Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Do You Have a Sinking Feeling

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars determine how marine archaeologists use historical and archaeological data to draw inferences about shipwrecks. Students plot the position of a shipwrecked vessel, and draw inferences about the shipwreck from artifacts...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Difference?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate volcanic processes at convergent and divergent tectonic plate boundaries. They read and analyze diagrams, complete a worksheet, and write an essay.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Robot, Can Do That

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how underwater robots can be used to assist scientific explorations. They read and discuss an article, conduct Internet research, complete a worksheet, and present an oral report.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracking Narwhals in Greenland The Ocean Unicorn

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

Frozen Out

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners investigate how climate changes affect top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems. Students complete a worksheet and write a report based on their responses to a scientific paper.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Good, The Bad, and the Arctic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the social, economic and environmental consequences that might result from Arctic climate change. Students identify and discuss at least three consequences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Burp: Where's the Proof?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research the evidence for prehistorically formed methane hydrates contributing to global warming. In this climate change lesson, students work in groups to research methane hydrates, global warming, The Cambrian Explosion,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Census of Marine Life

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain diversity and abundance in marine life. In this oceanic biology lesson, students collect information for various geographical areas to collect a census of marine life.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

It's the Law

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars explain various scientific laws used in SCUBA diving. In this theory based lesson plan, students examine and explain how temperature, density, and salinity relate to SCUBA diving using various scientific laws to engage...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My Wet Robot

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design an underwater vehicle. In this engineering lesson, students will design an underwater robot that includes specific systems for it to function properly. Each group will present their prototype to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Down There

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students write an essay about the coral reefs. In this oceanography lesson plan, students investigate the reef of Bonaire and compare it to reefs that are not thriving. Students then explore the differences that contribute to the...
Lesson Plan
NOAA

What's New?

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

Life on the Hardbottom

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students find similarities and differences between a biotrope habitat and an ecosystem.  In this hardbottom biotrope lesson, students research and respond to inquiry questions about a biotrope.  Students identify three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's the Connection?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain hardground communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea ecosystem lesson, students investigate the connection between deep-sea ecosystems and petroleum deposits. They discuss the relationship between hydrocarbon...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oil Floats, Right?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students examine the properties in oil in water. In this mixture lesson, students read about the Lophelia II 2010: Cold Seeps and Deep Reef Expedition and look at images of deep sea ecosystems. They experiment or participate in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where's the Energy

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research energy conversions. In this energy lesson, students describe the basic operation of a steam engine.  They explain the energy conversions in the steam engine's operation. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reduced Fare

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discover the relationship between tectonic plate boundaries and the communities of life that thrive at such boundaries. In this biology lesson plan, students find that methane from oxidized carbon in sediments provides...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tell-Tale Plume

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine hydrothermal vents. In this ocean lesson, students identify changes in physical and chemical properties of sea water caused by hydrothermal vents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

When Plates Collide

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students investigate tectonic plates.  In this geology and geography lesson, students construct convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries using oobleck, foam, and tile. A large amount of background information and relevant...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pleistocene Mammals

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research the causes of the extinction of Pleistocene mammals.  For this Pleistocene mammals lesson, students read essays to understand the Pleistocene epoch. Students write an essay about the personal impact of this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Robot Ranger

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students participate in an experiment to understand how robotic systems can estimate distances.  In this robotic ranger lesson, students measure the the time it takes for and object to move back and forth.  Students will use a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Deep Lights

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students investigate materials that emit light. In this deep ocean lesson, students compare and contrast materials that emit light under certain conditions and infer the light-producing process. They explain three ways this evidence is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain bioluminescence. In this life science lesson, students discuss bioluminescence and conjure examples of organisms that carry this trait and how it is useful in their environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shipwreck Mystery

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars draw inferences about a shipwreck.  For this marine archaeologist lesson, students examine historical and archaeological data to draw inferences about the age and identity of shipwrecks.