How does chemistry help deep-sea explorers? Part four of a five-part series of lessons from aboard the Okeanos Explorer introduces middle school scientists to technologies used in ocean exploration. Groups work together to analyze data...

Flotsam by David Wiesner and The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen, begin a reading adventure pack focusing on oceans. With story listening and thoughtful discussion, scholars complete several...

How does carbon dioxide affect the world's oceans? The final installment in a series of six lessons has pupils research ocean acidification, then conduct an experiment to witness the delicate balance that exists in our seas. Materials...

Take young scientists into the depths of the world's ocean with the second lesson of this three-part earth science series. After first drawing pictures representing how they imagine the bottom of the ocean to appear, students...

Learn the science behind ocean acidification and its effects on ocean wildlife. Young scientists conduct a laboratory investigation that monitors the acidity level of water. While burning a candle, learners capture the carbon dioxide in...

Students elicit data on the water cycle, ocean topography, and island formation in this six lesson unit. The ocean floor and the properties of water are examined through a variety of discussions and hands-on experiments.

Students determine how water and wind affect ocean currents. In this science investigation instructional activity, students follow the provided steps to enable them to consider how explorers may have used ocean currents to their advantage.

Students consider the concept of ocean pollution. In this ocean lesson plan, students participate in a hands-on demonstration in order to replicate an oil spill and its effects on marine life.

Pupils spend time examining the concept of water pressure. In groups, they research the amount of air pressure that is felt at different levels above sea level. Using a calculator, they calculate the water pressure given different ATM...

Sixth graders locate and identify the major bodies of water and waterways in the United States. Through a simulation activity, they describe how early explorers would have described their surroundings. Working in groups, they create...

Students create a mural showing ocean zones and the diversity of ocean life. They use reference books to create a list of plants and animals that would live in each zone.

Middle schoolers explore ocean habitats. In this oceanic environment lesson, students research various habitats in the ocean. Then, in a jigsaw format, middle schoolers teach others in the class about the habitat they researched.

Second graders locate the equator, bodies of water, and different continents on a globe. In this globe lesson plan, 2nd graders recall geographical information on a globe.

Students explore the water cycle. In groups, students choose a card and then pantomime the picture depicted on the card. Other group members guess the name of the cycle being performed. As a class, students share the numerous ways each...

Learners study the path and forms of water through Earth. In this water cycle lesson, students role-play water as it moves throughout the Earth. Learners play the water cycle game and complete various stations to learn about water forms...

In this water environments instructional activity, students will brainstorm limiting factors in water biomes, describe the two life zones in the ocean, and compare two types of freshwater ecosystems. This instructional activity has 9...

In this Arctic Ocean worksheet, students read a 2 page passage, then complete 10 true/false questions. Answers are included on page 4. A reference web site is given for additional activities.

Students identify common landforms and bodies of water from descriptions of distinguishing features. For this landforms and bodies of water lesson plan, students describe the features they see in the pictures given to them.

In this ocean water instructional activity, learners complete a simulation involving salt, water, string, and more to simulate what happens to salt when the salt water evaporates. Students also answer 4 questions.

Young scholars are introduced to the components and importance of the water cycle. They are shown how groundwater moves using a model. Students list 9 places on earth where water is found. They define the terms cycle and water cycle.

Pupils read aloud a play script in a group to research the water cycle. They take the parts of raindrops. The amount of raindrops can be adjusted to fit group size.

Students take an imaginary journey through the water cycle. In this water cycle instructional activity, students identify the various parts of the water cycle, listen while their teacher leads them on an imaginary journey through the...

In this water and Earth worksheet, students read a 2 page article on water and the Earth, name the clouds in 2 pictures and then list 4 sources of water in nature.

Students explore the water cycle.  In this water cycle lesson, students experiment with a variety of activities to discover what happens during the water cycle.  Students create their own animated versions of the water cycle...