Lesson Plan
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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....
Unit Plan
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At the Beach

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students answer a variety of question about going to the beach. They discuss vocabulary words associated with the beach. They listen to some music of waves and seagulls while the teacher reads a short story. They pretend to pack a...
Lesson Plan
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The Water Cycle

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students access prior knowledge of the water cycle by completing a KWL. In this water cycle lesson, students follow the movement of water through the water cycle.
Lesson Plan
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On the Mayflower Lesson Plan

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars build a model of the Mayflower inside of the classroom in order to learn about the voyage of the Mayflower and the hardships faced by its passengers. In this American history lesson, students work in small groups to...
Lesson Plan
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Oceans

For Teachers K
Students become aware of the differences between ocean water and lake water by smelling, tasting and seeing. They distinguish between land and bodies of water on a globe and gain increased awareness of oceans and life.
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Great Lakes, Great Careers

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Pupils play a question-asking game to investigate careers relating to marine and aquatic science, then conduct research to further investigate the career of their choice—examples range from marine veterinarian to underwater...
Lesson Plan
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Nature Superfish

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars study the behavior or ocean animals called  billfish. In this life science lesson, students create their own documentary about a local animal. They share their videos with the entire school.
Lesson Plan
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Oceans and Coasts

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students explore the topic of marine pollution. They define key vocabulary words, list examples of marine pollution, complete a true/false handout, read an article, and participate in a class discussion.
Lesson Plan
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Water Layering and Circulation

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students examine relationships and interactions between different types of water. They experiment with colored water of different temperature and salinity and discuss how the results relate to real ocean currents.
Lesson Plan
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Bang! You're Alive

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the Big Bang Theory and the Theory of Plate Tectonics. In this history of life instructional activity, students explain two ways the Theory of Plate Tectonics and the Big Bang are of direct benefits to humans.
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Salmon Homing Instincts

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students identify the stages of the salmon life cycle. In this fish lesson, students experience first hand what it would be like to be a returning salmon attempting to identify a home stream by smell.
Lesson Plan
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Take Only Photos and Leave Only Bubbles: Learn About American History from a Sunken Spanish Galleon

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students simulate the research process of investigating a shipwreck. In small groups, they conduct Internet research, and develop and write a proposal for excavation of the archaeological site.
Lesson Plan
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Fish Fashion 101

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners explore fish anatomy. In this fish anatomy and adaptation lesson, students define and identify the location of fish body parts. Learners add these parts of a fish's anatomy to a life-sized fish costume worn by a student. ...
Lesson Plan
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Depth Line

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students use adding machine tape to plot increasing ocean depths and deep sea historical events.
Lesson Plan
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Oceanography: Understanding the Relationship Among Ocean Food Chains

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore relationships among organisms involved in ocean food chains to investigate interdependence of the organisms.
Lesson Plan
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You Are What You Eat: Plastics and Marine Life

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study the different types of plastics and see which ones sink or remain buoyant.  In this ocean environmental lesson students complete several handouts, and view a film on PBS.
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Ocean Temperatures

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students list data collected by marine buoys and the different kinds of moored buoys. They describe how data is transmitted worldwide. They explain the difference between near shore and offshore air and water temperatures.
Lesson Plan
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Exploring National Marine Sanctuaries

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students conduct Internet research of the living organisms in national marine sanctuaries, and the resources protected in the sanctuaries. Students gather information about each of the sanctuaries and make an oral presentation and poster...
Lesson Plan
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Ocean Creature Classification

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Learners develop a Taxonomic Key for marine invertebrates from pictures they are given after practicing together with common objects, such as shoes. They then compare their key to a provided Ocean Invertebrates Taxonomic Key.
Lesson Plan
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Where's the Oxygen?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers study seawater and how temperature and salinity influence it.  In this oxygen lesson students complete a lab activity on dissolved oxygen. 
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Marine Debris and Me

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the environmental issues that pertain to the marine environment. In this research ocean landfills lesson students come up with alternative means of disposal. 
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The Exploration Age

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars discover information about the early explorers. In this Exploration Age lesson, students watch "The Great Age of Exploration'" and respond to the provided questions about the video.
Interactive
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ESL: Sea Animals Activity

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this ESL sea animals learning exercise, students watch a video about sea animals, then identify names of animals shown in pictures.
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Marine Poetry

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students identify characteristics of good poetry and compose their own.  In this marine poetry lesson, students are introduced to several different types of poetry with a marine theme.  After discussing the elements...