Curated OER
The Oceans, Waves, Tides & Currents
Your introductory lesson to oceanography can be outlined with this apropos presentation. It touches on the physical features of the ocean floor, waves, tides, and currents. One small issue is that some of the graphics are not of the...
Curated OER
Regents High School Examination: Physical Setting Earth Science 2006
Test your class on earth science with this extensive resource. This test, created by The University of the State of New York Regents, is made up of 50 multiple choice questions and 32 short answer questions that cover the branches of...
Curated OER
Changing Planet: The Case of the Leaky Gyre
The fascinating video "Changing Planet: Fresh Water in the Arctic," introduces your oceanographers to the world's gyres. They learn that melting sea ice is making the gyres larger, and that the changes could, in turn, contribute even...
Curated OER
Oceanography Worksheet #1
If you are teaching physical oceanography to middle school earth scientists, here is a terrific multiple choice worksheet. Learners look at a diagram of a landscape created by glacial sediment deposition and the resulting ocean floor....
Curated OER
Message in a Bottle - A Satellite Journey through the Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream has historically provided humans with a faster trade route because of its swift-moving waters. It continues to be a source of information and fascination for oceanographers today. As your class views this collection of...
Curated OER
Ocean Circulation
In this physical oceanography PowerPoint, viewers learn about ocean circulation, sea surface temperatures, and salinity. Relationships among these aspects are explained, as well as their impact on the atmosphere and climate. Each slide...
Curated OER
Ocean Streams
The instructions for demonstrating ocean turnover are provided in this resource. You could set this up for your earth science class as part of a lecture on convection currents or as an explanation of how ocean currents form. An animation...
Curated OER
Hurricane Paths: Comparing Places with Different Prevailing Winds
In this wind worksheet students study a wind rose and graphs for Boston and answer several short answers on prevailing winds.
Curated OER
Ready, Set, Drift!
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...
Curated OER
SURFACE CURRENTS
Students identify five major ocean currents and identify the correlation between ocean circulation and prevailing winds.
Curated OER
Water Density
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...
Society for Science and the Public
Science News for Students: Climate Change Could Stall Atlantic Ocean Current
When carbon dioxide levels rise, the currents slow, which leads to temperatures dropping because of the lack of water movement. Europe could suffer as a result of this change.
Other
Rutgers: c.o.o.l. Class: Physics Project: Plankton and Ocean Current
This c.o.o.l. Project focuses on tiny sea plankton and how they move in the oceans. Follow the scientific process outlined on the left, calculate and collect data to form your own predictions.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lab 5: It's All Connected: Global Circulation
An investigation that is part of a series of lab lessons that expose students to Earth Systems through research, data, and visualizations. During this lab, students will focus on the pathways of wind and water to and from their location...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) is an interesting and somewhat publicized environmental problem. A swirling soup of trash up to 10 meters deep and just below the water surface is composed mainly of non-degradable plastics. These...
NOAA
Noaa: National Ocean Service: Education: Currents
Illustrated tutorial explains the numerous factors which shape ocean currents. Animations help students visualize how these aspects constantly affect the water movement in the ocean and how scientists use this information to study ocean...
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanography Institute: Deep Ocean Circulation
What causes the circulation of ocean waters that are too deep to be affected by wind? Find out how salinity and temperature drive the deep sea currents. This resource has several videos and an online quiz.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Evolution of Physical Oceanography
A college course featuring instructor's notes and textbook resources on the history of physical oceanography.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: Riding the Waves
Based off of the hit television show NUMB3RS, this lesson introduces students to the idea of vector fields. While no "formal math" is done in this lesson, students will learn to follow a vector field both forward and backward to see...
Other
Beloit College: K 12 Geology
This is a good source of basic information about density currents in water. It includes simple activities you can do to demonstrate these currents.
Other
Lunar and Planetary Institute: Oceans From Space
This collection of photographs from space-shuttle missions shows some features of oceanic circulation that simply cannot be seen from any other vantage point. This site is a great resource for many different topics of study.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Science Education Center: Weather Lab
Find out how good your weather prediction skills are as you study the movements of air and water, and their interactions. Then predict what the spring holds for residents of different regions of the United States, and what people should...
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: Ocean Planet: Staying on Top
This is the story of the infamous Nike shoes that washed off a cargo ship. The shoes later showed up along beaches, giving oceanographers another clue as to how ocean currents move.
Rice University
Museums Teaching Planet Earth: Hydrosphere
This tutorial looks at the hydrosphere, that component of the earth that is liquid water such as rivers, streams, oceans, and so on.