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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Immersion Presents Monterey Bay

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students study Monterey Bay. In this Monterey Bay lesson, students create a model of upwelling around Monterey Bay. Students simulate surface water movement relative to prevailing winds.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Temperature Affects Density

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the effects of temperature and density in ocean currents. In this density lesson, students explain how coastal climates are impacted by ocean currents. They investigate how the ocean currents are affected by temperature...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Currents

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine ocean currents. In this investigative lesson, students examine ocean currents and the relationship between the ocean, our atmosphere, and the weather. They will create a model of an ocean current.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Currents

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners determine how water and wind affect ocean currents. In this science investigation lesson, students follow the provided steps to enable them to consider how explorers may have used ocean currents to their advantage.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ready, Set, Drift!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students define data, recover data from the Internet, and use information they obtain to solve problems.  In this investigative instructional activity students answer questions on a worksheet and demonstrate the use of a maneuvering...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Temperature

For Students 2nd - 6th
In this temperature learning exercise, students conduct an experiment including water, measuring cups, a funnel, and more, to see how temperature affects ocean currents. Students read 5 directions and answer 7 questions.
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Interactive
Curated OER

Ocean Currents Quiz

For Students 6th - 8th
In this ocean activity, middle schoolers complete a 13 question multiple choice on-line interactive quiz about ocean currents. Prior knowledge is assumed.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Ocean Currents Word Search

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, middle schoolers find the terms that are related to the ocean currents and the answers are found by clicking the link at the bottom of the page.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Driving Currents

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct a variety of investigations to see how water, heat, and salinity affect the flow of the world's ocean currents,as well as, explore many factors that affect the flow of the world's ocean currents. They also describe in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Currents

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders work in groups to research ocean currents and create posters with their findings. They locate the patterns and names of major ocean currents and identify them on a map. Students also use red pencil to show ocean currents...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SURFACE CURRENTS

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify five major ocean currents and identify the correlation between ocean circulation and prevailing winds.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Temperature and Water Density

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students consider the effects of temperature on water density. In this Earth Science lesson, students evaluate a demonstration of cold and hot water currents in a model. Students use two liter bottles and varied water temperatures with...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Density

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students identify and analyze the concept of density using the formula, density equals mass divided by volume. They review the differences in salinity levels of the ocean and note that the changes in density are caused by wind and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning Lesson: How it is Currently Done

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students create their own ocean currents by using everyday items. They examine the constant pushing of molecules that makes us feel wind. They discuss how the water moves in the Southern Hemisphere.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Estuarine Currents

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

Secrets in a Grain of Sand

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students working in small groups examine beach sand to discover signs of erosion, weathering, ocean currents and waves. They present their findings to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CURRENT AND CLIMATE

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners study currents and how they have been used to plot courses for travel. They examine the ocean currents in both the Atlantic and Pacific and discuss their effect on local weather.
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Physical Oceanography

For Students 9th - 10th
A student learning module with a focus on the relationship of temperature and salinity with density, ocean-influenced weather patterns, and how light and sound move through ocean water.
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Moving Water

For Students 9th - 10th
Students learn about surface currents, wave characteristics, and the forces that cause tides in the World Ocean.
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Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Ocean Currents: Modeling 'Global Conveyor Belt' in Your Kitchen

For Students 9th - 10th
Ocean currents have a profound effect on the climates of the continents, especially those regions bordering on the ocean. The Gulf Stream makes northwest Europe much more temperate than any other region at the same latitude, and the...
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Website
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Ocean World

For Students Pre-K - 1st
A link to a website with information about the ocean. Learn about ocean processes, oceanography, physical oceanography, and get real-time ocean data. Site contains college-level and beyond textbook as well as teaching materials.
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Unit Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Education: Tomorrow's Forecast: Oceans and Weather [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A lesson unit for Grades 4-9 on how the ocean affects climate and weather. Includes worksheets (also in Spanish) and maps.
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Activity
SEDL

Oceans [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This large PDF file integrates math, science, and language into several lessons about characteristics of the oceans. Topics include ocean currents, tides, density, marine life, and pollution.
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Activity
Other

Rutgers: c.o.o.l. Class: Navigation and Ocean Currents

For Students 9th - 10th
Take advantage of this C.o.o.l. project to learn about navigation and ocean currents! Click on each link in the left menu, and you will work through this project! Learn about C.O.R. ..Coastal Ocean Radar! Find out how the U.S. Coast...