American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Deep Sea Drilling
In this activity, students learn about the JOIDES Resolution, an ocean-drilling vessel. They then use string to estimate the length of the ship and compare their estimates to the real length. They look at how deep the ocean water under...
NOAA
Noaa: The Ocean's Role in Weather and Climate
A collection of resources - interactive activities and teacher tutorials - on the impact the ocean has on weather and climate.
Other
Earth Science: Earth's Surface and Heat [Pdf]
This textbook chapter looks at the role of temperature in sustaining life on Earth and on weather and climate. It discusses the Earth's movements and the seasons, the circulation of the oceans, wind and weather, and the water cycle....
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Oil on the Ocean
Students learn about oil spills and their environmental and economic effects. They experience the steps of the engineering design process as they brainstorm potential methods for oil spill clean-up, and then design, build, and re-design...
Scholastic
Scholastic Instructor: Seashore Science
Come and learn with this incredible seashore science resource. The content includes fun facts, experiments, reproducible activities, resources and more.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Sources, Sinks, and Feedbacks
Students will learn about how the Earth's carbon cycle works, as they examine the relationship between levels of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere and the temperature of the ocean's surface. Includes online student...
Other
Aurora Trust and Aurora Institute of Maritime Studies
Find out about human interaction with the world's oceans through education support activities in the fields of ocean exploration, research, and education.
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.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Introduction to the Atmosphere
A detailed overview of the Earth's atmosphere, with explanations about atmospheric properties, the structure of the atmosphere, its four layers, atmospheric processes, energy heat transfer, conduction and convection, and radiation. All...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Finding the % Salt in Seawater
In this experiment, students are asked to collect data in order to prepare a calibration curve showing the relationship between the percentage of salt and the mass of salt water. Using this graph, students will be able to determine the...
National Geographic
National Geographic: Human Impacts on Marine Species
Learners learn about three examples of human impacts on marine life: migration patterns and shipping, algal blooms and water chemistry, and marine debris. Some of these impacts are due to human activity in the ocean, and some impacts on...
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Blossoms: Will an Ice Cube Melt Faster in Freshwater or Saltwater?
Engage students in the study of the ocean and saltwater with these activities. Students will see that saltwater has different physical properties than freshwater - mainly density. This lesson can serve as a springboard into other...
NASA
Nasa: Oceanography
Join NASA in its study of oceanography and learn about the Earth system, the physical ocean, and life in the ocean. Try out the Giovanni: Earth Data Visualization Tool and access satellite-derived data to enhance the learning experience.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Engineering for the Earth
Young students are introduced to the complex systems of the Earth through numerous lessons on its natural resources, processes, weather, climate and landforms. Key earth science topics include rocks, soils and minerals, water and natural...
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: Tsunami: An Interactive Guide
A complete, interactive learning activity covering the science of tsunamis, preparedness, research, and historical tsunamis. Excellent animations and real, historical recordings of survivors allow the learner to experience what happens...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Jason: Pinniped Body Shape Conserving Warmth
From Shore to Sea: To survive in cold ocean environments an organism's body must be adapted to life under water. A body will cool very quickly when in contact with water. The body shape of an organism is one adaptation that helps to...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Ocean Life
Good starting point for researching ocean life. Find general information, research-topic ideas, a glossary of important terms and people, and numerous links to related sites.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Earth Science Week: Sea and Ice Salinity
Young scholars investigate the effects of salinity on the formation of sea ice, and whether salt water freezes more quickly or more slowly than fresh water.
Climate Literacy
Clean: Hurricanes as Heat Engines
In this activity, students examine the effects of hurricanes on sea surface temperature using NASA data. They examine authentic sea surface temperature data to explore how hurricanes extract heat energy from the ocean surface.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: How Does the Temperature of the Great Lakes Change Over Time?
This activity allows students to use water surface temperature, bathymetric data, and weather data to look at trends in the water temperature of the Great Lakes.
Other
K 3 Learning Pages: Tsunami Disaster
This site features several links to tsunami relief sites. Students and teachers can access information about the tsunami relief efforts through these resources.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole Oceanography Institute: Current Patterns
This simple demonstration will help students understand how air currents and water currents can distribute substances through different environments.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Layering Liquids
A lab activity to show students how different densities of liquid layer on top of each other by using four different colored liquids that contain different levels of salinity. This activity can also be used in an ocean unit where...
The Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute: Treasures at Sea
Learn about ocean systems and habitats. Lots of reading, writing, games, and interactive activities. Colorful and fun.