Secrets of the Ocean Realm - Survival in the Sea

Whether you're a salty sea dog or a total land lubber, the lakes and oceans of our world have a tremendous impact upon everyday life. Module six in a seven-part series of lesson plans centered on fresh and saltwater literacy tackles some...

Imagine an ecosystem without any light or oxygen, where living things convert carbon dioxide into food. This ecosystem is thriving and might just be the largest ecosystem on our planet, yet we know very little about it. The lesson...

Some people live for their yearly beach vacation ... but what many people don't know is how the ocean made life possible! Young oceanographers discover the organisms and nutrient cycles that contribute to continued life on Earth in the...

Hold the sea in the palm of your hand! Amateur oceanographers work together to create models of an ocean ecosystem in the sixth and final installment in a series. Raise awareness of global ocean health issues through guided research,...

How do the oceans and Great Lakes influence weather and climate? Part three of a seven-part series about salt and freshwater examines the impact large bodies of water have on the skies above us. Included in the instructional activity is...

Sea ice contains 17 sub-types based on age and various characteristics. Scholars observe ice floating in a simulated ocean and record their observations. Then, they view photographs of different types of sea ice and learn to...

Marine biologists research sea ice communities. Assign some groups to construct paper models of sea ice communities in winter, and some to construct models of them in summer. The lesson is simplistic, but the Internet resources provided...

Surviving in the harshest climates takes some strategic planning. Sea otters' planning requires an adaptation of their fur to withstand freezing ocean temperatures. Learners explore the ingenious makeup of their fur.

Doesn't the level of the ocean vary from hour to hour and from year to year? Then, what do we really mean by "sea level" when we are talking about elevation? Find out what geodesists, those who work with the math behind the shape and...

Sea turtles face a lot of adversity: storms, predators on land and in the sea, and eggs that don't hatch, but the biggest threat to these magnificent and ancient creatures is human activity. From poaching to pollution, from trash to...