Curated OER
The Thrill of Big-Wave Surfing
Students view a PBS Nature program about big-wave surfing and participate in a class discussion about their experiences with surfing, body boarding, or body surfing. Students create a drawing based on a reading and post their art around...
Curated OER
Kure Waste Chase Game Lesson
Students work together to identify marine debris. They explain the effect of the debris on various ecosystems. They draw different types of ocean currents as well.
Curated OER
Voyage to Kure Viewing Guide
Students complete a worksheet while viewing a video about the oceans. They locate the oceans on a map and identify positive and negative ways in which humans have impacted them. They discuss any questions at the end of the lesson.
Curated OER
America's Underwater Treasures Viewing Guide
Students complete a worksheet while watching a video about how humans affect the ocean environment. They discover the need for a practice of balancing fisheries and their fishing practices. They examine how scientists use data to help...
Curated OER
Frozen Out
Students investigate how climate changes affect top predators in Arctic marine ecosystems. Students complete a worksheet and write a report based on their responses to a scientific paper.
Curated OER
Journey To the Unkown
Students explore the ocean rift habitat off the Galapagos through an audio expedition, Internet research on deep sea animals, an explorer game and simulation of the exploration of the deep sea bottom. They focus on the actual NOAA...
Curated OER
Remote Sensing
Learners research the Earth's ocean systems. They examine the impact of global warming on the oceans and the world as a whole.
Curated OER
Predator Protector Game
Students take on the role of an Ocean Adventures expedition volunteer member and are charged with protecting three species of sharks from danger in order to defend the balance of nature in the ecosystem. They play an online game which...
Curated OER
The Good, The Bad and The Arctic
Students examine the impact of a major climate change in the Arctic Ocean on the rest of the world. They use the Internet to research the Arctic region and the wildlife that lives there.
Curated OER
SPLASH – Monitoring Humpback Whales
Middle schoolers view a video about the humpback whale and why it is endangered. In this endangered species lesson, students recognize the importance of observing and following an endangered species in an ecosystem. Middle schoolers...
Curated OER
Plate Patterns
Students read about a volcano and use the latitude and longitude information to plot and describe the volcano on the map. They discuss patterns seen on the map. In addition, they color code a map according to zones, plates, etc.
Curated OER
Weather Anomalies
Ninth graders participate in a simulation of a select scientific team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Curated OER
2005 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition: Unexplored
Learners compare and contrast submarine volcanoes at convergent and divergent plate boundaries, infer kinds of living organisms that may be found around hydrothermal vents, and describe ways in which scientists may prepare to explore...
Curated OER
Fetch Me a Wave
Students explore waves and how they form. In this wave lesson students prepare a written report on waves and tsunamis then discuss what they learned.
Curated OER
The Water Cycle and Sources of Pollution
Students make an island that has a construction site on it. They spill siulated pollution and trash on top of the island and then water it to simulate rain. They will observe how the rain washes dirt, sand, and pollution off the island...
Curated OER
A Sea-nic Perspective
Students brainstorm topics related to the health of our world's oceans. They create presentations about specific issues affecting oceans for display in a classroom exhibit. They write letters of invitation to guests to view the exhibit.
Curated OER
Starfish
Learners explore the concept of starfish. In this starfish lesson, students identify the parts of a starfish and how their body works. Learners create a starfish using paint and a cornmeal mixture. They then glue on Cheerios to...
Curated OER
Gallery Walk Questions about Energy and Material Cycles
Students state the physical, chemical or biological processes associated with these environments: Pelagic ocean zone, California coat Cave, Indiana Barrier island beach, North Carolina Sand dune, Dunes National Park, Colorado Wetland and...
Curated OER
Plastic Peas
Students consider the life cycle of certain plastics products and propose improved recycling legislation in their own communities.
National First Ladies' Library
Where's Amelia?
Learners examine the life and accomplishments of Amelia Earhart and her status as a role model for women. After researching Earhart, they select another person they think is courageous and write a dialog between the two heroes as if they...
Curated OER
Meet Geodesy-The Science Behind GPS
Students discover how a datum of reference points are used to to describe a location. In this Earth Science lesson, students will simulate how a GPS accurately determines the location of reference points within a datum.
Curated OER
Monitoring Estuarine Water Quality
Students analyze water quality data from real data. In this environmental science lesson, students examine how salinity and dissolved oxygen affect the living organisms in the estuary. They interpret graphs to support or disprove a...
Curated OER
The Watershed Quest
Students examine their connection to local watersheds. They describe the water cycle and list species living in their local watershed. They also draw a map of their community.
Curated OER
Island Survival
Students participate in a simulation of life on a deserted island. They apply their critical thinking skills and knowledge of oceans and islands to "survive" and ultimately return to safety. Lesson contains adaptations for all levels.