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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ocean Planet: Sea Secrets

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students identify ocean features and draw a profile using data points on a map. Through discussion and research, they discover the importance of oceanography and plot a profile of the ocean floor in search for a vessel full of precious...
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Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Adapting Under Pressure

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn about James Cameron's Challenger Deep dive and about the marine animals that live in different layers of the ocean. They then study the characteristics of the hadalpelagic zone at the bottom of the ocean, and imagine and...
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Handout
National Geographic

National Geographic: Encyclopedia: Ocean Trench

For Students 6th - 8th
Comprehensive information about deep-ocean trenches. Includes maps, a video [1:29], and a vocabulary list.
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Website
American Academy of Achievement

Academy of Achievement: James Cameron

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of James Cameron, a Canadian-born filmmaker whose movie The Titanic won an astounding eleven Academy Awards. More recently, he has explored the depths of the ocean in a specially designed submarine. Includes a profile,...
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: Ocean Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed website that was a companion to a 1995 traveling exhibit of the Smithsonian. Links to lesson plans and other educational materials are at the bottom of the page. Enter the exhibition to explore the world of the ocean.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Geology: Deep Sea Trench

For Students 9th - 10th
Detailed information about oceanic trenches, their structure, and how they are formed. Discusses the twenty trenches that exist around the world. Includes several labeled illustrations.
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Website
Nations Online Project

Nations Online: Northern Mariana Islands

For Students 9th - 10th
A great country profile and travel guide that takes you on a virtual trip to the Northern Mariana Islands. An overview is given on its art, culture, people, environment, geography, history, economy, and government. There are numerous...
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Handout
Science Struck

Science Struck: Facts About the Aphotic (Midnight) Zone of the Ocean

For Students 9th - 10th
The aphotic zone of the ocean receives less than one percent of sunlight penetration. It extends from between 200 to 1,000 m, or 660 to 3,300 ft, down to the seafloor. Learn about the characteristics of this zone and the adaptations the...
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Article
Science Struck

Science Struck: What Are Ocean Trenches and How Are They Formed?

For Students 4th - 8th
Around 72 percent of the Earth's surface is found under the oceans. It has always been contributing to the dynamically changing face of the Earth through the tectonic phenomenon occurring at its depths. Such a naturally occurring...
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Pacific Ring of Fire

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia offers information on the location of the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Map included.
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Handout
Wikimedia

Wikipedia: Oceanic Trench

For Students 9th - 10th
Wikipedia provides brief information on oceanic trenches, and has a hyperlinked list of major world trenches.
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Website
Other

Luke W Interface Designs: Geology of Mars

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about six geological processes from Luke W Interface Designs that are happening or have happened on Mars. Ex: aeloian, cratering, landslides, volcanic, and more.