Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuarine Currents

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils explore an estuarine system to gather data on density driven currents. This type of current is contrasted with temperature and wind driven currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Secrets

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the following: For centuries, people have been challenged by the mysteries that lie beneath the blue depths of our ocean planet. Very little was known about the ocean until late in the nineteenth century, although nearly...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning Lesson: That Sinking Feeling

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students discover the origin of the Great Ocean Conveyor. They participate in a demonstration showing how salinity and temperature affect water density. They also examine the new sea ice that forms every winter.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Globe Game

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students locate continents, oceans, and major mountain ranges on the globe. In this globe lesson, students play a toss the globe game. They name the continent, ocean, or major mountain range that is located closest to their right thumb...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuarine Currents

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students experiment observing a demonstration on models of density-driven currents which are typically found in an estuarine system of water flow. They compare/contrast water temperature and salinity to the formations of estuarine currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To See or Not to See

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars identify and discuss key factors that determine how effective color camouflage is in certain habitats.  In this investigative lesson students divide into groups and study light. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Recycling the Seafloor

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students classify earth's layers and plates using Ocean Seismicity data. In this plate tectonics lesson, students outline where the plate boundaries are on the world map. They then compare these predicted boundaries with USGS map of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Precipitates and Black Smokers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss how hydrothermal fluid is different from seawater and what happens to it as it passes through the oceanic crust. They observe and manipulate calcuim chloride and baking soda to comprehend how precipates form.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping and Personifying Nations

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze the geography, actions, and relationships of countries involved in World War II. They create a map of Europe, Northern Africa, and the Pacific, and analyze and evaluate their self-made map of Europe and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Floor Spreading

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students recreate sea-floor spreading and the pattern of magnetic stripes that are created by different configurations of plate boundaries. They see how transform faults work.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living at the Seashore

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students examine how the proximity of all areas of Japan to the ocean influences lifestyles and determines occupations for the people. This lesson includes lesson extensions and a concept list.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Our Place in the Community

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders search TDC database for images of our hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city. They identify their place in the hemisphere, continent, ocean, country, state, and city.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Floor Spreading II

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students import ocean bathymetry data form either the topex web site or text files. They then graph these observations along with model predictions to assess the model's ability to sumulate the observed topographic features of the North...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Skates

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students gain understanding of structure, characteristics, and basic needs of living things and their role in world, identify parts of skate, observe details of skate's body and skate egg case, and identify unique characteristics of skates.
Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Sonar & Echolocation

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
A well-designed, comprehensive, and attractive slide show supports direct instruction on how sonar and echolocation work. Contained within the slides are links to interactive websites and instructions for using apps on a mobile device to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeing and Feeling Sound Vibrations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Groups rotate through a series of stations and work with a partner to observe sound waves. Children describe sound in terms of pitch, volume, and frequency. To apply their new knowledge, the class considers how these observations can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Rocks Under Illinois

For Teachers 9th - 12th
The goal of this fine geology lesson is to have learners create a map that shows how the rock layers are arranged far underground where they can't be seen. The ambitious lesson plan requires high schoolers to learn the law of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Connections: Marine Ecosystems

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners identify producers and consumers from marine ecosystems and describe the balance among them in the environments. After constructing a food chain from a marine ecosystem, they examine human activities that can upset the balance...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cut-off Genes

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Investigate the relationships between different deep-sea organisms by DNA sequencing. A worksheet provides instructions for DNA sequencing and space to work. They simulate gel electrophoresis by cutting out paper "DNA strands."...
Lesson Plan
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Channel Islands Film

Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1

For Teachers 4th - 12th Standards
How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation class members engage in a series of...
Lesson Plan
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NOAA

Community Ecology and Sampling

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
Seamounts in the Coral and Tasman Seas are home to more than 850 different species. Groups explore hydrothermal vents, researching the organisms found there and their energy source. They also learn about seamounts, exploring their unique...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Kindergarten Lesson Plans and Activities

For Teachers K Standards
This unit focuses primarily on plate tectonics and plate boundaries surrounding continents. It contains pre- and post-lab sections that walk young geologists through plate movements in order to visualize what's going on inside Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Are The Properties of Sea Water?

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders conduct research on the subject of sea water. They use a variety of resources to obtain information. There are helpful resource links listed in the lesson. In conjunction with the research students make inquiry of the...
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Reflections of the Sea

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students, after listening to a selection of Gulliver's Travels, complete a worksheet about basic terms associated with boats, ships, and sailing. They create flag after researching semaphore flagging systems.