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Where Did They Come From?
Give science learners nine questions about the biogeography of hydrothermal vents and turn them loose to research this fascinating habitat. Working in cooperative groups, they prepare a report that addresses each of the questions. A...
NOAA
I Can't Breathe!
The Gulf of Mexico dead zone, an area of low oxygen that kills marine life, costs the United States $82 million every year. Young scientists research anoxic ocean environments then come up with a hypothesis for the cause of the Gulf of...
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Habitats
Second graders identify characteristics of various habitats. In this habitats lesson plan, 2nd graders read Where the Forest Meets the Sea and Swimmy to identify the settings of different habitats. Students construct murals of different...
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Exploring Deep Ocean Habitats: Alien Invasion
Young scholars compare and contrast "alien species" and "invasive species."Students explain positive and negative impacts associated with introduction of non-native species, and give a specific example of species that produce t
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Tracking Narwhals in Greenland The Ocean Unicorn
Students study the ecology, habitats, geographic range and feeding habits of narwhals. They determine at least three reasons for the decline in the narwhal populations and complete the accompanying worksheets.
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So, What's it Doing Today?
Students describe short-term variations in oceanographic parameters in the Gulf Stream. In this ocean habitats lesson students use satellite imagery to obtain information in the Gulf Stream.
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Rockpool Adaptations
In this rockpool adaptations worksheet, learners study a rockpool habitat and compare it to their own habitat. Students use their senses to describe a rockpool habitat. They bring in items from home and items from a beach to make their...
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Entering the Twilight Zone
Students describe major features of cold seep communities and list organisms that are found in these communities. In this water habitat instructional activity students examine trophic levels, describe the process of chemosynthesis and...
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Deep Sea Vents
Students study the vent and non vent deep sea and see the differences in habitats. In this investigative lesson plan students complete a worksheet and work in groups.
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Climate Change & Coral Activities
Students study how the ocean stabilizes our planet's climates and how global warming is becoming a threat to this fine balance. In this climate change lesson, students identify that fossil fuel emissions are responsible for global...
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What Was for Dinner?
Students examine energy obtaining strategies that are used by organisms in deep reef communities. In this ocean activity students complete an isotope activity.
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Oceans-Coral Reefs
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.
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Where Are All the Fish?
Students identify the problems that marine life is facing today. In this marine science lesson, students explain how Marine Protected Areas can help the ocean and the fish. They brainstorm ways to help in the conservation effort.
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Oil Spill Dangers
Pupils analyze the effects of oil spills on our environment and develop action plans to protect animals and habitats.
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Keep it Complex
Students consider the importance of biodiversity in the ocean layers. In this oceanography lesson, students use the Shannon-Weaver diversity index to analyze data. Students analyze the information collected and write a report offering...
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Sea Turtle Savvy
Students explore sea turtles. They create paper plate sea turtles and brainstorm other organisms that live in the sea turtle's habitat. They role-play scenes from a nonfiction book, A Baby Sea Turtle's Journey. They play a game...
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Ring Detectives
Learners describe the overall flow of the Gulf Stream, and explain how it affects biological communities in the North Atlantic Ocean.Students describe Gulf Stream rings, and explain how they are formed.Learners be abl
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Chewin' in the Chesapeake
Students examine a web page on food webs and select a habitat to research. In this research lesson plan students identify the organisms found in the food web and present their findings to the class.
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Faking It
Middle school earth scientists describe the behavior of the Coriolis force. They compare and contrast conditions under which the Coriolis force has a significant impact with conditions under which it has very little. They model the...
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The Journey of the Pacific Salmon
Students examine the journey of the Pacific salmon. In this salmon species lesson, students review the stages of the salmon life cycle and conduct an experiment to determine how the water and habitat changes during each stage.
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Modeling Estuaries
Students create a model estuary. In this modeling estuaries lesson, students identify characteristics and mix water of varying densities. Students form a hypothesis, conduct an experiment, and analyze the results.
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Frozen Seas
Students research animal life in the frozen seas. In this researched based lesson, students use the Internet to create a poster about an animal that lives in an Arctic or Antarctic environment. Students will focus on the behavioral and...
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Going for the Green
Learners use satellite imagery to obtain information on chlorophyll concentration at selected locations in the Earth's oceans.Students explain the relationship between chlorophyll concentration and primary production.Studen
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Who's Your Neighbor?
Pupils recognize and identify some of the fauna groups found in deep-sea coral reef communities. They describe common feeding strategies used by benthic animals in deep-sea coral reef communities.Students be able