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Reduced Fare
Students 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 nutrients...
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A Watered-Down Topographic Map
Eighth graders explore the ocean floor. In this topography instructional activity, 8th graders compare topographical maps to bathymetric charts. They will create a topographic map and note landmarks and other land features.
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The Great Barracuda
Students explore oceanography by researching the great barracuda. In this animal life lesson, students read several vocabulary terms dealing with ocean life and examine a drawing of a barracuda. Students examine the many...
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Staghorn Coral
Young scholars 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. Young...
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What Do Halloween Costumes Say?
Students analyze Halloween costumes they find in magazines to categorize their findings. In this holiday lesson plan, students discuss their findings about the costumes based on four different elements.
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Symmetry in Paper Airplanes
Students explore symmetry. In 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...
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Journey to the Unknown
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...
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How Far Did They Go?
Students 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. Students create a map that displays these places and their...
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Life on the Hardbottom
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...
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What's the Connection?
Learners explain hardground communities in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep-sea ecosystem instructional activity, students investigate the connection between deep-sea ecosystems and petroleum deposits. They discuss the relationship...
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The Robot Fisherman
Students examine the use of robotic vehicles for fish surveys. In this ocean life instructional activity, students discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using underwater robots and the requirements an underwater robot must meet in...
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Puzzle of the Plates
Students research tectonic plates and their movement. In this plate lesson plan, 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...
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Where's the Energy
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.
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The Tell-Tale Plume
Students examine hydrothermal vents. In this ocean instructional activity, students identify changes in physical and chemical properties of sea water caused by hydrothermal vents.
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Pleistocene Mammals
Students research the causes of the extinction of Pleistocene mammals. In this Pleistocene mammals lesson, students read essays to understand the Pleistocene epoch. Students write an essay about the personal impact of this...
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Save Your Breath
Students 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.
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Bermuda: Search for Deep Water Caves: Living Fossils
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.
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The Robot Ranger
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...
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Living Light
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.
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Into the Wild: Settling the South Carolina Backcountry
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...
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The Big Burp: Where's the Proof?
Young scholars 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,...
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This Old Tubeworm
Students plot data to construct and interpret a graph about vestimentiferans at cold-seep sites in the Gulf of Mexico. In this deep sea lesson, students plot data provided for the growth of tubeworms. They use the graphs to determine...
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The Census of Marine Life
Young scholars explain diversity and abundance in marine life. In this oceanic biology lesson plan, students collect information for various geographical areas to collect a census of marine life.
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It's the Law
Students 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 their...