This unit is so cool, you won't be able to "kelp" yourself! Intended for all grades, this science and activity guide for teachers offers a unique opportunity to understand kelp's role as a valuable ecological resource. Teachers and...

Students investigate human impact on coastal environments. In this coastal environment lesson, students observe human impact on coastal environments. Students sort, classify, and chart marine debris collected on a local beach.

Students consider the life cycle of certain plastics products and propose improved recycling legislation in their own communities.

In this science worksheet, students look for the information in order to answer the basic facts concerning common marine life using puzzles.

In this Gulf oil spill worksheet, students examine a 4-page article regarding basic facts about the oil spill as well as photographs of clean-up efforts.

Buoys around our coastlines are equipped with sensory devices which monitor temperature, salinity, and water pressure. Emerging earth scientists examine some of this data and relate salinity to the electrical conductivity of the surface...

Students use a light microscope to observe the organisms living in a sample of ocean or fresh water. Students create a drawing of the organisms that they observe. Students then discuss the different body plans of the organisms and the...

Students create a 'human river' by arranging themselves into a river pattern. Each student selects an article to represent a pollutant such as paper, book, or pencil. Students at the source of the river pass their pollutant on to the...

Learners plot the locations of fallout from two disasters that polluted much of the world's air. They plot the ash fallout from the 1980 Mt. St. Helen's eruption to see what the wind patterns in the United States look like overall. Next...

Students participate in a Beach Field Study in which the analyze the affect pollution is having on beaches and the animals that live there. Students focus specifically on the damage cigarette butts are causing on the environment.

Students investigate the importance of ocean resources and what humans need to do to maintain a healthy ocean.  In this oceans lesson students participate in an activity after viewing a PowerPoint presentation on the Earth's...

Pupils study the environmental issues that pertain to the marine environment. In this research ocean landfills lesson students come up with alternative means of disposal. 

There are so many topics touched upon in this Jeopardy-style science game, that it is difficult to classify! The categories include electricity, matter, ecology, earth and space, and scientific investigation. This would best be used at...

Biodiversity in some areas is more diverse than one might think. Using a two-day lesson, pupils consider the biodiversity of the Hudson Canyon and the characteristics of one organism. They begin with an analysis of the common earthworm...

When Captain John Smith visited the Chesapeake Bay in the summer of 1608, what types of animals and habitats did he encounter? Your young historians will analyze primary source documents to answer this question, as well as compare...

Did you know that California produces two thirds of the fruits and nuts consumed in the United States? That it produces almost one third of the vegetables? Did you know that scientists warn that California is facing the onset of a...

Students discover what a watershed is and which one they live in. Using the internet, they research why watersheds are important to an ecosystem and how to keep them from getting polluted. They use a map to locate various items within a...

Students consider the source of disease and parasites in West Africa. In this environmental issues lesson, students read "Working with Environmental Issues," by Fred Koehler. Students participate in an activity that requires students to...

Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. In this science instructional activity, students investigate data from the International Coastal Cleanup, identify sources of marine debris, and discover the impacts of this...

Students explore the concept of environmental stewardship. For this science lesson, students examine the environmental effects of oil spills as they replicate a contained oil spill and clean up.

Students study science. In this endangered species lesson, students examine sea turtles and actions that can be taken to help keep them alive. They work in small groups to research different species of turtles and share their information...

Students go exploring Britain's beaches. In this geography lesson, students visit selected websites to learn about specific beach habitats and the history of cleaning those beaches.

Save the oceans! The 22nd installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program focuses on laws and marine policy. Pupils take part in an activity investigating fisheries stock data.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is one of several garbage patches around the world where garbage accumulates naturally. As part of a GIS unit that combines oceanography, environmental science, and life science, class members investigate...