Curated OER
Sound for Sight
Students study echolocation and understand how dolphins use it to locate prey, escape predators, and navigate their environment. They view a video, "In the Wild-Dolphins with Robin Williams" and see first hand how dolphins communicate. ...
Curated OER
Plankton / Phytoplankton
Students discuss the importance of plankton in the ocean ecosystem. In this biology lesson plan, students identify the different types plankton by observing them under the microscope. They explain how plankton population affect global...
Curated OER
Aquatic Organisms and Their Habitats
Students investigate the presence of specific organisms in a freshwater habitat to determine the quality of that habitat. They conduct a field study and distinguish and classify organisms found during the field study.
Curated OER
Swimming With the Crabs!
In this environmental science learning exercise, students complete a graphic organizer (Frayer model) on blue crabs. They write an article using the given facts.
Curated OER
Create an Underwater Scene
Students apply knowledge of underwater ocean life by creating an ocean life scene with marine animals and plants placed at appropriate ocean depths.
Curated OER
Harmful Algal Blooms in Full Bloom
Students calculate the total percentage of samples from the data on the graphs. In this marine science lesson, students analyze the concentration levels over a period of time. They suggest ways to lessen the effect of these blooms.
Curated OER
Under the Sea
Students create an undersea environment in their classroom while researching interesting facts about their favorite sea creatures. They create illustrations to decorate their classroom and transform it into an undersea environment.
Curated OER
The Intertidal Zone: Tides and How Creatures Survive
In this intertidal zone worksheet, students study the various marine life creatures and list the characteristic that allows them to stay put in the intertidal zone. Students then draw or cut and paste the marine life and seaweed into...
Curated OER
Water Trash
Learners explain the ways plastic waste can affect the marine environment. They are able to describe things they can do to can down on plastic waste entering the marine environment.
Curated OER
The Good, the Bad and the Nasty Tasting
Pupils examine the effect of chemicals from marine plants or animals on predator's preferences. In this ecology lesson, students conduct taste tests and collect necessary data. They write their conclusion after analyzing...
Curated OER
Light Up the Deep Sea
Learners simulate bioluminescence in the marine environment. In this marine science lesson, students investigate how animals in the deep ocean communicate with each other. They explain the function of bioluminescence among marine organisms.
Curated OER
Saving Sturgeon
Marine biology apprentices interpret data of sturgeon interaction with gill nets. They use the data to calculate the percentage of fish entangled in each twine size to discover if there is any correlation. This is a valuable exercise in...
California Academy of Science
Banishing Bycatch
Bycatch is a sad reality for many sea turtles, dolphins, and sharks; it occurs when they get unintentionally caught in commercial fishing nets. The class plays a game using popcorn and crackers, each child will attempt to catch the...
American Museum of Natural History
Dive Into Worlds Within the Sea
Make connections between ocean organisms. Individuals explore three different ecosystems in the ocean. With an online interactive, they learn how different organisms depend upon each other. Learners first answer questions to connect...
Sea World
Seaworld Science Activity
A fun collection of activities about marine life would be a great addition to your elementary science unit. From cute penguins to scary sharks, the unit features crafts, experiments, and basic research projects that will teach your...
NOAA
Currents
Learn how ocean currents are vital to humans and marine life. The eighth installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program, focuses on ocean currents and how they affect global climate. The...
Curated OER
Wildlife
First, biology pupils research land and marine habitats along the route of skipper Rich Wilson's Great American II. Then, using colored paper clips scattered across a colored paper background, they play the predator-prey game to...
Biology Junction
Cnidarians and Ctenophorans
Cnidaria is a broad phylum of 11,000 different species from jellyfish to coral. Most Cnidarians are marine species with a few freshwater examples. A lesson presentation explains the important characteristics of different species of...
ARKive
Dinner at the Reef
Fine dining can happen anywhere, even in the coral reefs. Budding environmentalists explore marine food chains, predator-prey relationships and the importance of a balanced ecosystem. These important concepts are facilitated through a...
Curated OER
Blue Crabs - The Blue Crab's Chesapeake Journey
A plethora of information about the blue crabs of Chesapeake Bay will amaze and delight your marine biologists. They learn, through direct instruction, about the characteristics and life cycle of this fascinating arthropod. A highlight...
American Museum of Natural History
Journey to the Bottom of the Sea
Properties of water make it essential for the life of marine species. Learners complete an online game to answer questions about the role water fulfills for organisms in ocean habitats. The game emphasizes the properties of water and how...
Curated OER
Dive In: Biology At The Beach
Continue the spirit of summer by studying marine life in your classrooms.
Curated OER
Ocean Exploration: Dentists of the Sea!
Young scholars watch videos about unusual fish behavior and write to marine scientists about the proper care of fish. In this fish lesson plan, students watch the videos on how to properly transfer fish to saltwater, and they do so in an...
Curated OER
Birds
High schoolers list marine birds in their area and report on the threats made to these species. In this marine life lesson plan students compare bird count data and argue either for or against its accuracy.