and their unusual behavior as compared to bacteria. Teach them about the chemical makeup of the cell membrane of these strange organisms. This complex...
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Water: Narrative vs. Expository Texts
A reading of vignettes written by Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Lesotho and Madagascar launches a study of the difference between narrative and expository texts. As final products, young writers craft both a narrative and an...
National Geographic
Eat an Alien Invader
If you are looking for a lesson about invasive species to ocean habitats, you have arrived! Introduce the concept to learners and have them read an article about marine invasive species. Vocabulary, relevant web links, and a cute...
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Women's History Vocabulary
For this women's history worksheet, students match the names of famous women in history with their descriptions. Students complete this for 10 names.
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Consistent Point of View (Avoid Pronoun Shifts)
He to you? She to they? Are your young writers starting their sentences with one type of pronoun and then shifting to another? Provide them with a worksheet that lets them practice maintaining a consistent point of view. The 14 exercises...
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Prince Ibrahima
Sixth graders read and utilize the facts from the story "Abd al-Rahmen Ibrahima" by Walter Dean Myers to analyze the main character's life which is ruined by conflict, jealousy, and greed. Journal entries are created in response to the...
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ROV Grid Search
Students perform activities to recreate the exploration of the sea bottom. They attach magnets to the bottom of the remote controlled car to see how many camouflaged objects it can pick up. As a class, students examine the results of...
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Graphing Iron Data
Students apply a data set to create a graph show how iron ore impacts an ecosystem. They explain how the iron effects the distribution and abundance of phytoplankton in coastal ecosystems using spreadsheet software.
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CO2 and Air Pollution
Seventh graders observe and test for the presence of carbon dioxide gas. They compare concentrations of carbon dioxide gas and conclude high concentrations of carbon dioxide gas are unhealthy for human beings.
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What is Earth Science?
This learning exercise tests general knowledge of scientific fields with a focus on those involved in earth science. Learners fill in 9 blanks using the provided word bank of scientific fields. In addition, there are 2 questions...
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OCEAN PAINTINGS
Fifth graders research animal life in a coral reef. They learn and use the wax-resist technique for painting, and create a picture of an ocean animal.
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Ocean Animals vs. Humans
Young scholars use critical thinking skills to solve word problems using ratios that allow them to compare humans to ocean animals.
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Ocean Stratigraphy Challenge
Students are asked to explain the sequence of rock and sediment types and to devise an experiment to test this hypothesis. It is intended for students with some prior knowledge of oceanography, sedimentary geology, and plate tectonics...
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A Real-Life Application of Ratio
Students discuss the concept of "aspect ratio" of the Helios Prototype. They find real life objects that are taller or shorter than them by a certain amount. They practice with ratio and measurement.
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For the Fun of It
Middle schoolers investigate author's purpose in autobiography by reading Amelia Earhart's autobiography entitled The Fun of It. Students examine character traits needed to fulfill personal goals.