Curated OER
Ducks in the Flow: Resources about Surface Ocean Currants for the Upper Elementary Classroom
Students investigate surface ocean currents. In this oceanography lesson, students work in small groups to create models that demonstrate surface currents, the Coriolis Effect, and how surface currents move debris. This lesson includes a...
Curated OER
Ocean Shoreline
In this ocean shoreline worksheet, students will unscramble vocabulary words relating to tides, currents, beaches, and barrier islands.
Curated OER
Wind Circulation, Surface Currents and Climate
Students describe connections between wind patterns, surface currents, and ocean climate zones. In small groups, they color the ocean climate zones in four different shades of blue. Students then answer questions like what four...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Moving Water
Students learn about surface currents, wave characteristics, and the forces that cause tides in the World Ocean.
Rice University
Rice University: Ocean Currents and Tides
This URL will start you out at the site map for Rice University's study of longitude and navigation. Scroll to the section titled "Oceans" and you will find some very good information on surface currents, especially those of the South...
NOAA
Noaa: El Nino and La Nina
La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, as compared to El Nino, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. Find more general info, Forecasts,...
NOAA
Noaa: Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory: What Is El Nino?
This page tells you what El Nino is, provides links to animations and videos on El Nino, explains how to recognize El Nino, and discusses the history of significant El Nino events.
US Navy
Office of Naval Research: Oceans in Motion Currents
Use this site to learn what the Navy has to say about ocean currents and then test your knowledge with their quiz.
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.
University of Southern California
University of Southern California: Ocean Currents and Climate
The climate of our planet is greatly affected by Earth's oceans. Learn here about the different oceanic currents and the role those currents play on climate.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Surface Ocean Currents
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Describes how wind patterns and other factors cause ocean surface currents.
National Earth Science Teachers Association
Windows to the Universe: Earth's Oceans
Windows to the Universe provides a general overview of the importance of the oceans and seas to the Earth. Content includes information on how the oceans impact Earth's weather and contribute to the water cycle.
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.
Other
Nanoos: Well, Well, Well [Pdf]
This lesson provides students the opportunity to investigate the relationship between winds, surface currents, sea temperature and upwelling and downwelling off the coast of Oregon and Washington.
NASA
Nasa: Ocean Motion: Wind Driven Surface Currents: Upwelling and Downwelling
Explains what upwelling and downwelling of ocean currents are, and the impact of Ekman transport and the Coriolis effect on current movement as well as where they occur. The effects of upwelling and downwelling on water temperature and...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Surface Ocean Currents Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This study guide summarizes key points about surface currents on the ocean. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.