Curated OER
Where Did They Come From?
Give science learners nine questions about the biogeography of hydrothermal vents and turn them loose to research this fascinating habitat. Working in cooperative groups, they prepare a report that addresses each of the questions. A...
Curated OER
Animals of the Lost City
Begin with a demonstration of exothermic reactions and discussion of chemosynthesis. Your aspiring oceanographers research vent communities and then craft a mural of a vent community. This is a terrific method of introducing learners to...
Curated OER
Towers of the Lost City
Middle school marine scientists compare the pH change in distilled and saltwater as acetic acid is added one drop at a time. Then they compare the pH change in both when sodium hydroxide is added. This experiment demonstrates the...
Curated OER
Where's Dinner?
Upcoming marine biologists consider a list of organisms residing near the Lost City hydrothermal vents and construct a food web. They compare the food web to that of a cold seep community, of which they should have previous knowledge....
Curated OER
Hydrothermal Vent Challenge
Give our ocean voyagers the "Hydrothermal Vent Challenge!" It is a worksheet that guides them through an exploration of hydrothermal vents and the chemical reactions that occur when lava meets seawater. Using a collection of websites,...
Curated OER
What's for Dinner?
View a video presentation comparing chemosynthesis to photosynthesis. Review the findings of the 2004 Ring of Fire Expedition that studied biological communities around the hydrothermal vents of the Mariana Arc. In collaborative groups,...
Curated OER
Mystery of the Megaplume
Read through the extensive background information and then lead your geology or physical oceanography class through an investigation of actual temperature anomaly data from the Juan de Fuca ridge. They translate the data onto a plot,...
Curated OER
What's That?
Meant to be a simulation of a deep-sea exploration, this requires that another lesson be completed first. In that lesson, titled "Animals of the Lost City," marine biology buffs construct murals of benthic communities. In this lesson,...
Curated OER
Life is Weird
Separate your science class into small groups and assign each a specific deep-sea organism to research. The class will learn about all of the organisms as each group presents their assigned animal. Following their presentations, you can...
Curated OER
The Tell-Tale Plume
High schoolers examine hydrothermal vents. In this ocean instructional activity, students identify changes in physical and chemical properties of sea water caused by hydrothermal vents.
Curated OER
Activity 2: How Do You Get Your Energy?
Students receive informational handouts about photosynthesis, chemosynthesis and tubeworms (included with the lesson). Using the "Bacteriology Experiment Plan" handout, students compare the amount of bacteria found in two locations. They...
Curated OER
The Oceanographic Yo-Yo
Students examine how oceanographers use chemical and physical parameters of seawater to locate hydrothermal vents. In this ocean lesson plan students complete an activity and worksheets.
Curated OER
Sea Connections: Marine Ecosystems
Students identify producers and consumers from marine ecosystems and describe the balance among them in the environments. After constructing a food chain from a marine ecosystem, they examine human activities that can upset the balance...
Curated OER
Activity 1-Cold Water, Hot Water and Super-Heated Water!
Students investigate hydrothermal vents by observing a simple model designed to show that hot water rises when it's heated. First, students listen as the teacher explains hydrothermal fluids and vents. Students watch as the teacher...
Curated OER
And Now for Something Completely Different...
Young scholars identify organisms that are typical a part of a hydrothermal vent. They examine why hydrothermal vents are short-lived.
Curated OER
The Big Balancing Act
Students describe chemical changes occurring in hydrothermal circulation systems. They make inferences about the significance of these systems to ocean chemical balance compared to terrestrial runoff.
Curated OER
AdVENTurous Findings on the Deep Sea Floor
Students conduct investigations to observe formations of precipitates, then create models of developing hydrothermal vents. They compare the models with the actual hydrothermal vents developing along the Galapagos Rift.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Polar Discovery: Arctic Seafloor Expedition: July 1 Aug. 10, 2007
This polar expedition to study the Arctic seafloor took place in 2007, but you can still enjoy following the footsteps of these scientists. The goal of the expedition was to see if there were active hydrothermal vents on the ocean...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Ocean Ecosystems
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes organisms found in varying ocean ecosystems.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Marine Food Chains
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes the marine food chain.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanography Institute: Vent Basics
Use this interactive diagram to investigate the conditions which produce black smoker and white smoker hydrothermal vents.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanography Institute: Vent Biology
Investigate nine different types of organisms that occupy deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanography Institute: Hydrothermal Vents
Explore actual photographs of the organisms and geologic structures of an oceanic hydrothermal vent. Additional links provide information about many of the physical properties of this extreme environment.