Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Experience the relative size of humpback whales by creating a whale-sized drawing outdoors from a small-scale diagram. Use skills in measurement, perspective and drawing, and compare the finished drawing to the size of a car.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Functions and Algebra. Measurement. Animals: Mammals. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore the use of ballast to manipulate buoyancy in submarines by building a model of a submersible using two-liter bottles and balloons. Describe the balance of forces that is responsible for the surfacing and diving of submersibles.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Motion & Forces. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore chemiluminescence and describe how the temperature of the chemicals that combine in a light stick affects the reaction. Apply that knowledge to understand bioluminescence in deep-sea marine life.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Chemistry. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Investigate the remote exploration of the sea bottom. Create a search pattern that to uncover hidden targets.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Science & Tech
Topics: Organizing Information & Ideas. Design & Invention. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Secrets of the Ocean Realm
Investigate the relationships among kelp forest inhabitants and their relationships to the giant kelp plant. List the parts of a giant kelp plant and construct a model of a kelp forest habitat.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Botany. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Understand how people have observed the natural world and looked for patterns to explain and predict weather. Design an experiment to evaluate the accuracy of weather folklore and discuss why some folklore sayings seem more accurate than others.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts, Science & Tech
Topics: Critical Thinking Skills. Botany. Meteorology. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Louisiana Public Broadcasting: Enviro-Tacklebox
Evaluate National Marine Sanctuaries in terms of their contributions to sustainability.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Ecology. Oceanography. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Investigate scientists' explorations of octopus middens, or garbage piles, and apply this scientific observation to an examination of a school lost-and-found collection. Create an inventory and analyze the objects from various perspectives.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Animals: Invertebrates. Oceanography. Archeology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Track an unseen target with an audio meter, and make accurate estimations of distance and depth by analyzing the signal strength and frequency. Construct an electroscope to detect electric charges.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Animals: Fish. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Explore the relationship between biotic factors and the abiotic factors of pH, and the salinity and dissolved oxygen within aquatic ecosystems. Collect and analyze aquatic samples from home and compare them to samples from the Galapagos Islands.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ecology. Microbiology. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Investigate the Coriolis effect on the directional flow of currents by measuring linear speeds at different places on the globe. Create a timeline demonstrating geologic time.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Evolution. Oceanography. Archeology.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Design, populate and monitor a mini-ecosystem and calculate the changes in population over time.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ecology. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Investigate weight and buoyant force as applied to submarines by building a submarine out of a soda bottle and experimenting with submerging it.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Design & Invention. Motion & Forces. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: American Field Guide
Investigate the creatures of intertidal zones and how they've adapted to the conditions that they live in.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Jean-Michel Cousteau Ocean Adventures
Identify marine debris and explain multiple effects debris can cause to ecosystems. Illustrate general patterns of ocean currents to explain how debris is concentrated in certain areas of the seas, and explore its effect on marine life.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech, Social Studies
Topics: Ecology. Oceanography. Geography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Investigate the use of stroboscopic disks to study actions that are too fast for the naked eye, and construct a stroboscopic viewer to demonstrate how a gated view of dripping water may produce the illusion of "frozen" motion.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Design & Invention. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Explore how principles of gas behavior relate to diving in order to plan safe underwater activities.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Science & Tech
Topics: Safety. Chemistry. Human Biology. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Describe how airborne microbes can travel around the world and underwater to endanger other species. Explore how a surrounding ocean of air harbors a microbe population that may be cultured on a moist, nutrient-rich surface.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Microbiology. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Understand how icebergs are suspended in water, differentiate between the floating behavior of ice and cork and describe the melting process of an iceberg.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Chemistry. Geology & Natural Disasters. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Nature
Research the behavior, food source and habitat of the white shark, and create a public service announcement promoting either the protection of humans from sharks or the protection of sharks from humans.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Animals: Fish. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Examine the reasons sharks attack humans and design a method or a piece of equipment for surfing that would help surfers avoid being attacked by a shark.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Health & Fitness, Science & Tech
Topics: Safety. Animals: Fish. Design & Invention. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Examine the causes of flooding in Venice and understand the complexity of finding a solution to Venice's floodwater problems.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Engineering. Motion & Forces. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Scientific American Frontiers
Investigate the physical force exerted upon organisms and objects by the environment, and relate pressure to depth in deep-sea exploration. Experiment to discover the impact of pressure on the lungs.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Human Biology. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Secrets of the Ocean Realm
Determine the sequential links in a marine food chain and identify the roles of various organisms. Develop charts as visual aids for illustrating marine food chains.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Ecology. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Secrets of the Ocean Realm
Examine the whale's layer of insulating fat, known as blubber, and test the effectiveness of fat as an insulator. Discuss how humans use insulating materials to protect themselves from exposure to cold temperatures.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Animals: Mammals. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Examine Robert Ballard's "debris field theory" and how it answers questions about sunken materials from the Britannic and investigate how differences in temperature affect the density of water.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Motion & Forces. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Classify fish based on different characteristics.
Grade Level: 3-5, 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Animals: Fish. Classification. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: NOVA
Calculate the approximate speed of three tsunamis. Create a time travel map and chart that shows their arrival at specific geographic locations.
Grade Level: 6-8, 9-12
Subjects: Math, Science & Tech
Topics: Functions and Algebra. Geology & Natural Disasters. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
Source: Nature
Research how two ocean currents, the Agulhas and the Benguela, impact marine life off of southern Africa. Summarize research findings in a blog.
Grade Level: 6-8
Subjects: Science & Tech
Topics: Animals: Fish. Oceanography.
Resource Type: Lesson Plan
