NOAA
Currents
A deep ocean current circles the globe at a force that is greater than 16 times all the world's rivers combined. Groups analyze the effects of submarine topography on deep ocean current speed. They then determine how this speed affects...
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Ocean Currents
Fourth graders work in groups to research ocean currents and create posters with their findings. They locate the patterns and names of major ocean currents and identify them on a map. Students also use red pencil to show ocean currents...
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Breaking News: Virgin Voyage to the Bottom of the Ocean (7th April, 2011)
Students explore current events by reading about a trip to the bottom of the ocean. In this modern day explorer lesson, students read about Virgin CEO Richard Branson and his adventure to the bottom of the ocean. Students complete...
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Water Currents
Middle schoolers demonstrate how ocean currents are influenced by changes in density. They discover that temperature and salintiy affect density as well. They participate in a short experiment to end the lesson.
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Disaster Strikes
Students examine the devastation caused by the tsunami of 2005. In this current events activity, students consider the effects of natural disasters as they research tsunamis and the worldwide response to the December 26, 2005 tsunami....
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Climate and Change: Fitting the Facts Together and Acting on Them
Students examine climate change. For this current events lesson, students read the provided articles "Key Facts + Key Conclusions=0?" "Oil Companies Fund Climate Change Deniers," and "Acting on Climate Change Facts." Students respond to...
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How Does Your Garden Grow? Discovering How Weather Patterns Affect Natural Cycles
For the warm-up in this cool climate instructional activity, you will need to click on "Mapping" and then "US Mapping" once you arrive at NOAA's "US Climate at a Glance" page. Earth science explorers realize that 2012 was a warm winter...
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Colossal Squid Caught in Antarctic
Young scholars define the word colossal, then read a news article about an enormous squid caught off Antarctica. In this animal studies and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with dictionary and vocabulary...
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GLOBAL WARMING
Students form definitions of the greenhouse effect based on prior knowledge, class discussion, viewing diagrams, and participate in group brainstorming sessions and class discussions related to the impact of the greenhouse effect and...
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Current Events and Fish
Fifth graders examine current events impacting aquatic life in their communities. They search for newspaper, magazine and television reports for information about aquatic life in local bodies of water. Students can write letters to...
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Ocean Observation
Students describe the different methods used by MBARI researchers to study the ocean. In this ocean lesson students research the Internet and use the information they find to write in their journal.
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Down on the Ocean Floor
Learners build a map of the Atlantic Ocean floor and mark the different depths. In this ocean floor lesson students identify parts of the ocean floor that they created and discuss patterns that they see.
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Were Rivets to Blame for Titanic Sinking?
Learners answer questions about the Titanic, then read a news article about possible causes of the disaster. In this current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and vocabulary activity, then students read...
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Bike-Sharing Catches On
Students discuss how people are reducing their fuel consumption, then read a news article about a new bike-sharing program in Washington, D.C. In this current events and alternative transportation lesson, the teacher introduces the...
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Winds of Change
Students investigate extreme weather patterns. In this current events lesson, students visit selected websites to study hurricanes and their causes. Students write reports on their findings.
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Is Air a Fluid?
Students discuss the physical properties of fluids and then demonstrate that air carbon dioxide and oxygen) is a fluid by creating currents.
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Climate Change in My City
Students investigate the climate changes occurring locally, regionally and globally over the last one hundred years. They brainstorm and predict whether the current year's weather was warmer or colder than last year then check the...
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Oceans and Weather
Students analyze the impact the ocean and its currents have on weather. In this oceans and weather lesson, students analyze data comparing inland and coastal weather, and analyze satellite data for evidence of El Nino.
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Ocean Planet: Pollution Solution
Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science activity, students investigate the impact of oil spills as they discuss historical spills. Students use problem solving skills to brainstorm clean-up methods.
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Sailin' Through Time...Rhode Island, The Ocean State
Fourth graders explore the history of Rhode Island. They research famous people who brought change to the state. They explore the state song, natural resources, and colonies of the state. In groups, 4th graders create a travel brochure...
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Animal Artists
Students read a current events non-fiction article and answer vocabulary and comprehension questions about it. In this animal artists paint for fun lesson plan, students also work on dictionary skills, geography, and creative thinking by...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Seed Dispersal and Plant Migration
There are five methods of seed dispersal. They include gravity, mechanical, animal, water, and air. Scholars study seed dispersal in lesson five of the series of six. Through discussions, hands-on analysis of different seed types, and...
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Tracking El Nino Conditions
Students identify major changes in ocean temperatures during an El Nino season. In this climate lesson students complete an Internet assignment using datasets to determine periods of El Nino.
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Under The Sea
Second graders study how a tsunami is formed by underwater events such as earthquakes, volcanoes or landslides. They discuss what they knew about living and non-living things in the ocean.