It's time to boldly go where your class has not gone before! The introductory lesson in a five-part series takes young oceanographers aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos to begin a study of ocean exploration. The lesson includes a comparison of the expedition to that of Lewis and Clark, a look at ocean exploration techniques, and an activity that uses fractals to simulate deep ocean habitats.

Concepts

ocean exploration, oceanography, oceans, fractals

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Extend learning by studying the HMS Challenger and the discoveries its crew made
• Have the class brainstorm other situations in science where fractal geometry could help explain phenomena
  

Classroom Considerations

• Pupils should be in groups of two to four, depending upon class size
• Use the included modifications to tailor the lesson to fifth grade, middle school, or high school classes
  

Pros

• Presents content in an exciting manner with vivid images and compelling stories
• Lesson incorporates engineering, science, and creative thought to give a well-rounded picture of the exploration crew
  

Cons

• None