Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Barracuda

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students explore oceanography by researching the great barracuda.  In this animal life lesson, students read several vocabulary terms dealing with ocean life and examine a drawing of a barracuda.  Students examine the many...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Under Pressure: How Deep Can They Dive?

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore geography by conducting an in-class experiment. In this deep sea exploration lesson, students identify the different zones of the ocean and utilize water bottles, masking tape and scissors to conduct a water pressure...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Intertidal Zone: Tide and How Creatures Survive

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore oceanography by completing science worksheets. In this tide pools lesson, students discuss the forces of the tide pools, the animals that live within them, and the impact they have on the rest of the ocean. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Are Open Ocean Organisms Structured for Their Environment?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore biology by conducting an animal dissection. In this oceanography lesson, students identify the life cycle of a squid and other animals that are involved with commercial fishing. Students dissect a squid in class and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring National Marine Sanctuaries

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners research marine ecosystems by creating class presentations.  In this oceanography instructional activity, students research the different locations of marine sanctuaries by identifying them on a transparency map in class....
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NOAA

Introduction to the Ocean Sciences

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Engage your class with a mock National Ocean Sciences Bowl. The first installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program provides an introduction to the ocean sciences, as well as to the rules of...
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NOAA

Plate Tectonics II

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, island arcs, mountain ranges, earthquakes, volcanoes ... there are so many features associated with plate tectonics. The 14th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography...
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NOAA

The Dead Zone

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The fifth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program defines dead zones and how they form. Pupils then examine data from the Gulf of Mexico to determine dead zone formation.
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NOAA

Ocean Acidification

For Teachers 9th - 12th
If tap water is more acidic than ocean water, why are we so concerned about ocean acidification? The third installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on carbon dioxide levels in...
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NOAA

Technology I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Isn't technology great? The 12th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program introduces technology that marine scientists use. Pupils take part in an activity using conductivity,...
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NOAA

Ocean Layers I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How is it possible for ocean water to have layers? The sixth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program investigates factors that cause different water densities to occur. Experiments...
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NOAA

Currents

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learn how ocean currents are vital to humans and marine life. The eighth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program, focuses on ocean currents and how they affect global climate. The...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

Wet Maps

For Teachers 5th - 6th
How do oceanographers make maps under water? Junior explorers discover the technologies and processes involved in creating bathymetric maps in part three of a five-part series designed for fifth- and sixth-grade pupils. The lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Lives in the Open Ocean and Where Do They Live?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore oceanography by participating in a flash card activity. In this ocean inhabitant lesson, students define a list of ocean related vocabulary terms and answer ocean geography study questions. Students utilize organism...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nutrient Cycles

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the circle of sea life by creating nitrogen compound models.  In this oceanography lesson, students discuss sea creatures and where their waste goes.  Students identify nitrogen cycles in the ocean by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Journey of the Pacific Salmon

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore oceanography by researching migrating fish. In this Pacific Salmon lesson, students participate in a board game activity in which they move a salmon through their annual journey to the spawning habitat upstream. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Count

For Teachers 11th - 12th
In this science worksheet, students read about how scientists determine the total number of fish in a population. Students also participate in a related math activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Conditions at Sea Data Activity

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students study how to forecast sea conditions.  In this oceanography lesson students complete a class activity on wave making. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceanography-Related Careers: To Be or Not to Be. . .

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate various careers in the field of oceanography. They conduct Internet research, record data on a spreadsheet, write a justification to explain why someone should accept a position found online, and write a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History and Oceanography

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify the accomplishments in oceanography from 17th-19th century, construct a time line with the scientists in chronological order, and discuss the parallels of oceanographic contributions with those in other areas of science...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oceanography Class Quilt

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students create and observe a collage of oceanography topics that be placed on quilt tiles in a culmination art project to represent information learned.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Model Submarine

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners form lab groups and work together to construct a submarine out of a soda bottle. Next, they observe its action in a tub of water as the inner pressure is changed. It is an engaging experiment. However, links to outside resources...
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NOAA

Vertebrates I

For Teachers 9th - 12th
I spy a spine. The 19th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program explores vertebrate species, such as sharks and other fish. Learners take part in an activity evaluating the...
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NOAA

Invertebrates

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Crabs and lobsters ... yum! The 18th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on invertebrate marine life. After the lecture slideshow, learners conduct an activity to sample...