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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracking Narwhals in Greenland The Ocean Unicorn

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners 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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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Michigan Food: From Farm to You

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students recognize Michigan on a map and understand how its climate is affected by the Great Lakes. In this Michigan food lesson, students play a trivia game to identify the produce of Michigan. Students relate the climate in each part...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Start at the Very Beginning

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students explore ocean ecosystems. In this cross curriculum art and oceans lesson, students create a collage featuring three-finger algae using sand paper, tissue paper, and construction paper.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Inside Current

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore ocean currents and wind patterns. They discover the concept of systems to show how change in one component of a body of water, causes change in other components in that system. Students describe positive and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Global Change — Change and Cycles Where Land, Air and Water Meet

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students participate in an experiment to define a parts-per-billion solution. In this ecology lesson, students select a second substance to create a parts-per-billion solution and observe and record their results. Students work in groups...
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Activity
NASA

Water Works on a Blue Planet

For Students 6th - 12th Standards
Keep within a water budget. Learners find out that less than 2.5% of Earth's water is available to drink—and that there is a fixed amount of water. Scholars read an interesting article comparing the available water to a game of Monopoly...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
After challenging themselves to correctly choose the form of erosion and length of time required for a given landform to develop, earth science class members model mechanical and chemical weathering with various lab demonstrations over...
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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 viewing...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Coral Bleaching in the Caribbean

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students use authentic satellite data on the NASA website to determine when the sea surface temperature meets the criteria to induce coral bleaching.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stronger Hurricanes

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explore hurricanes, the factors that contribute to them, and the role warmer sea surface temperatures may have on them. They perform experiments to observe energy transfer. Students explore the possible causes and effects of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bats and Hot Dogs

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students identify patterns and relationships from data that is collected and solve variables.  In this investigative lesson students study ocean productivity, the nitrogen cycle and phytoplankton then answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are You Getting Thirsty?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study droughts and how they affect communities and coastal ecosystems.  In this ecosystems lesson students use data to examine drought conditions in certain areas. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Water Mixing and Sinking

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate the role of temperature and salinity in determining seawater density. They use a Temperature-Salinity Diagram to examine the effects of mixing on density.
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Lesson Plan
Carnegie Mellon University

Ocean Acidification

For Teachers 9th - 12th
After brainstorming what they know about ocean acidification, youngsters place eggs in acid to determine the effects on calcium-containing organisms, and add carbon dioxide to solutions with sea shell material to discover the impact on pH. 
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Lesson Plan
Maine Math & Science Alliance

Earth as a System

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Ecosystem, human body system, weather system. We hear the word system a lot, but what does it really mean? In the activity, pairs or groups of learners discuss how a bicycle is a system and then analyze objects in their classroom and...
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Activity
Curated OER

The Gopher Tortoise

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Can you believe the gopher tortoise was around when the dinosaurs were walking the Earth. Learn all about this creature that is one of Florida's most popular reptiles. Hands-on-activities and a glossary full of scientific terms make this...
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App
World Wildlife Fund

WWF Together

For Students 3rd - 6th Standards
Animal lovers will enjoy this award-winning picturesque app which educates children and adults about the threats of endangered species.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Losing An Island

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine carbon dioxide and determine the impact of greenhouse gases on the earths spheres.  In this pollution lesson students complete a lab activity to see the impact of gases on the environment, 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Currents and Sea Surface Temperature

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students use satellite data to explore sea surface temperature. They explore the relationship between the rotation of the Earth, the path of ocean current and air pressure centers. After studying maps of sea surface temperature and ocean...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Breaking it Down

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers will identify the factors that contribute to erosion and weathering. They will start by differentiating between chemical and mechanical weathering. They then apply what they learned by playing the online jeopardy game. Key...
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Interactive
US Geological Survey

The Water Cycle for Schools: Beginner Ages

For Students K - 3rd Standards
Explore a day in the life of a water droplet. An interactive infographic helps scholars learn how water cycles work from precipitation all the way around to condensation. Learners hover over each step of the cycle to read more as they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Liquid Rainbow

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Young scholars develop their own techniques for drawing a small sample of solutions into a straw. They hypothesize ways to increase the density of water, and discuss how salt-free rainwater tends to float on top of salty seawater.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Incorporating 3D Visualizations into Your Classroom

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students make observations through 3-D visualizations. They explore scientific and geologic processes through the use of 3-D pictures.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chemistry And The Nitrogen Cycle

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students investigate the factors that compose the nitrogen cycle. The harmful effects of acid rain and ozone depletion are also discussed in the lesson. Students define the nutrient that is often limiting to plant growth through...