Students recognize that staghorn coral helps reef growth in the Caribbean.  In this Coral Reef lesson, students design a habitat model using various art materials to explain how staghorn coral helps the reef grow. Students share...

  Learners analyze Halloween costumes they find in magazines to categorize their findings.  In this holiday lesson, students discuss their findings about the costumes based on four different elements.  

Students explore the ocean depths. In this scenario based lesson, students pretend they are on a submarine in an unknown part of the ocean. By using clues the class discusses and determines where they are in the ocean. They follow up...

Young scholars create a map. In this direction and distance lesson, students come up with familiar places in the community and calculate the distances from these places to the school. Young scholars create a map that displays these...

Students explore symmetry.  For this geometry and scientific inquiry lesson, students design paper airplanes with middle line symmetry, as well as right, obtuse, and acute angles.  Students measure the plane's angles using a...

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...

Young scholars 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...

Young scholars examine the use of robotic vehicles for fish surveys. For this ocean life lesson, students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using underwater robots and the requirements an underwater robot must meet in order to...

Students research tectonic plates and their movement. In this plate lesson, students describe the motion of these plates and the boundaries between them. They look into the San Andreas Fault and explore the earthquakes associated to this...

Students research energy conversions. In this energy lesson plan, students describe the basic operation of a steam engine.  They explain the energy conversions in the steam engine's operation. 

High schoolers examine hydrothermal vents. In this ocean lesson, students identify changes in physical and chemical properties of sea water caused by hydrothermal vents.

Students research the causes of the extinction of Pleistocene mammals.  In this Pleistocene mammals lesson plan, students read essays to understand the Pleistocene epoch. Students write an essay about the personal impact of this...

Learners discuss metabolism. In this metabolism lesson, students evaluate evidence form a research report and discuss the basis for hypothetical metabolic adaptations to low-oxygen environments in the anchialine caves.

Students participate in an experiment to understand how robotic systems can estimate distances.  For this robotic ranger lesson, students measure the the time it takes for and object to move back and forth.  Students will use a...

Students explain bioluminescence. In this life science instructional activity, students discuss bioluminescence and conjure examples of organisms that carry this trait and how it is useful in their environment.

Students explore relict species. In this anchialine cave lesson, students identify relict species associated with anchialine caves, and explain the importance of preserving anchialine caves and species.

Students 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, and...

Students plot data to construct and interpret a graph about vestimentiferans at cold-seep sites in the Gulf of Mexico. For this deep sea lesson, students plot data provided for the growth of tubeworms. They use the graphs to determine...

Young scholars 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.

Students explain various scientific laws used in SCUBA diving. In this theory based lesson, students examine and explain how temperature, density, and salinity relate to SCUBA diving using various scientific laws to engage their learning.

Learners compare and contrast deep-sea coral reefs with shallow-water coral reefs. In this underwater ecology instructional activity, students describe three types of coral and explain why scientists are concerned about the future of...

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.

Students write an essay about the coral reefs. For this oceanography lesson, students investigate the reef of Bonaire and compare it to reefs that are not thriving. Students then explore the differences that contribute to the overall...

Eighth graders select their own plot of land in the Backcountry to settle in the 1700s in SC.  Students first find a point for settlement and sketch out the best route from the Lowcountry to arrive at the point.  They...