OCEANS & MARINE LIFE WEB SITES

 

Access these sites through your computer’s Internet connection.  Open the underlined address (URL).  Information can be printed or downloaded to your computer.  Be sure to follow links to other sites and find your way back with the “Back” button.  Also, we note where we found broken links in our sampling of links within a site.  Teachers will need to replace these links with their own.

 

All of the sites listed were active as of March 22, 2005.  The evaluation is by the AVA Center staff according to the amount of information given, the general appearance of the site and its potential use in the classroom.   This list is also sent through email if you have a school email address. Let us know if you would like to be added to our mailing list.

 

                                                                    

 

WEBSITES

 

ACADEMY OF ACHIEVEMENT- HALL OF EXPLORERS                               http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/halls/sci
            
•  Robert D. Ballard, Ph.D.
            http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/bal0int-1
            Transcript of an interview with noted oceanographer Robert Ballard, discoverer of the
            Titanic.  Includes a Profile and a Biography as well as audio and video clips.  Click on
            Curriculum Center for teacher and student materials.  Excellent
 
            •  Sylvia Earle, Ph.D.
            http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/ear0int-1
            Transcript of an interview with noted oceanographer Sylvia Earle, known for her deep 
            ocean explorations.   Includes a Profile and a Biography as well as audio and video clips.
            Click on Curriculum Center for teacher and student materials.  Excellent
 

ALIEN STINGERS – CNIDARIANS                    

            http://www.alienstingers.com/stingerhome/

A site from the New York Aquarium on cnidarians (corals, jellyfish, & anemones).   Sections: Stingers, Games, Scientists, Parents & Teachers (including teachers guides and student activities), and The Exhibit.  Excellent

 

ALL ABOUT OCEANS AND SEAS                        NEW!

            http://www.zoomschool.com/subjects/ocean/

An extensive site for elementary students on oceans and seas.  Sections include: Why is the Ocean Salty?, What Causes Waves?, The Water Cycle, Ocean Animal Printouts and much more.  Excellent

 

ALL ABOUT THE OCEAN             

            http://www.suelebeau.com/ocean.htm

A huge page of links on oceanography.  Sections: General Ocean Links; Whales, Dolphins & Sharks; Ocean Creatures; Manatees; Ocean Habitats; Ocean Pollution; and Ocean Webquests.  Excellent

AMAZING WHALES                                  

            http://www.dkd.net/whales/

Whale Facts, Stranded Whales, Sounds, Dugongs, Whale Behaviors, Minke Whales, Whale Watching, Dolphins, Hervey Bay (Australia).  Excellent

 

AQUARIUS – THE WORLD’S ONLY UNDERWATER LABORATORY        

            http://www.uncw.edu/aquarius/

Aquarius is an underwater laboratory located at a depth of 63 feet in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  Sections: Mission Information, What’s New, IPIX Virtual Tour, Mission Archives, Information, For Teachers & Students, Press Room and Archive.  Excellent

 

BATHYMETRY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND “OFFSHORE” GEOLOGIC HISTORY

            http://www.bigelow.org/virtual/index_bath.html

Web resources for information plus classroom activities on ocean bottom topography and how climate and its changes affect our oceans.  Includes Background Info, Key Questions, Web Links, Terminology, Hands-On (activities), Images and Movies.  Excellent

 

BLACK SMOKERS OF JUAN DE FUCA RIDGE

            http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/expeditions/blacksmokers/black_smokers.html

Follows an expedition to collect a black smoker a mile underwater in 1998.  Includes: Games, Glossary, Black Smokers, World Ridge System, Expedition Journal, Life Forms, Underwater Tools, Video and Image Gallery, Talk to the Scientists, Teacher Resources (including lesson plans).  An outstanding site.  Excellent

 

THE BRIDGE – OCEAN SCIENCE TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER    

            http://www.vims.edu/bridge/

A huge amount of oceanographic information for the classroom.  Sections: Ocean Science Topics, Resource Pavilion (incl. lesson plans, virtual expeditions, online publications, etc.), Data Port, Elementary Grades (links & resources by grade level), and Communications (TROLLS, Ask an Oceanographer, FAQ, etc.).    Excellent

 

CANDID CAMERA – UNDERWATER STYLE – SEAL CAM

            http://whyfiles.org/061polar/seal.html

Details a project in Antarctica to mount tiny underwater cameras on the heads of Weddell seals hunting under the ice pack and then retrieving the tapes when the seals surface to breathe. Includes 3 QuickTime videos (a bit long loading) including one where a seal just misses catching a tasty fish.  Fun and different.  Excellent

 

COASTAL EXPLORATIONS                      NEW!

            http://www.leo.lehigh.edu/envirosci/geology/coast/

“Coastal Explorations allows you to explore a variety of coastal formations.

Many different locations along the California and New Jersey coasts are provided for your exploration. Click on a map below to begin your exploration. As you examine the images and movies, pay close attention to unique coastal features. As you explore this site, compare the differences and similarities between California and New Jersey coasts. How are coastal areas different in each state? How are they similar? Where is coastal erosion most prevelant? What kinds of human activities modify the shorelines? What development issues do people living on the coast encounter in each state? Click on the map of California or New Jersey to explore!”  You click on the map to see photos of sections of the coastline.  Includes some video clips.  Excellent

 

C.O.O.L. – COASTAL OCEAN OBSERVATION LAB               

            http://www.imcs.rutgers.edu/mrs/LEO/LEO15.html

“An integrated ocean observatory has been developed and operated in the coastal waters off the central coast of New Jersey (USA). One major goal for the Long-term Ecosystem Observatory (LEO) is to develop a real-time capability for rapid environmental assessment and physical/biological forecasting in coastal waters. To this end, observational data is collected from satellites, aircrafts, ships, fixed/relocatable moorings, and autonomous underwater vehicles. The majority of the data are available in real-time allowing for adaptive sampling of episodic events and are assimilated into ocean forecast models. In this observationally rich environment, model forecast errors are dominated by uncertainties in the model physics or future boundary conditions rather than initial conditions. Therefore, ensemble forecasts with differing model parameterizations provide a unique opportunity for model refinement and validation.”   The Gallery has photos and video clips.  The Education section has lesson plans.  Excellent

 

CORAL REEF FISHES

            http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/2298/index.html

Information on the great diversity of marine life on the coral reefs.  Sections include: Diversity, Feeding, Reproduction, Endangered Species, Fish of the Week, Portfolio, and Links.  Excellent photos.  Excellent

 

CORAL REEFS – 42EXPLORE                                    

            http://www.42explore.com/reef.htm

Information and classroom activities on coral reefs.  Excellent

 

DATA FROM OCEAN BUOYS                               http://www.bigelow.org/virtual/index_buoy.html

Web resources for information plus classroom activities on data from ocean buoys.  Includes Background Info, Key Questions, Terminology, Web Links, Hands-On (activities), Images and Movies.  Excellent

 

DESCENT TO THE MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE – A LIVE EXPEDITION   NEW!

            http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/mar/

Travel along with the scientists as they explore the Mid-Atlantic ridge and make some exciting discoveries.  “Reporting from the decks of the research ship Atlantis, from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, we invite you to join an international team of scientists as they spend almost four weeks exploring an unusual mountain called the Atlantis Massif, which is part of the extensive Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is one of the earth's largest undersea mountain ranges at a length of nearly 10,000 km.”  Sections: Overview, Expedition Journal, People, Glossary, Just for Teachers, and Additional Resources.  Excellent

 

DIVE AND DISCOVER – EXPEDITIONS TO THE SEA FLOOR                                 http://www.divediscover.whoi.edu/

“Dive and Discover is... an interactive distance learning Web site designed to immerse you in the excitement of discovery and exploration of the deep seafloor. Dive and Discover brings you right on board a series of research cruises to the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, and gives you access to the latest oceanographic and deep submergence research as it happens! Be at the front line of scientific inquiry and join scientists - geologists, geophysicists, chemists and biologists - who are exploring the seafloor and making amazing deep-sea discoveries. Daily updates, photos, videos, and e-mail correspondence with scientists aboard research vessels allow you to follow the progress of the scientific mission and find out about life on the floating laboratories at sea.”  Follows seven expeditions.  “The Dive and Discover side of the site allows your classrooms to follow along with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution researchers as they explore the world around us. Ask the scientist questions, check to see daily activities aboard their floating laboratory at sea, allow students to see careers that might be right for them, and even check out what is on the menu! This Educator's Companion portion gives you access to classroom integration tips developed by COSI and teachers involved in previous Dive and Discover expeditions. Also included in the Companion is background information, activities, assessment tools, and a vast array of resources to make this project last a week, a month, or a semester!”  Outstanding.  Note: We did not find any fees associated with this site.    Excellent

       

 

DOLPHIN RESEARCH CENTER                                                                         

            http://www.dolphins.org/

Information about the Dolphin Research Center in Grassy Key, Florida.  Includes terrific photos of the dolphins at the center.  Includes: Meet the Pod, Join the Pod, Learn About Marine Mammals, Who We Are, What We Do, and much more.  Excellent

 

ESTUARINE SCIENCE: DISCOVERY OF ESTUARINE ENVIRONMENTS   

            http://omp.gso.uri.edu/doee/science/intro.htm

Information on the ecosystems of estuaries.  Sections: All About Estuaries, Water Properties, Biological Communities, and Global Changes. Also History & Culture, Virtual Field Trip, Biota Gallery, Maps, Glossary and Teacher Resources.  Teacher Resources includes Printed Resources, Internet Resources and Classroom Activities.  Excellent

 

FISH PRINTOUTS (MAKE YOUR OWN COLORING BOOK)

            http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/fish/printouts/

A large number of pages of fish pictures to print out and make into a coloring book.  Note: Scroll down the page for the printouts.  Excellent

 

JEFF’S NUDIBRANCH SITE AND CORAL REEF GALLERY

            http://divegallery.com/

An extensive photo gallery of Nudibranches AKA sea slugs, anemone fish, crinoids and much more from the sea around the Philippine Islands. Info on each species. Questions & Answers. Includes Tropical Fish, Corals, and Shells. Outstanding photos and video clips.  Excellent

 

KAIKOURA                                     

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/kaikoura/

An account of a National Geographic/Smithsonian expedition to explore Kaikoura Canyon in the waters off New Zealand.  Sections: Canyon, Creatures, Crews, Dispatches, Resources and Web links.  Excellent

 

KINGDOM OF CORAL: THE GREAT BARRIER REEF                       NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0101/feature2/media.html

A video visit to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.  A 6 ½ minute video presentation.  Click on I Have It to begin (needs Flash)  Excellent

 

LEARN ABOUT OCEAN TIDES, TIDE POOLS,  & TIDE PREDICTION   

            http://www.bigelow.org/virtual/index_tides.html

Web resources for information plus classroom activities on ocean tides, tide pools and tide prediction.  Includes Background Info, Key Questions, Web Links, Terminology, Hands-On (activities), Images and Movies.  Excellent

 

LIFE ON THE ROCKY SHORE – A THINKQUEST SITE                                 

            http://library.thinkquest.org/J001418/

A student-created site on life at the tide line.  Sections: Animals, Tides, Tide Tables, Tide pool Safety, Activities, Fun Stuff (games, crossword puzzle, word search), and Research.  Excellent

 

MAKING WAVES                                                                  

            http://waves.marine.usf.edu/mwhome.htm

Information on the oceans and their conservation.  Sections include information, teaching activities and links to more information.  Sections: Coral Reefs, Red Tide, Sea Level Rise, Real Time Data, Natural Disasters, El Nino, Oceans From Space, and Breaking News.  Excellent

 

MARINE BIOLOGY ONLINE SCIENCE COURSES                              http://www.marinebiology.org/science.htm

Online introductions to Fish Biology, Fish Ecology, General Ecology, Marine Ecology, Coral Reefs, Coral Bleaching, Mangroves, Oceanography, SCUBA Adventures (summer on-ship learning adventures), and Forums (online forums).  Excellent

 

MARINE BIOLOGY: THE LIVING OCEANS                

            http://ology.amnh.org/marinebiology/?src=k_p

A fun, colorful site with lots of information for elementary students on the oceans and marine life.  Sections: Dive into the World Beneath the Sea, Work the System, Ocean Creatures Feature, It Takes All Kinds to Make a World, Journey to the Bottom of the Sea, They Glow, Stuff to Do, Tide Poll, Meet the Ologists, and What Do You Know?   Outstanding.  Excellent

 

MARINE RESERVES: WHERE DO YOU FIT IN?                                  http://www.jason.org/digital_labs/CINMS/

An online simulation from the JASON Project.  “The sea around Anacapa Island is one of the most biologically rich and economically important areas of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and National Park. Because Anacapa Island is close to mainland harbors, it is a very popular place to fish and dive. In this simulation, you have been asked to represent one of the stakeholders in a working group to establish new marine reserve areas near Anacapa. You must develop a plan that will satisfy the group you are representing yet be acceptable to the other groups’ representatives.”  Includes Teacher Background and Classroom Activities.  Outstanding.  Excellent

 

MUSEUMS IN THE CLASSROOM OCEAN PROJECT            

            http://www.chias.org/www/edu/mitc/wkshp/ocean/oceans.html

“This project was created by teachers in the 1997 Museums in the Classroom Summer Workshop at the Chicago Academy of Sciences. The lesson is all about water and how it functions, specifically in the ocean. Included in this project are hands-on activities, links to other web sites on oceans and water, extension ideas, and a discussion of the standards met by this project.”  Sections: Outline of the Lesson, Words of the Week, Try This!, Resources, and Wait, There’s More.  Suitable for elementary students.  Excellent

 

NEPTUNE’S WEB – AN OCEANOGRAPHIC VOYAGE IN LEARNING

                http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/educate/neptune/neptune.htm

Educational site for the Navy’s Naval Meteorology and Oceanographic Command.  Sections include: Sailing Directions (recruitment), Sea Searcher (search engine), Student’s Sea of Knowledge (oceanographic encyclopedia), Teacher’s Realm (incl. Oceanography lesson plans and activities), a Quiz, and Mysteries of the Deep (FAQs).  Excellent

 

NOAA – NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

            http://www.noaa.gov/

A portal to all of the NOAA websites.  Excellent

 

NOAA BOOKSHELF

            http://www.education.noaa.gov/books/index.html

Online books, coloring books, games and puzzles.  Sections: Adopt-a-Buoy, Puffy the Puffer’s Book of Fun Fish Facts, The Kohola and the Kolea, and the Pacific Coral Reef Coloring Book.  Excellent

 

NOAA ESPECIALLY FOR STUDENTS

            http://www.education.noaa.gov/students.html

A large number of student resources including workbooks, information sites, coloring books, storybooks, and activities.  Sections: Weather, Climate Change and Our Planet, Oceans and Coasts, and Satellites and Space.  Excellent

 

NOAA PHOTOGRAPH AND IMAGE COLLECTION

            http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/collections.html

A must for images!! Over 16,000 photographs and images indexed and searchable. Image collections: The National Severe Storms Laboratory, The National Undersea Research Program, NOAA in Space, NOAA at the Ends of the Earth, National Estuarine Research Reserve System, NOAA’s Ark, Flying with NOAA, Small World, The Coral Kingdom, America’s Coastlines, Beginnings and Endings (sunrises, moonrises, sunsets, moonsets), Treasures of the Library, Sailing for Science, Fisheries, Sanctuaries, Geodesy-Measuring the Earth, Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection, National Weather Service Historical Image Collection, and the National Marine Fisheries Historical Image Collection,   An outstanding site.  Excellent

 

NOAA RESEARCH – K-12                         

            http://www.oar.noaa.gov/k12/

“This site is a joint effort of the NOAA Research and the College of Education at the University of South Alabama (USA). The goal of the site is to provide middle school science students and teachers with research and investigation experiences using on-line resources.”

Projects: El Niño, Storms, Atmosphere, Fisheries, Great Lakes, and Oceans.  Excellent

 

NOVA ONLINE  - INTO THE ABYSS                              

            http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/abyss/

Online companion for the NOVA special “Into the Abyss”.  Includes The Mission, Life in the Abyss, the Last Frontier, and Dispatches.  Includes terrific video clips.  Also, check the Teacher’s Section for lesson plans.  Excellent

 

OBSERVING A CORAL REEF                             

            http://www.eduweb.com/jason/index.html

A JASON project in which students study a coral reef using data recorded between 1993 and 1997 to determine changes.  Students compare images from 1993 and 1997 to determine changes.  Note: This ties in with other JASON projects.  Excellent

 

OCEAN ADVENTURE

            http://library.thinkquest.org/18828/

An exploration of hydrothermal vents.  Sections: Prepare, Ethics, Research Tools, Mysteries, Meet the Scientists, Interactivities, Fauna, Forum, Glossary, Geology, and the Significance of Vents.  Excellent

OCEAN.COM – EVERYTHING ABOUT THE OCEAN                 http://www.ocean.com/

A huge site about the ocean and marine creatures.  Sections to check out: The Ocean Channel, Poseidon’s Library, Ocean Gallery and Marine Conservation.  Excellent

 

OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS                  

            http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Biomes/oceans.html#LES

Links to oceanography websites and 24 lesson plans.  Also in Lesson Plans section.  Excellent

 

OCEAN EXPLORER – NOAA                                            http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/about.html

“current information on a series of NOAA scientific and educational explorations and activities in the marine environment. The site provides a platform to follow explorations in near real-time, learn about exploration technologies, observe remote marine flora and fauna in the colorful multimedia gallery, read about NOAA’s 200-year history of ocean exploration, and discover additional NOAA resources in a virtual library.”  Sections: Explorations, Projects, Gallery, Technology, History, Library, and Education.    Education section has a large number of lesson plans.  Note: Also in Lesson Plans section.  Some of the Explorations are Submarine Ring of Fire, Mountains in the Sea, Charleston Bump, and more.  Outstanding.  Excellent

 

OCEAN PLANET

            http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ocean_planet.html

An online Smithsonian exhibition on the world’s oceans.  You click on rooms in the floor plan to see information from the exhibit.  Includes all of the text and most of the images from the original exhibit.  Sections include: Resources, Oceans in Peril, Heroes, Sea People, and Ocean Science.  Check out the Educational Materials for a large number of lesson plans and activities and Marine Science fact sheets.  Excellent

 

OCEAN PLANET UNDERWATER FLYBY                                 

            http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/oceanography_flyby.html

A two-minute underwater tour of the sea floor.  “NASA scientists have created a two-minute animated tour under the Pacific Ocean, based on real data about the sea floor's peaks and valleys. Submerge near Hawaii, run like a submarine to Japan, and finally dive to the ocean's deepest point, between Japan and New Guinea.”  Excellent

 

OCEAN TEACHER RESOURCES                        

            http://www.theteacherscorner.net/thematicunits/ocean.htm

A full page of links to oceanography-related sites and lesson plans.  Excellent

 

OCEAN WORLD                                                     

            http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/

“provides both students and teachers with the latest issues in Oceanography, as well as access to interactive materials, near and real-time data, and exciting activities and experiments.”  Includes teacher materials, interactive quizzes, extensive links and more.  Sections: Fisheries, Currents, Jason-1, Ice Ages, Coral Reefs, Weather, El Niño, Icebergs, Waves, and Satellites.  Excellent

 

OCEANOGRAPHY – AN ONR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY FOCUS SITE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS                          

            http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/ocean/

From the Office of Naval Research.  Sections include: Ocean in Motion, Habitats, Ocean Life, Ocean Water, Ocean Regions, Research Vessels, Activities, a Glossary and Links.  Excellent

 

OCEANS                                NEW!

            http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/oceans.html

A page of links to websites, lesson plans, classroom activities and more.  Excellent    Also in Lesson Plans section

 

OCEANS ALIVE

            http://www.abc.net.au/oceans/alive.htm

A large amount of information, audio clips, and more.  Sections: Whale Dreams; Jewels of the Sea; Cool, Wet Facts; Seal Training; Beachcomber; Sea Rangers; links and more.  Excellent

 

OCEANS FIELD TRIP                    

            http://www.field-guides.com/sci/oceank/index.htm

Take an internet field trip to explore the oceans.  Includes Getting Ready and Teacher’s Resources.  Excellent

 

PALAU: PARADISE OF THE PACIFIC                 NEW!

            http://www.pbs.org/edens/palau/

A Living Eden site on Palau and its amazing underwater treasures.  Sections: Legends of Palau, A Titanic Interview, Under the Sea, Aquatic Classroom (lesson plans), Palau Resources and Screensaver.  Note: We now have the accompanying video.  Order VT507019.

Excellent           Also in the Lesson Plans section.

 

PREPARE TO DESCEND! – VOYAGE TO THE DEEP

            http://www.ocean.udel.edu/deepsea/home/home.html

Details an expedition to the hydrothermal vents in the Sea of Cortes off the west coast of Mexico.  Sections:  Mission & Crew, Seafloor Geology, Creature Features (including a photo gallery), Toxic Chemistry( incl. a video), and High-Tech Tools.  The New From the Deep includes Dive Log, Daily Journal, Interviews, Call From the Deep and Neat Stuff {photos and video clips}).  Also includes a Test Your Ocean IQ Quiz.  An outstanding site.  Excellent

 

THE RIGHT WHALE NAMED METOMPKIN – HER STORY OF SURVIVAL – ONLINE BOOK                        

            http://whale.wheelock.edu/books/MetompkinStory/

An interactive book for children about a whale.  Includes Curriculum Resources and Research sources.   Excellent

 

SALMON: SPIRIT OF THE LAND & SEA                       NEW!

            http://www.oneworldjourneys.com/expeditions/salmon/

“Join One World Journeys and nature photographer Natalie Fobes, author Susan Zwinger, conservationists Ian and Karen McAllister, videographer Franklin Viola, field technician Toby Malina and digital photographer Russell Sparkman aboard the Explorer as we travel the coastal waters of Alaska and British Columbia.

On this 10-day expedition, we enter the Great Bear Rainforest in search of the rare Kermode or "Spirit" bear. Explore with us as we document orca whales, grizzly bears, and other wildlife dependent upon the salmon's annual migration. Send us an email during the live expedition with your questions about salmon.

Discover how the salmon embodies the spirit of land and sea in the Pacific Northwest. Take a journey now and learn how the remarkable salmon is a critical link in the health of an entire ecosystem.”  Sections: Live Journey (with Dispatches and Team Profiles), Saga of the Salmon, Eco-Gallery, People of the Salmon and Learn and Explore.  Sound and photos along with narration and captions provide a look at the important role that salmon play in the Pacific Northwest.  Outstanding.  Excellent

 

SALT MARSHES FIELD TRIP                  NEW!

            http://www.field-trips.org/sci/salt/index.htm

A virtual field trip to salt marshes.  Excellent

 

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOCUS – OCEANOGRAPHY & BLOW THE BALLAST!                                                                                                                                      http://www.onr.navy.mil/focus/blowballast/default.htm

Information for teachers and students from the Office of Naval Research.   Oceanography: Oceans in Motion, Habitats, Ocean Life, Ocean Water, Ocean Regions, Research Vessels, and Resources.  Blow the Ballast!: Rescue of the Squalus, Swede Momsen, Submarines, People Under the Sea, and Resources.  Excellent

 

SEA AND SKY

            http://www.seasky.org/sea.html

A huge amount of information with photos, games, puzzles, links and more.  Sections: Sea News, The Ocean Realm, Sea Lab, Sea Links, Aquarium Resources, Ocean Exploration, Sea Gallery, and Sea Games.  Includes lesson plans and activities.  Excellent

 

SEA  SURFACE TEMPERATURES                      

            http://www.bigelow.org/virtual/sst_sub1.html

Web resources for information plus classroom activities on sea surface temperatures.  Includes Background Info, Key Questions, Terminology, Web Links, Hands-On (activities), Images and Movies.  Excellent

 

SEA WORLD TEACHER GUIDES                                   

            http://www.seaworld.org/just-for-teachers/guides/index.htm

Scroll down the list for curriculum guides to print out on various aquatic topics such as Orcas, Penguins, Shark and more.  Excellent

SHARKS                                                                      

            http://www.kidzone.ws/sharks/

Information for students about sharks.  Includes: Shark Activities (puzzles, games, word scrambles, etc.), Shark Facts, and Shark Pictures (incl. photos and clipart).  Excellent

 

SHARKS FIELD TRIP                     NEW!

            http://www.field-trips.org/sci/sharks/index.htm

A virtual field trip to learn about sharks.  Excellent

 

THE SHARKS POOL                                  

            http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/3018/

Information on sharks.  Sections: Shark Biology, Sharks vs. the Media, Finning, Shark Attack, Shark Links, Shark News, Ask the Shark Man, Fun Stuff.  Excellent

 

SHARKS VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP                         

            http://www.field-guides.com/sci/sharks/index.htm

Take a virtual field trip into the watery world of sharks.  Are they all dangerous?  Find out.  Includes Getting Ready and Teacher Resources.  Excellent

 

STUDY OF PLACE – OCEAN CURRENTS EXPLORATION                

            http://www.studyofplace.com/Modules/Module.cfm?ModuleId=2

A teaching module on ocean currents based on Benjamin Franklin’s charting of the Gulf Stream and exploring ocean currents today.  Includes background information, readings, classroom activities and more.  Excellent

 

TIDE POOLS – 42EXPLORE                     

            http://www.42explore.com/tidepool.htm

Basic information on tide pools plus activities and webquests.  Excellent

 

TREASURES@SEA                                    

            http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow8/dec98/main.html

Exploring the sea through literature. Includes art, activities, books, writing, interactive activities, web resources and more.  Excellent

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MONSTERS OF THE DEEP                       

            http://library.thinkquest.org/J001458/

A huge site about sharks.  Sections include: General Facts, Species, Structure, Instinct, Interview, Interesting Facts, Quiz, Poll, Shark Pictures, Shark Movies, and a Glossary.  Excellent

 

TURTLE TRAX – A SEA TURTLE PAGE            

            http://www.turtles.org/

Dedicated to marine turtles.  Includes: About Marine Turtles, Sickbay, Who’s Underwater…,Glimpses of a Turtle House and much more.  Click on the Contents Page to see all the sections.  Excellent

 

UNDERSEA AND OVERSEE – THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE OF OUR OCEANS                                                              

            http://sln.fi.edu/qa98/spotlight5/index.html

An exploration activity from the Franklin Institute.  Excellent

 

UNDERSEA LANDSCAPES – EXPLORE THE WORLD BENEATH THE SURFACE

            http://www.gma.org/undersea_landscapes/index.html

Travel along as people explore areas under the surface of the Gulf of Maine.  Sections: Alewives, Cashes Ledge, Lobsters, Brook Trout, and the Bay of Fundy.  Includes story, photos, 3D, and some video clips.  Excellent

 

THE VOYAGE OF THE ODYSSEY                        
            http://www.pbs.org/odyssey/

“The Voyage of the Odyssey is a five-year program designed to gather the first ever baseline data on levels of synthetic contaminants throughout the world's oceans. It will use whales and pelagic fish as indicator species for measuring the health of the seas.”  Sections: What is the Voyage?, Track the Voyage, Interactive Ocean, Class from the Sea, Voice from the Sea, Science from the Field and Bowcam.  Includes audio and video clips.  Includes the possibility of live teleconferencing.  Excellent

 

VOYAGE TO PUNA RIDGE

            http://www.punaridge.org/

An account of a 36-day voyage to Hawaii’s most spectacular volcano.  While volcanologists study Kilauea’s eruptions daily, little is known about the underwater ridge it has formed extending 75 kilometers from shore and to a depth of 4,500 meters.  Sections include About the Cruise, Science Factoids (incl. FAQs), Daily Flashes, Teacher Journal (from the several teachers on board), Media Gallery and more.  An outstanding site.  Excellent

 

WELCOME TO WHALENET                    

            http://whale.wheelock.edu/Welcome.html

Three sections: Students, Teachers & Public.  The Teachers’ section includes Ali’s Adventures, Right Whale Data, Satellite Tracking Log, Ask a Marine Scientist, Humpback Whale Catalog, Interactive Stories, Slide Shows, Curriculum and Lesson Plans, links and more.  Excellent

 

WESTWARD BY SEA: A MARITIME PERSPECTIVE ON AMERICAN EXPANSION 1820-1890                                                  NEW!

            http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award99/mymhihtml/mymhihome.html

An American Memory collection from the Library of Congress.  “This selection of items from Mystic Seaport's archival collections includes logbooks, diaries, letters, business papers, and published narratives of voyages and travels. The unique maritime perspective of these materials offers a rich look at the events, culture, beliefs, and personal experiences associated with the settlement of California, Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest. A number of photographs, paintings, maps, and nautical charts are also included to illustrate the story of Americans’ western seaborne travel. Various themes are touched upon, including whaling, life at sea, shipping, women at sea, and native populations.”   Click on the Collection Connections for an extensive Teacher’s Guide.  Excellent

 

WHALE TIMES KIDS PAGE

            http://www.whaletimes.org/whakids.htm

Fishin’ for Facts; Ask Jake, the SeaDog, and The Neverending WhaleTale (students from around the world add paragraphs to this continuing story), Whale Puzzlers and Species Sleuth.  Excellent

 

WHALES ON THE NET                                         

            http://www.hotkey.net.au/~gclarke/home.html

Information on whales, whaling, whale art, photos, and much more.  Excellent

 

WILD DOLPHINS                           

            http://www.southwest.com.au/~kirbyhs/dolphins.html

Information on wild dolphins with lots of photos.  Includes many stories and photos of wild dolphins that have chosen to befriend humans around the world.  An outstanding site.  Excellent

 

YELLOW JACKIE – AN OCEAN MYSTERY CHALLENGE                            

            http://www.accessexcellence.org/yjackie/

An interactive mystery on the high seas in which student detectives use science-based clues to solve the mystery.  Excellent

 

 

ALL ABOUT LOBSTERS                           

            http://octopus.gma.org/lobsters/

Information on lobsters from the Gulf of Maine Aquarium.  Sections: All About Lobsters, Lobster Life Cycles, Lobster Boats, How to Eat Lobster, Tales & Trivia, Lobster Activities, and Lobster Links.  Very Good

 

ALL ABOUT TURTLES                                          

            http://octopus.gma.org/turtles/index.html

Information on turtles from the Gulf of Maine Aquarium.  Sections: A Tale of Two Turtles, Turtle Parts, Explore a Pond, Turtle Defense, Turtle Crafts, Turtle Species, and How You Can Help.  Very Good

 

AQUATIC ARCHIVE                                                          

            http://www.animalnation.com/Archive/aqua/Aqu.html

A large number of links to information about oceanographic topics.    Very Good

 

ARTIFICIAL REEFS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS

            http://www.indiana.edu/~scuba/artificial.html

Documents events at four ships sunk as artificial reefs in the Florida Keys.  Includes Artificial Reef Facts, Marine Biology (photos of sea life on the artificial reefs), Dive Info, an Underwater Tour and more.  Most of the information is on the USCG Duane.  Very Good

 

ATLAS OF THE OCEANS              

            http://www.oceansatlas.org/index.jsp

A United Nations site about the world’s oceans and ocean-related issues.  Sections: Uses, Issues, Geography and About.  Very Good

 

ARTHUR’S WATER CREATURE CLIP ART                  NEW!

            http://arthursclipart.tripod.com/marine.htm

Both color and black and white clipart images.  Click on the image at each section heading for a large number of clips.  Note: Many of the black and white images are suitable for printing as coloring pages.  Very Good

 

CAREER AFLOAT – GATEWAY TO MARITIME CAREERS              NEW!

            http://www.marad.dot.gov/acareerafloat/index.htm

A look at the many career opportunities on the water.  Sections: Job Training, Job Locations, Job Search, Job Descriptions. Salaries, and Proud History.  Includes a lot of Maritime Virtual Tours.  Very Good

 

CAREERS IN OCEANOGRAPHY            

            http://www.onr.navy.mil/onr/careers/

Information on careers in oceanography and marine-related fields.  An online book.   Very Good

 

THE CEPHALOPOD PAGE                                    

            http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/index.html

Information on cephalopods (octopuses, squid, etc.), articles, photos, FAQs, Postcards, links and more. Very Good

 

CHESAPEAKE BAY             NEW!

            http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/

Information on the Chesapeake Bay, its ecosystem and efforts to preserve and protect it.  Sections: Restoration and Protection, Bay Grasses, Harmful Algae, Bay Monitoring, Bay Life Guide, and Bay Education (including activities).   Very Good

 

COASTS IN CRISIS                        

            http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1075/contents.html

An online publication from the US Coast Guard on the problems and issues of our coastlines.  “In this book, the authors describe our Nation's varied coastal environments and the natural processes and human actions that are constantly modifying them. Ignorance of these processes exacerbates the tragic collisions between people and nature--such as Hurricane Hugo last year in South Carolina, which left thousands homeless and destroyed billions of dollars of property. We are still learning the lesson that Francis Bacon expounded almost four centuries ago: "Nature to be commanded must be obeyed." To obey and command nature, however, we must improve our scientific understanding of its forces and processes; only then can we address the crisis now facing coastal communities.”  Very Good

 

COCHRANE ARTIFICIAL REEF                                                             

            http://www.badarai.asn.au/

Details the deployment and subsequent success of an artificial reef two nautical miles off Barolin Point on the east coast of Australia.  Includes photos of the deployment, a history of the reef, and some neat “fishy photos”.  Very Good

 

COOL KIDS FISHIN’

            http://www.ncfisheries.net/kids/crustaceans.htm

Three sections: Crustaceans, Fish and Shellfish.  Topics include: Food Chain, Fish Rules (fishing regulations), Fish Parts, Fish Tales (stories), Connect the Crustacean, Shellfish Rehab and more.  Very Good

THE CORAL REALM                                

            http://www.coralrealm.com/homepage.html

A huge site on the coral reels and the variety of sea creatures that live on and around them.  Sections: Fish Encyclopedia, Shark Encyclopedia, Invertebrate Guide, Photos & Videos, Interactive Map, Feature Articles, and Test Your Fish & Shark ID Skills.  Note: Some sections require membership.  Very Good

 

CREATURES AND PLACES                                 

            http://octopus.gma.org/Tidings/index.html

Links to information on different marine creatures.  Sections: A Drop of Water; Myths, Legends and Folklore; A Snail’s Tale; The Tortoise-Shell Limpet; Anadromous or Catadromous; A Lumpy Fish: The Lumpfish; The Common Sand Dollar; The Common Loon; Bluefish; The Curious Bog; Gardens in the Sea; and The Winter Beach.  Very Good

 

CUBA REEFS – A LAST CARIBBEAN REFUGE                       

http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2002/02/01/html/ft_20020201.3.html

A National Geographic feature on coral reefs off Cuba.  Read the story from the magazine.  Sights and Sounds is a 7 minute video presentation narrated by underwater photographer David Doubilet.  Multimedia is a collection of video clips.  Click on the photos on the left for more detailed about the photo.  Very Good

   

 

DAVID’S DOLPHIN & WHALE PHOTOS

                http://neptune.atlantis-intl.com/dolphins/

A large collection of photos of dolphins and whales.  Includes audio clips of their sounds.  Links.  Very Good

 

DEEP-SEA PAGES              

            http://people.whitman.edu/~yancey/deepsea.html

A page developed by Dr. Paul Yancey who conducts deep sea research.  Includes expedition photos.  Sections: Our Study Sites; Pictures; Ships, Subs, Nets; How Life Copes; Environmental Issues; News Updated Feb. 2004; and Ask Questions.  Very Good

 

DEEP SEA SCIENCE                      

            http://www.lsc.org/extreme_deep/main.html

“Explore the links at the right and left to better understand the dynamic world of the ocean deep.”  Sections: Ecosystems, Life Forms, Geology, Technology, Diving, A Timeline of Sea Exploration, Deep Sea Creatures and Caring For, Ocean Exploration by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.  Very Good

 

DINOFISH – COELACANTH: FISH OUT OF TIME                  

            http://www.dinofish.com/navbar.html

“Pre-dating the dinosaurs by millions of years and once thought to have gone extinct with them 65 million years ago, the Coelacanth was "discovered" alive and well in 1938! Read all about it- including the latest efforts to protect the creature, its pop-up appearances in "out of the way" places”  Sections: Home, News, Recent History, Conservation, Biology & Behavior, Virtual Coelacanth Web cam, Online Videos, and Links.  Very Good

 

DOLPHINS – ORACLES OF THE SEA – A THINKQUEST SITE         

            http://library.thinkquest.org/17963/index-1.shtml?tqskip1=1

A student-created site on dolphins.  Sections: Evolution, Taxonomy & Species; Anatomy; Behavior; and The Relationship Between Humans and Dolphins.  Very Good

 

 

FISH FAQs

            http://www.wh.whoi.edu/faq/index.html

A very long list of Fish FAQs.  Very Good

 

IN SEARCH OF GIANT SQUID                                                    

            http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/squid.html

A look at the elusive giant squid.  Click on the red squid to enter.  Sections: From Myth to Reality; Compare the Giant Squid with Another Large Squid; How is a Squid Like a Snail?; Squid: The Inside Story; and Pictures from the Exhibition.  Very Good

 

JELLIES: LIVING ART                   NEW!

            http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_se/se_jla.asp

An online exhibit from the Monterey Bay Aquarium on jellies and their important role in the ocean ecosystem.  Very Good

 

KIDS ONLY – MANATEES AND DUGONGS                 
            http://www.cep.unep.org/kids/kids.html
Information for students on manatees and dugongs.  This is an illustrated book that can be printed out and colored.  Very Good
 

LIFE ON THE ROCKY SHORE – A THINKQUEST SITE          NEW!

            http://library.thinkquest.org/J001418/

“Life on the Rocky Shore is about ocean tidepools. We have many fun activites for you to explore on our web site. One of our interactive activities lets you identify the tidepool animals. We have word searches, crossword puzzles, and quizzes about each individual animal. We hope you will sign our guestbook and complete our survey. Most of all we hope that through this site you will learn about and enjoy our oceans and their animals.”  Includes information about tides, tidepools and the creatures found in them as well as games, puzzles and quizzes.  Very Good

 

LIFE WITHOUT LIGHT – DEEP IN THE GULF OF MEXICO             

            http://www.bio.psu.edu/People/Faculty/Fisher/cold_seeps/

Information about the life in the cold seeps on the ocean floor.  Sections: Ice Worms, The Tubeworms, The Mussels, The Brine Pool, The Food Chain, Our Laboratory, The Submarine and QuickTime Videos.  Very Good

 

MARINE MAMMAL STRANDING CENTER – BRIGANTINE, NEW JERSEY

            http://www.mmsc.org/index.html

Official site of the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine.  Includes information on the rescues and stranding they have responded to, News Articles and Archive, Marine Mammal Information, lots of information on Chessie the Manatee and links to other sites.  Very Good

 

MARINE MAMMALS                                                       

            http://www.gma.org/marinemammals/index.html

Information on marine mammals from the Gulf of Maine Aquarium.  Sections: Cetacean Profiles, Natural History, In the Gulf of Maine, Current Research, The Scientific Method, Classroom Activities, and Links & Bibliography.  Very Good

 

MIKE JOHNSON MARINE NATURAL HISTORY PHOTOGRAPHY

            http://www.earthwindow.com

A collection of excellent underwater photographs.  Students are welcome to use the photos in preparing class reports.  Very Good

 

NeMO – NEW MILLENNIUM OBSERVATORY           

            http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/nemo/index.html

Follow the New Millennium Observatory as scientists study undersea volcanoes 200 miles off the coast of Oregon and Washington.  Includes a teacher’s section.  Sections: Expeditions, NeMo Explorer, About NeMo, NeMo Net and Education.  Note: Includes lots of animations and video but not all would open every time.  Very Good

 

NEW ENGLAND AQUARIUM VIRTUAL TOUR                       

            http://www.neaq.org/vtour/index.html

Take a virtual tour of the New England Aquarium via web cams, a whale watch, an aquarium tour and more.  Very Good

 

NOAA SPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS

            http://www.education.noaa.gov/teachers.html

A large number of teacher resources including lesson plans, links, and all kinds of other resources.  Sections: Weather, Climate Change and Our Planet, Oceans and Coasts, Satellites and Space, and Training and Other Opportunities & External Links.  Check out the Training section for Resources for Teachers – Ideas for the Classroom.  Very Good   Note: Also in Websites section.

 

NORTHCOAST MARINE MAMMAL CENTER

            http://www.northcoastmarinemammal.org/index.html

Site for a private rescue and rehabilitation center for sick or injured seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises and whales in northern California.  Includes information on their programs and a Kids Fun Page with a Quiz.  There is also an Adopt-a-Seal program and a newsletter.  Very Good.

 

OCEAN CLIPART                NEW!

            http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/5924/creaturesofthesea.htm

A collection of clipart of fish, shells, arthropods and more.  Very suitable for primary/elementary students.  Very Good

 

OCEANS AND SEAS                       NEW!

            http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/earth/Water/ocean.html&back=/search/search_navigation.html&edu=mid

Basic information for Intermediate students on oceans and seas.  Contains numerous links to additional pages.  Suitable for grades 3-6.  Very Good

 

OCEANS VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP                          NEW!

            http://www.field-trips.org/tours/sci/oceank/_tourlaunch1.htm

A virtual field trip to the oceans.  Very Good

 

PACIFIC TSUNAMI MUSEUM                            

            http://www.tsunami.org/index.htm

Web site for the Pacific Tsunami Museum located in Hilo, Hawaii.  Includes Photo Archives and excellent FAQs on tsunamis.  Very Good

 

POLAR ENERGY -THE LITTLE ICEBREAKER THAT COULD

            http://whyfiles.org/061polar/

Details a project that deliberately froze a ship in the Arctic icepack and used it as a research station as it drifted for a year with the polar ice pack.  Photos show scientists gathering data.  Very Good

 

PROJECT NOPP OCEAN DRIFTERS                  

            http://www.drifters.doe.gov/

“Use data from ocean drifting buoys to integrate ocean science into your classroom science and math instruction. Enhance your lessons with suggested educational activities and curriculum materials developed and tested by teachers, or you can use only the data, background information and reference images.”  Note: Takes a while to load.  Very Good

 

SEA TURTLE ADVENTURE                      NEW!

            http://www.bioc.rice.edu/precollege/galbay/galbay99/teachers/sea_turtle/index.html

A game for primary students in which they must help the baby sea turtle survive in the Gulf of Mexico.  Very Good

 

SEA TURTLE HOTLIST                  
            http://www.iwebquest.com/hotlists/seaturtle.htm
A hotlist of websites on sea turtles.  Very Good

SEA TURTLE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTER               

            http://www.seaturtlehospital.org/

The site for a sea turtle sanctuary in North Carolina.  Includes information on the current and previous patients, the sea turtle nesting program and a photo album which includes photos of releases of former patients.  There are also before and after photos of the damage from hurricanes Dennis and Floyd.  Very Good

 

SEAHORSES IN PERIL                                         

            http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_se/se_ssh_peril.asp

Information on seahorses and the threats to them.  An exhibit of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  Very Good

 

SECRETS OF THE OCEAN REALM

            http://www.pbs.org/oceanrealm/index.html

Companion site to the PBS special.  Includes Sea Dwellers, In the School (lesson plans!), Secrets Quiz, Screensaver, Producers Secrets and more.  Very Good

 

SHARK CLIPART                NEW!

            http://www.postmodern.com/~fi/sharkpics/clipart/clip.htm

Good shark clipart suitable for primary students on up.  Very Good

 

SHARK FRIENDS               

            http://www.sharkfriends.com/

A lot of information about sharks and other sea creatures.  Tried to dispel the misconceptions about sharks.  Includes activities, games and links.  Very Good

 

TALES OF WHALES, TURTLES, SHARKS AND SNAILS – AN EDUCATION HANDBOOK                     NEW!

            http://www.graysreef.nos.noaa.gov/tw.html

“The purpose of this publication is to increase the awareness, knowledge and literacy of elementary students in marine-related subjects. It is written also for elementary teachers to use as a resource and guide to other environmental educational materials. Words underlined in the text are defined in a glossary in the back of the book.

The concepts and activities presented here can be infused into the curriculum singly or they can be used as a complete unit. While Gray's Reef is the model habitat for this publication, it's important to remember that marine education concepts apply to any coastal environment. Also, it's not necessary to be in proximity to a coastal environment in order to benefit from the activities presented in this handbook.”  Very Good

 

TOOTHWALKERS – GIANTS OF THE ARCTIC ICE               

            http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/toothwalkers/index.html

A PBS companion site on the Arctic walrus.  Includes photos and a video clip.  Sections: Behind the Scenes, Survival in the Arctic, Walruses in Captivity and Links.   Very Good

 

VIRTUAL WHALE WATCHING                                       

            http://www.whalewatch.ca/

Take a virtual tour on a whale watching boat and see whales, sea lions and porpoises.  Very Good

 

WAIKIKI AQUARIUM ONLINE                          

            http://www.mic.hawaii.edu/aquarium/

Take a virtual tour of the Waikiki Aquarium in Hawaii.  Sections include: Virtual Tour, Live Cameras (sharks, coral, seals) and Marine Life Profiles.  Very Good

 

WELCOME TO LIFE IN THE OCEAN                 NEW!

            http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/norma/oocean.htm

Photos and information suitable for elementary students.  Sections: Sandy Beach, Tide Pool, Kelp Forest, and Open Seas.  Click on the thumbnail photos at the bottom of each page for additional pages.  Very Good

 

THE WHALE CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND                 

            http://www.whalecenter.org/

Information about whales.  Sections: Whale Sightings, Whale Photos, Whale Sounds, Amazing Facts, Adopt-a-Whale, Earth Day Whale Watch and more.  Very Good

 

WHALE CONNECT-THE-DOTS BOOK               NEW!

            http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/books/whaledots/

A whale and dolphin connect-the-dots coloring book that primary students can make.  Very Good

 

WHALE PRINTOUTS (TO COLOR)                                                                                 

            http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/activities/whaletemplates/Templatelist.shtml

A large number of whale pages to print out and color.  Features 20 species of whales.  Very Good

 

WHAT’S IT LIKE WHERE YOU LIVE: MARINE ECOSYSTEMS   NEW!

            http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/

Information on three marine ecosystems: Shorelines, Temperate Oceans and Tropical Oceans.  A colorful site that accompanies the video series and also stands on its own.   Good photos and descriptions.      Very Good

See VT503863 Shorelines VT503864 Temperate Oceans and VT503865 Tropical Oceans. 

 

WOMEN EXPLORING THE OCEANS                 NEW!

            http://www.womenoceanographers.org/

“In this site we feature the careers of remarkable women in oceanography. Each woman has followed a different path to her career and has gathered unique insights about her profession. Learn how these women are contributing to our understanding and appreciation of the ocean and how they go about their daily work.”  Very Good

 

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF THE MANATEE                     NEW!

            http://www.manateeworld.net/

Information on manatees and the efforts to save them.  Includes FAQs, Picture Gallery, Mortality Stats, Manatee Cam, and much more.  Very Good

 

WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION                  NEW!

            http://www.whoi.edu/

“WHOI is dedicated to research and higher education at the frontiers of ocean science. Its primary mission is to develop and effectively communicate a fundamental understanding of the processes and characteristics governing how the oceans function and how they interact with Earth as a whole.”  Very Good

 

ADOPT-A-SHIP PROGRAM                      NEW!

            http://www.marad.dot.gov/Education/adopt_a_ship/index.html

 “This web site, a joint effort of The Propeller Club of the United States and the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, supports the teachers and ship crews that are participating in the Adopt-A-Ship program of The Propeller Club.  Each ship involved in the program is adopted by a classroom each school year.  During the year, the class and the ship's crew correspond and share experiences.  The plan fosters interests in geography, history, math, science, transportation, foreign and domestic trade, and English.  It affords children an outlet for natural interests in the sea and teaches them something of the staunch character of the men and women of the American Merchant Marine.

The web site offers an opportunity for all of the teachers and students (Grades 5-8) involved to share their experiences with other schools and ships.  Teachers are encouraged to share their curricular activities through this site and assist other teachers in enriching their curriculum.”

Teachers interested in the program should click on

http://www.marad.dot.gov/Education/adopt_a_ship/brochu1.htm for more information.Good

 

ANIMAL SOUNDS LIBRARY      

            http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/sound-library/index.htm

Audio files where students can hear a beluga whale, a bottlenose dolphin, dolphin clicks, a killer whale, California sea lions and more.  Good

 

AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC                                         

            http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/

Web site for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA.  Sections:  Virtual Tour (see below), Aquarium Video, Animal Database, and Behind the Scenes.  Good

 

BABES IN THE SEA – LARVAE OF MARINE INVERTEBRATES                

            http://www.ebiomedia.com/gall/larvae/larva1.html

Photos of the larvae of marine invertebrates, click for photos of the adults.  Note: The videos referenced are in the AVA Collection).    Good

 

THE BIOLUMINESCENCE WEB PAGE – A PHOTO GALLERY                    

            http://lifesci.ucsb.edu/~biolum/

An explanation of bioluminescence and excellent photos of the organisms in the world’s oceans that are bioluminescent.  Sections: Myths, Photos, Organisms, Chemistry, Physiology, Modeling and Instruments.  Good

 

BRAINPOP – UNDERWATER WORLD              

            http://www.brainpop.com/science/plantsandanimals/underwater/index.weml?&tried_cookie=true

A fun site for kids with a movie, activities, and more.  Note that this is a subscription service and you can not do all of the activities without subscribing.  Good

 

CALIFORNIA GRAY WHALE TUTORIAL                                                                      http://www.slocoe.org/resource/whale/whale1.html

Information on the California Gray Whale. Sections: What is a California Gray Whale?, Migration, Feeding, Whaling, Behavior, Calving, Whale Blowing sounds.  Good

CAREERS IN MARINE SCIENCE                                    http://oceanlink.island.net/career/career2.html

A page of links for those interested in a career in marine science.  Good

 

CREATURE FEATURES                

            http://www.ocean.udel.edu/deepsea/level-1/creature/creature.html

From the Prepare to Descend! Voyage to the Deep site, four video clips of Tubeworm, Vent Crab, Pompeii Worm, and Ancient Bacteria.  Good

 

CRESLI PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS            

            http://www.cresli.org/cresli/slides/slides.html

Photo slideshows and videos on whales, turtles and seals.  Good

 

CYBEREEF – PHOTO GALLERY              NEW!

            http://www.cybereef.com/index.html

A collection of photo galleries on coral reefs and the marine life that live there.  Sections: Latest News, Dominica, Slideshows, Curaçao, Undercover Agents, The Eyes Have It, The Nudibranch Page, Mabul & Sipadan, and Hot Links.  Good photos.  Good

 

DAILY TIDE AND CURRENT PREDICTION CALCULATOR     NEW!

            http://www.tides.com/mwpred.htm

Enter a location and get a detailed tide and wave chart.  For Cumberland County it includes the Maurice River and the Delaware Bay.  Good

 

DEEPEST PLACE IN THE OCEAN – EXTREME SCIENCE                             http://www.extremescience.com/DeepestOcean.htm

Information from Extreme Science on the Challenger Deep, the deepest place in the ocean.  Good

 

DIVING SINAI                    

            http://www.geographia.com/egypt/sinai/divehome.html

Underwater life in the Red Sea.  Click on Life of the Red Sea for the Marine Life Gallery with excellent photos.  Good

 

DOLPHIN LOG                                                       

            http://www.dolphinlog.org/

The young people’s site for the Cousteau Society.  Discusses the Cousteau Society Ships, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, Creature Features, Cousteau Quiz, a Gallery of Images and more. Good

 

EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT SEA ICE….         

            http://southport.jpl.nasa.gov/polar/iceinfo.html

Just what it says.  Information on sea ice with good photos.  Good

 

THE EXPLORAQUARIUM            

            http://www.ocean.washington.edu/people/grads/scottv/exploraquarium/

Explore the ocean off the coast of Washington.  Click the photo to the left for deep thermal vents.  Good

 

EXPLORING THE DEEP OCEAN FLOOR                      

            http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/exploring.html

This site discusses the environment on the deep ocean floor including hot springs and bizarre sea life.  Good

FIONA’S SHARK MANIA                                     

            http://www.oceanstar.com/shark/

All about sharks.  Includes: What’s New, Gallery of Sharks, Fun Shark Graphics, True Shark Stories, Cool Sharks of the Web, Shark Clip Art, SharkL (mailing list), Sharks in Literature and links.  Good

 

FISH FREE COLORING BOOK PAGES FOR KIDS                   NEW!

            http://www.lafishmag.com/clipart.html

A large number of free coloring pages for primary students.  Good

 

FISH WORD SEARCH PUZZLE                 NEW!

            http://www.thepotters.com/puzzles/fish.html

A word search puzzle on fish to print out for students.  Good

 

FISHEYE VIEW CAM                     

            http://www.fisheyeview.com/

A camera allows virtual views of a coral reef aquarium.  See live views plus archived photos and video streams.  Good

 

FLORIDA KEYS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY              
            http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/
Information on the resources and the conservation efforts of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  Good
 

THE GREAT CHINESE MARINER ZHENG HE (CHENG HO)                                    http://www.chinapage.com/zhenghe.html

The great Chinese mariner Zheng He traveled the oceans in the 15th century, visiting 30 countries over 28 years.  The site features a drawing of his huge ship (much larger than Columbus’) and a map of this travels.  Good

 

HORSESHOE CRABS: A LIVING FOSSIL                                 

            http://www.dnr.state.md.us/education/horseshoecrab/

Information on horseshoe crabs.  Sections: Life History, Anatomy, The Fishery, Conservation, Medical Uses, Raising Crabs and How to Help.  Good

 

HYDROTHERMAL ENVIRONMENTS ON THE OCEAN FLOOR     

            http://www.resa.net/nasa/ocean_hydrothermal.htm

An examination of the ocean floor environment.  Sections: Mid-Oceanic Ridges, Hydrothermal Communities, Vent Bio-Chemistry, Hypotheses About Life’s Origins, Current Research and Links.  Good

 

LATITUDE: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF 15TH CENTURY NAVIGATION              

            http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~feegi/index.html

Explores how the development of latitude helped explorers navigate the world’s oceans.  Sections include: Ships, Beacons, Maps, Latitude, Compass Rose, Earth’s Magnetism, Traditional Sailing, Science of Sailing, Coastal Navigation, Ocean Currents, Ocean Weather, Longitude, and more.  Each section provides simple illustrations and information.  Good for students.  Good

 

LET’S GO TO THE OCEAN!                                                                                 

            http://www.bry-backmanor.org/oceanfun/ocean.html

Primary grade crafts with ocean themes.  Includes coloring pages.  Good

 

THE MARIANA TRENCH             

            http://www.smarterscience.com/marianatrench.html

Information on the Mariana Trench, the deepest place in the ocean.  Includes: Deepsea Diving Machines, Biology, Geology & Geochemistry, Plate Tectonics and Geological Oceanography, Japan Marine Science and Technology Center (JAMSTEC), Literature and Oceanography Links.  Good

 

MARINE ECOSYSTEMS               

            http://geosun1.sjsu.edu/~dreed/105/exped7/1.html

An examination of the chemical and biochemical basis for the marine ecosystem.  Sections: Introduction, Chemosynthesis, Carbon in the Sea, Carbon Cycle, Conditions for Life, Limiting Nutrients, Nutrient Distribution, and Life in the Sea.  Good

 

MARITIME HISTORY                    NEW!

            http://marad.dot.gov/Education/maritimehistory.htm

A site from the US Maritime Administration on Maritime History in the U. S.   Good

 

MINING CRAB IN ALASKA – KAREN DUCEY             NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/ducey/index.html

A photo essay with captions on fishing for crabs in Alaska.  Each photo has a description of the action.  Includes biographical information and a discussion of her work.  Good

 

MONSTER WAVES – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY                       

            http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/disaster/monster.html

A classroom activity on tsunamis.  Good

 

MONSTERS OF THE DEEP                      

            http://www.abc.net.au/science/ocean/monsters/default.htm

An Australian site on cephalopods.  Sections: Tons of Tentacles, Blue Blood, Giants of the Deep, Soup-ed Up Snails, Packed with Poison, Calamari Cuisine and New Aussie Species.   Good

 

NEPTUNE’S WEB – OCEAN TRIVIA                                          

                http://pao.cnmoc.navy.mil/educate/neptune/trivia/trivia.htm

A page of trivia questions about the world’s oceans and marine life. Good

 

OCEAN CLIPART FOR KIDS                    NEW!

            http://www.cyberbreezes.com/clipart/ocean.htm

A collection of clipart (29) suitable for elementary students.  Good

 

OCEAN LIFE RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS                                                   

            http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/CITE/oceanlife.htm

A page of links to marine life resources.  Includes fact sheets.  Good

 

OCEAN LINK – INTERACTIVE INFORMATION PAGE FOR THE MARINE SCIENCES

            http://oceanlink.island.net/

Sections include: Ask a Scientist, Answer Archives, Ocean Info, Career Info, AquaFacts, Ocean News, Records, Ocean Matters, Students in Action, a Glossary and Links.  Good

 

OCEAN MINING                

            http://www.geology.utoronto.ca/marinelab/research/mining.html

Information on plans to mine mineral riches from the ocean floor.  Good

 

OCEANOGRAPHY FROM THE SPACE SHUTTLE                   

            http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/CAMPAIGN_DOCS/OCDST/shuttle_oceanography_web/oss_cover.html

“Oceanography from the Space Shuttle is a pictorial survey of oceanic phenomenon visible to the naked eye from space.”  Photos from space showing various coastlines, islands, ship wakes, pollution and more.  Good

 

OCEANOGRAPHY LINKS            

            http://www.alfy.com/teachers/teach/thematic_units/Oceanography/OCN_1.asp

Fun oceanography links for primary students.  Good

 

OCEANOGRAPHY THEME PAGE                        NEW!

            http://www.cln.org/themes/oceanography.html

A page of annotated links to sites about oceanography.   Good

 

OCEANS WORD SEARCH PUZZLE                     NEW!

            http://www.thepotters.com/puzzles/oceans.html

A word search puzzle to print out for students.  Good

 

THE OCTOPUS SHOW                   

            http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/octopus/

A PBS site on the octopus.  Sections: A Legend of the Deep, Sea Chameleons, Cephalopod Quiz, and Resources.  Includes photos and a video clip.  Good

 

THE PERFECT PEARL                              

            http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pearl/

A Nova online site about pearls and oysters.  Sections: What’s Killing the Oysters?, Culture of Freshwater Pearls, How Many Pearls?, History of Pearls, Teacher’s Guide, and Resources.  Good

 

PUGET SOUND EXPLORER’S GUIDE                           

            http://www.pugetsound.org/kids/explorer/

A guide for kids of the Puget Sound and its inhabitants.  Good

 

REEF ZONE TOUR                         

            http://www.cyberlearn.com/zones.htm

A brief tour of the different zones where the beach meets a coral reef.  The types of creatures living in each zone are explained.  Good

 

THE SALT MARSH – LESSON PLAN                 

            http://web.utk.edu/~ctmelear/ossabaw/LeggettVestWilliams/Lesson3Leggett.htm

A lesson plan on salt marshes.  Students must compare and contrast the different components of a salt marsh and prepare a report on one of them.  Good

 

SEA CRITTERS THAT CAN REALLY HURT YOU!                              

            http://www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/critters.html#seasnake

Information on dangerous and venomous sea organisms around Hawaii.  Includes:  Anemones, Barracudas, Cone Snails, Moray Eels, Needle Fish, Sharks, Stingrays, Sea Urchins, Sea Snakes and several more.  Good

 

A SEA FULL OF SHARKS – A THINKQUEST SITE                              

            http://library.thinkquest.org/J001597/kj.html?tqskip1=1

A student-created site discussing different kinds of sharks: Meat-eating Sharks, Basking Sharks, and Ancient Sharks.  Other sections: Picture Album, Shark Chat!, Simulation, The Games Page and Bibliography.  Good

           

SEA SERPENTS AND LAKE MONSTERS                                             

            http://theshadowlands.net/serpent.htm

A speculative site that discusses the tales about sea serpents and how some sea creatures thought extinct have been found.  Not meant to be taken too seriously.  Good

 

SEA TURTLES AND THREATS TO THEIR SURVIVAL                      

            http://www.cccturtle.org/contents.htm

Information on sea turtles and the threats they face.  Includes species, habits, nesting, a quiz, a video clip and more.  Good

SEAHORSES – DOCSLAW SEAWORLD                        

            http://www.seahorses.de/

Information and photos of seahorses and pipe fish.  Sections: Seahorses, Pipefish, Keeping, Breeding, Gallery, Exotic, Links, and Tanks.  Good

 

THE SEARCH FOR TOXIC ALGAE ALONG THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA

                                                                                    NEW!

            http://www.whoi.edu/redtide/antarctica/

Read the dispatches of scientists studying toxic algae (red tides) and whether they occur in Antarctic waters.  Good

SEASHELLS.ORG                                  

            http://www.seashells.org/

Information for students about seashells.  Sections: Beachcombing, Identifying Your Treasures, Cleaning and Preserving Seashells, Cleaning and Preserving Sealife, What to Do with Your Finds, and Legend of the Sand Dollar.  Good

 

SHARK MYTHS                  

            http://www.marinelab.sarasota.fl.us/~rhueter/sharks/myths.phtml

Shark myths and the facts.  Good

 

SHARK PUZZLES AND COLORING PAGES                              http://www.kidzone.ws/sharks/activities/shark_cryptogram.htm

Shark cryptogram, coloring pages, shark decode, shark maze, shark word scramble and more.  Good

SHARK SCHOOL                 NEW!

            http://www.sdnhm.org/kids/sharks/index.html

Kids can learn all about sharks.  Sections: From the Shore to the Deep Blue Sea, Shark FAQs, Shark Glossary, Fish & Games, Shark Parts, and Ponder This.  Good

 

SHARK SURFARI ONLINE QUIZ                        

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/sharks/

An online shark quiz from National Geographic.  Includes More About Sharks and Ask the Expert.  Good

 

SHARKS: THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MONSTERS OF THE DEEP- A THINKQUEST SITE                                                                                  

            http://library.thinkquest.org/J001458/?tqskip1=1

A student-created site on sharks.  Sections include: Facts, Species, Structure, Instinct, Interview, Interesting Facts, Quiz, Poll, Shark Pictures, Shark Movies and more.  Good

 

THE SKINNY ON… THE OCEAN IN A SEASHELL                 

            http://www.discovery.com/area/skinnyon/skinnyon971226/skinnyon.html

A site for kids on why you can “hear” the ocean when you put a shell to your ear.  Good

 

SUBMERSIBLES                

            http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/subs/subs.html

Information on the manned and unmanned submersibles used for ocean exploration.  Good

 

TURNING THE TIDE ON TRASH: MARINE DEBRIS CURRICULUM                     http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/OCPD/Marine/contents.html

An printable book on marine debris from the EPA.  In PDF format.  Includes additional materials for both students and teachers.  Good

 

UNDER THE SEA: AQUATIC LIFE CROSSWORD PUZZLE   

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/xwords/20010715.html

A crossword puzzle from the NY Times on aquatic life.  Good

 

THE VIRTUAL OCEAN                                                      http://www.euronet.nl/users/janpar/virtual/ocean.html

A look at some of the microscopic sea life found in oceans.  Good

 

VIRTUAL WORLD: GREAT BARRIER REEF               NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/earthpulse/reef/reef1_flash.html

A virtual tour of the life on the Great Barrier Reef.  You get an animated reef scene where you click on the animal to see more information.  Very limited but good for primary students.  Good

 

THE WHALESONG PROJECT                 

            http://www.whalesong.net/index.htm

Audio clips of whale “songs”.  Good

 

WHAT IS UNDERWATER ARCHEOLOGY?                              

            http://www.abc.se/~pa/uwa/whatis.htm

Information on underwater archeology and what we can find.  Good

 

WONDERS OF THE SEAS LESSONS                  

            http://www.oceanicresearch.org/lesson.html

Eight lessons on sea creatures.  Sponges, Cnidarians, Mollusks, Echinoderms, Arthropods, Sperm Whales, Chessie the Manatee and Sharks.  Good info and pictures.  Note: Not lesson plans as previously listed.  Good

 

WORLD DIVE QUEST                    NEW!

            http://www.goals.com/WorldDiveQuest/

Follow the adventures of a diver in locations around the world.  Sections: Fiji, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, Red Sea, South Africa, Zanzibar, and Galapagos I.  Excellent photos.  Descriptions of the area and marine life.  Good

 

A WORLD OF MOONLIGHT – DAVID DOUBILET GALLERY                      NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/doubilet/index.html

A collection of 11 photos from one of the world’s top underwater photographers.  Includes biographical information. Good

 

 

                                                                    

LESSON PLANS & ACTIVITIES

 

THE AMAZING OCTOPUS - LESSON PLAN                  NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/octopus/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the octopus.  “Students will understand the following:  1.

Some animals, including the octopus and other cephalopods, have the ability to change their body color to blend in with their environments.  2.  This ability, known as camouflage, protects them from predators by making them practically invisible.”  Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.  Excellent

 

AQUATIC HABITATS – LESSON PLAN              NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/aquatichabitats/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on how people pollute aquatic habitats and how to prevent it.   “Students will understand the following: 1.         The way a community disposes of its wastewater may negatively affect local aquatic habitats.  2.     It is possible to find wastewater-disposal methods that do not pollute local aquatic habitats.   3.            Both governments and citizens can take action to ensure that waste water will be disposed of in a way that is not destructive to aquatic habitats.”   Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.   Excellent

 

THE ARAL SEA: WHAT’S HAPPENING TO WHOM? – LESSON PLAN  NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/whom.html

A lesson plan on the Aral Sea for grades 9-12.  “As the Aral Sea recedes, the region's residents are forced to deal with the ensuing changes to this important freshwater habitat. While most people are adversely impacted by changes to the sea, their reactions differ depending on their occupations and roles. Students will research the situation in the Aral Sea region; explain how health, agriculture, fishing, and ecosystems are affected; and determine how specific individuals might be impacted. They will conclude by pretending to be specialists called in to help, and listing the things they think need to be done to help.”  Excellent

 

ARE HAMMERHEADS A KEYSTONE SPECIES? – LESSON PLAN  NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/seasshark.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on keystone species.  “Students will first learn what a keystone species is, and then they will draw a simple food chain to see why tiger sharks are considered a keystone species in Shark Bay. Next, they will turn their attention to hammerheads, reading about the hammerhead diet and the reasons sharks (including hammerheads) are threatened by fishing practices. They will consider how scientists might go about trying to determine if hammerheads are keystone species, and they will conclude by creating public education brochures or reports describing why this would be such a significant discovery.”  Excellent

 

BIOLUMINESCENCE: LIVING LIGHT – LESSON PLAN                    NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/seasbiolum.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on bioluminescence.  “Below 3,300 feet (1,000 meters), the waters of the ocean are dark and cold. No sunlight penetrates these depths, and 90 percent of the creatures here produce their own light in a chemical process called "bioluminescence." In this lesson students will learn about bioluminescent creatures and the underwater world in which they live.”  Excellent

BUILD A WHALE OF A CRITTERCAM – LESSON PLAN                   NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/18/crittercam.html

A lesson plan for upper elementary/middle school students in which they “build” a camera to attach to a whale.  “Your Mission     Help the Crittercam team study humpback whales! Your job? Build a video camera and attach it to a humpback whale.”  Suggestions for younger and older students.  Excellent

 

CHANGING WITH THE TIDE – LESSON PLAN                        NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/oceans35.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on tides.  “In this lesson, students will learn about and act out the functions of the salt marsh habitat. They will learn about the changing nature of salt marshes, and will imitate the actions of the plants and animals that live there in order to understand life in the salt marsh.”  Excellent

 

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES FOR OCEANOGRAPHY               NEW!

            http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/activities.html

A full page of classroom activities in PDF format.  You’ll need Acrobat Reader to read them. Click here to download the free software if you don’t have it. http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html#reader    Excellent

 

CLUES FROM THE BLACK SEA – LESSON PLAN                   NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g68/blacksea.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the Black Sea.  “Current theory says that during the Ice Age, the Black Sea was an isolated freshwater lake surrounded by farmland that was eventually flooded. This lesson has students apply the scientific concepts of theory and hypothesis to the studies being conducted in the Black Sea. They will illustrate maps to explain the flood theory, and hypothesize what specific pieces of evidence might reveal about the theory. Students will conclude by writing plans pretending they are going to lead the next Black Sea expedition and hypothesizing what they might find and what those findings might signify.”  Excellent

 

COASTS – LESSON PLAN              NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/coasts/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on America’s coastlines.  “Students will:  1. understand the different types of marine coasts and where they are located in the United States and its territories;  2.      understand the difference between primary and secondary marine coasts and how they are formed; and 3.  understand and identify some of the life forms that inhabit different marine coastal regions.”   Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.   Excellent

 

CONTRASTS IN BLUE: LIFE ON THE CARIBBEAN CORAL REEF AND THE ROCKY COAST OF MAINE – LESSON PLANS            

            http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/contrast/cover.html

“The striking contrasts between these two dynamic ecosystems are the theme of this website and are among the many topics visitors can ponder in Exploring Marine Ecosystems, a permanent exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The activities that follow encourage students to consider the role of temperature, sunlight, waves, and tides in the creation of unique marine environments.”  Includes Cover, Background Essay, Lesson Plan 1, Lesson Plan 2, Lesson Plan 3, and Resources.  Excellent

 

CORAL REEFS – EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT – LEARNING MODULE

                                                                                                            NEW!

            http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/coralreef/CRmain.html

“Challenge 1         The Committee on Reef Area Loss (CORAL) is concerned about the loss of biodiversity that could accompany a greatly reduced coral reef area. It has been looking into ways to prevent such a loss of biodiversity. CORAL is considering building artificial reefs where natural reefs are being destroyed. They have asked you to consider the pros and cons of artificial reefs and evaluate how well they would preserve biodiversity.

Challenge 2          Officials of the United Nations Environmental Program with headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, have recently become concerned with news from scientists throughout the world that coral reefs are dying at alarming rates. The officials have called together representatives from nations around the world to examine the problem and make recommendations on what is to be done (if anything). As a member of the U.S. delegation, you have been assigned the job of thoroughly investigating the problem and making recommendations. You should consider a number of things:

Are the reports true?      If they are, what are the reasons?      Are humans responsible for the death of coral reefs, or is it mostly a natural event?”   Includes Teacher Pages on how to use the module.  Excellent

 

                                                           

 

CORAL SEAS – BLUE PLANET – LESSON PLAN                     NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_coralseas/

A lesson plan on the coral seas for grades 6-8.  “Students will • speculate about the changes that are taking place in our galaxy;  • research the latest ideas on Blue Planet: Coral Seas; and  • discuss the consequences of events that may happen in the future.”   Note: We have the video.  Order VT507065   Excellent

 

DEAD ZONES: WHY ARE THE WATERS DYING? – LESSON PLAN  NEW!

            http://www.actionbioscience.org/environment/lessons/howarthlessons.pdf

A lesson plan for high school students on the “dead zones” of the ocean where pollution has killed off the marine life.  Accompanies the article “Bringing Dead Zones Back to Life”.  Excellent

 

DEEP-SEA GEYSERS: HYDROTHERMAL VENTS – LESSON PLAN            NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g68/hydrovents.html

A lesson plan on hydrothermal vents for grades 6-8.  “Hydrothermal vents are geysers located on the ocean floor in the deep sea. Students will learn about these vents by doing a simulation and viewing pictures of animals that live near the vents. They'll conclude by writing letters pretending they're divers requesting funding for a future trip to study hydrothermal vents.”  Excellent

 

THE DISAPPEARING FISH: INVESTIGATING THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF THE VANISHING WILD SALMON – LESSON PLAN                                               

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990914tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on endangered species for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students examine the theories behind the drastic decline of the wild salmon population and the ecological ramifications of this decline. Students will work in groups, each focusing on one theory, to create a 'campaign' to persuade the public to help end this destruction of the salmon population.”  Excellent

 

DOES THE HAMMER HELP? (HAMMERHEAD SHARK) – LESSON PLAN

                                                                                                            NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/hammerhelp.html

A lesson plan on sharks for grades 3-5.  “In this lesson, students will consider the significance of the hammerhead shark's "hammer." They will watch two videos and compare the way hammerhead sharks and white sharks swim. Students will click through an interactive shark diagram to learn about sharks' senses, and hypothesize about how hammerheads' head shape might enable them to use their senses differently from other types of shark. They will conclude by writing paragraphs answering the question: "What good is the 'hammer' for a hammerhead shark?"  Excellent

 

DOLPHIN DEMEANOR: EXPLORING DOLPHIN BEHAVIORS IN THE SCIENCE CLASSROOM – LESSON PLAN                                                        

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990706tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on dolphins for grades 6-12.  “    In this lesson, students examine new evidence of violent behavior in dolphins as a springboard for research on various dolphin behaviors, such as communication, feeding patterns, group behaviors, parenting, navigation, and interactions with humans.”   Excellent

 

DUGONGS, ELEPHANTS AND EVOLUTION – LESSON PLAN                      NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/ccdugong.html

A lesson plan on the similarities of dugongs to elephants for grades 6-8.  “In this lesson, students will compare and contrast the physical appearance and adaptations of dugongs with those of elephants, and they'll consider the evolutionary relationship between these two animal species. They will discuss how the dugong's adaptations have made it well suited to life in the ocean, and they will conclude by writing paragraphs about the things they've discussed and learned.”  Excellent

 

EARTH’S WATERS – LESSON PLAN                  NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/earthswaters/

A lesson plan for grades K-5 on the oceans.  “Students will  • map the geography of the ocean floor;  • describe the different topographic features of the ocean floor; and  • compare the topography of the ocean floor to the topography of Earth above sea level.  .”   Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.   Excellent

 

FINDING MONSTER WAVES – LESSON PLAN                        NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g68/wavesmonster.html

A lesson plan on ocean waves for grades 6-8.  “In this lesson, students learn about the varying sizes of ocean waves, what causes the variation, and where to find giant waves. Students will learn the parts of a wave, and discuss wave height, wavelength, and wave period. They will experiment with creating waves on the National Geographic Wave Simulator and discuss how geography affects waves.”  Excellent

 

FISH FARM: AN OPEN-ENDED, STUDENT-CENTERED LABORATORY ACTIVITY

                                                                                                NEW!

            http://www.accessexcellence.org/AE/AEC/AEF/1996/manerchia_fish.html

A classroom activity for junior/senior high students.  “This activity has been developed in order to provide students with an open ended problem to solve over an extended time period. The goals are to promote critical thinking skills, team work skills, scientific problem solving skills, computer literacy skills, and time management skills. It is intended that this exercise run concurrently with the standard Biology curriculum. It can be extended throughout an entire semester if need be. Students are told that we have been contacted by a fictitious company which raises tropical fish in order for us to do some basic research for them so that they might keep their production costs down. They need to know the optimum salinity in which to hatch the brine shrimp that they use for food. To do the above students are required to design, write and carry out an original laboratory protocol to determine the best salinity in which to hatch the brine shrimp.”  Excellent

 

FISH STORIES: EXPLORING THE PACIFIC RIM BY WRITING DOCUMENTARY FILM TREATMENTS (FISHING INDUSTRY) – LESSON PLAN    NEW!

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20040714wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on the fishing industries in Pacific Rim countries for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students conduct background research about a Pacific Rim country to develop a premise for a documentary film about the fate of traditional fishing industries in the area.”  Excellent

 

THE FISH TANK – LESSON PLANS                                

            http://members.aol.com/DonnAnCiv/TheFishTank.html#School

Lesson plans and activities for middle school students on fish and marine life.  Sections: Fish School, Fish Tales, Salmon, Hermit Crabs, Goldfish & Aquariums, Fish Arts & Crafts, Free Fishy Fun, Marine Life Clipart and Marine Resources.  Be sure to scroll down the page for info. Excellent

 

THE FISH TRADE – LESSON PLAN                    NEW!

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=73

A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the fishing industry.  “Introduce the lesson by saying:"We have read that American consumers spend more than $46 billion each year on a wide variety of fish and shellfish products. In fact, people around the world eat more fish than any other type of animal protein. We will look at how fisheries contribute to global food security. We will also examine the increasingly important and complementary role of aquaculture and inland capture fisheries in fish production for human nutrition and poverty alleviation in many rural areas."   Excellent

 

FISHING FOR SOLUTIONS: PROPOSALS TO SOLVING THE GLOBAL OVERFISHING PROBLEM….            - LESSON PLAN                                           http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19990310wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on natural resources.  “In this lesson, students investigate the many ecological and economic issues related to overfishing the world's marine resources. Working in committees, students will research the related topics of equipment and fishing techniques, economic impact, 'by-catch,' environmental impact and pollution, and ecosystem preservation, culminating in the drafting of statements addressed to the other committees and to the United Nations regarding their topics and proposals.”  Excellent

 

FROZEN SEAS – BLUE PLANET – LESSON PLAN                   NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_frozenseas/

A lesson plan on the polar oceans for grades 6-8.  “Students will • research the behavioral and physical adaptations of an animal from the Arctic or Antarctic; and  • create a poster and make a presentation about the animal.”   Note: We have the video.  Order VT507066    Excellent

 

HARVESTING THE OCEAN FOR MEDICAL SCIENCE – LESSON PLAN  NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/seasharvest.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on medicines from the sea.  “This lesson introduces students to two marine species, one (the horseshoe crab) that is currently invaluable in the field of medicine and another (Bugula neritina) that is likely to prove beneficial in the future. Students will read articles discussing these species and brainstorm the challenges and benefits of harvesting them from the ocean. They will conclude by writing plans pretending they're scientists who are going to harvest the species for medical purposes.”  Excellent

 

IN THE COMPANY OF WHALES – LESSON PLAN                  NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/inthecompanyofwhales/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on whales.  “Students will understand the following:  1.  Whales live in all the oceans of the world and migrate in search of food and appropriate breeding grounds throughout the year.  2.  Marine scientists are interested in tracking the movements of whales so that they can study the effects of environmental changes on whale behavior.”  Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.   Excellent

 

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON COLORING BOOK              NEW!

            http://www.sfwmd.gov/stude/cbtoc.htm

A huge coloring book to print out.  Some of the pages: Blue Crabs, Cormorants, Whelks, Loggerheads, Seahorses, Jellyfish and many more.  Excellent

 

INTO THE OCEAN – LESSON PLAN                   NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/gk2/doubiletocean.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on the oceans and marine life.  “Students are familiar with fish and perhaps some other underwater animals, but have they ever thought about where in the ocean these animals live? In this lesson, students will be encouraged to learn more about the special adaptations of animals with which they are already familiar. It will introduce students to different ocean depths and to the ways in which animals have adapted to live at different depths. In the process, they will look at the photographs of David Doubilet and think about how photography can help save the oceans.”   Note: See A World of Moonlight and Kingdom of Coral elsewhere in this list for photographs by David Doubilet.   Excellent

 

IS THE ENVIRONMENT IN DEEP WATER?  EXPLORING NATURAL AND HUMAN THREATS ON FRESH WATER AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS – LESSON PLAN

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19991130tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on aquatic ecosystems for grades 6-12.  “Students closely examine, in small groups, various fresh water and marine ecosystems, researching the aquatic life they support, threats from nature and humans, and preservation efforts. Each group then creates a model of their researched water ecosystem that demonstrates both physical form and the natural and human threats to this system.”   Excellent

 

IT COMES IN WAVES: EXAMINING THE DIFFERENT ORIGINS OF TSUNAMI WAVES AND RESEARCHING THE BEHAVIOR OF SOME RECENT TSUNAMIS – LESSON PLAN

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020423tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on tsunamis for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students learn about the behavior and different origins of tsunami waves, and they then research and chart the path of certain tsunamis from recent history.”    Excellent

 

LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLES AND THEIR SPECIAL COMPASSES – LESSON PLAN                                                              http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/09/gk2/migrationturtles.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on sea turtles.  “Students will learn some basic information about leatherbacks and hypothesize why individual leatherbacks were able to find their way from Costa Rica to the Galápagos Islands without any obvious navigational aids. They will learn to use compasses and hear about research indicating that leatherbacks might have their own internal compasses. Finally, students will draw pictures of people and leatherbacks navigating the ocean and write paragraphs to explain their drawings.”  Excellent

 

LESSON PLANS FOR OCEANOGRAPHY                       NEW!

            http://www.ecsu.ctstateu.edu/depts/edu/textbooks/ocean.html

A page of links to lesson plans on oceanography and marine life.  Excellent

LIFE AT SEA: CAREERS IN MARINE SCIENCE – LESSON PLAN               NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g68/thys.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on career opportunities in marine science.  “This lesson will help students learn more about recent advances in the study of sea life and how the people who do this work may ultimately affect the sea—its health and inhabitants. Students will investigate different careers in ocean study.”  Excellent

 

LIGHTING UP THE SEA – LESSON PLAN                                  NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/seaslighting.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on light zones in the ocean.  “Students will explore the reasons for bioluminescence by conducting a simulation and viewing pictures of bioluminescent marine animals on the Web. They will conclude by pretending to be deep sea divers and writing journal entries about their impressions of a bioluminescent animal they have encountered.”  Excellent

 

NJ MARINE SCIENCES CONSORTIUM LESSON PLANS                  NEW URL!

            http://www.njmsc.org/Education/Lesson%20Plans/Lesson_Plans.htm

Twenty-five lesson plans on marine science topics with grade levels ranging from K-12.   Examples: Build-A-Fish, Clarity and Turbidity, Homes for Hermit Crabs, Mapping the Ocean Floor.    Excellent

 

THE OCEAN AND HUMAN MEDICINE – LESSON PLAN                  NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/seasmed.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on finding medicines in the ocean.  “Students may already know that many plants have medicinal properties; in this lesson, they will learn that some marine animals have also been shown to benefit humans medically. Students will learn about two species of marine animal—Bugula neritina and the horseshoe crab—and their medical benefits (or potential benefits). They will conclude by writing speeches discussing the relationship between ocean health and human medicine.”  Excellent

 

THE OCEAN AND WEATHER: EL NIÑO AND LA NIÑA – LESSON PLAN  NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/15/g68/seasnino.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the how the weather and oceans interact.  “In this lesson, students will explore the weather phenomena El Niño and La Niña. They will learn about when and where these weather changes occur, and about the effects they have on everything in their wake.”  Excellent

 

OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS – LESSON PLANS                    

            http://www.eagle.ca/~matink/themes/Biomes/oceans.html#LES

Links to oceanography websites and 24 lesson plans.  Also in Websites section.  Excellent

 

OCEAN EXPLORER – NOAA        - LESSON PLANS                             http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/about/about.html

Over 160lesson plans on ocean sciences.  “Each hands-on lesson includes the following sections: Focus Questions, Learning Objectives, Teaching Time, Seating Arrangement, Background Information, a step-by-step Learning Procedure, The “Me” Connection, Connections to Other Subjects, Evaluations, Extensions, Resources, Student Handouts, and connections to daily expedition Web logs. Each activity is correlated to the National Science Education Standards and has Adaptations for Teachers of Deaf Students.”  Excellent

 

OCEAN OF KNOW  - WEBQUESTS AND LESSON PLANS                 

            http://www.oceanofk.org/home.html

An online marine biology lab and lesson plan.  Sections:  Mission Statement, Technical Help & Documentation, Sharks, Teacher’s Corner, Kids Guide, Ocean’s Creative Community and more.  Excellent

OCEAN QUEST 2004 – STUDY UNIT                              

            http://www.iwebquest.com/oceans/teachers2.htm

An entire unit of study on the oceans.  Includes activities, experiments, links and more.  Excellent

 

OCEAN PLANET INTERDISCIPLINARY MARINE SCIENCE ACTIVITIES – LESSON PLANS                                                               http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/ocean/main.html

Lesson plans from the Smithsonian on the ocean and marine life.  Includes six lesson plans consisting of an essay, procedure, student pages and resources.  Excellent

 

OCEAN REPORT- GUIDE FOR EDUCATORS              

            http://www.kidsnet.org/seaweb/

A major curriculum project on Ocean life for grades 4-8. “Amid the sounds of waves washing on shore and seagulls crying, listeners of National Public Radio, Voice of America, and other stations could hear short segments about the sea as part of The Ocean Report. These shorts covered everything from incredible sea creatures to ocean conservation. Each report was a timely, fact-packed mini-lesson-perfect for incorporating into any curriculum.

Now, KIDSNET and SeaWeb have compiled many of these shorts along with background information and hands-on activities designed to help students in grades 4-8 discover how important the ocean is in all our lives. Listed below are the three main parts of the guide. Clicking on a link will take you to a menu of background topics and corresponding activities. You can also find activities by clicking on the "Activities" link that appears at the top of every page. Note that part three is a wrap-up for the entire guide and contains lots of ideas for putting what students learn to work in your community. Part One: Precious, Threatened Oceans    Part Two: Teeming with Life: Amazing Ocean Creatures    Part Three:  Protecting Our Seas: How You Can Help”    Excellent

 

OCEANS AND UNDERSEA LIFE – THEMATIC UNIT            

            http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/Ocean.htm

A thematic unit for grades K-5 on the oceans and undersea life.  Includes: Objectives, Classroom Décor, Literature/English, Discussion Questions, Poetry/Songs, History/Social Studies, Math, Health/Science, More Discussion Questions, Arts/Crafts, Internet Resources, Workbook/Activity Resources, Video Resources, Sea-Faring Recipes, Book Selections, Interactive Multimedia, Culminating Activity and Evaluation.  Excellent

 

OCEANS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES              

            http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/activities.html

Lots of classroom activities focusing on Climate, Oceans and Life.  All deal in some way with oceanography.  Excellent

 

OCEANS  - LESSON PLAN             NEW!

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.org/lessons.cfm?DocID=162

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the oceans.  “In earlier grades, students learn about weather, oceans, and water as separate entities.  As early as kindergarten, students complete exercises such as measuring and keeping track of precipitation. In grades 3-5 through students learn that water can change states: liquid water can evaporate and become a gas, and water vapor becomes liquid due to temperature changes.

This lesson starts to bring the concepts mentioned above together with a focus on the water cycle. The two-fold lesson begins with an experiment that demonstrates water evaporating and coming back down. The lesson is meant to give students a general understanding of earth's oceans. In the end, students should realize that water in the ocean evaporates into the atmosphere and comes back down as precipitation. This lesson is a good introduction to future lessons on weather and earth's climatic changes.”  Excellent

 

OCEANS – LESSON PLANS & CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES   NEW!

            http://edtech.kennesaw.edu/web/oceans.html

A page of links to websites, lesson plans, classroom activities and more.  Excellent    Also in Websites section

 

OCEANS OF DATA- INTERDISCIPLINARY MATH/SCIENCE UNIT FOR K-12 

            http://mathforum.org/workshops/usi/dataproject/index.html

An interdisciplinary math/science project for K-4, 5-8, and 9-12.  “offers the deep sea diving records from the Ocean Planet Exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History along with a lesson for K to 12 students to explore the data. Students are directed to create spread sheets and graphs, engage in discussion questions, and explore links to related WWW ocean sites.”  Includes a series of experiments and activities, all based on deep ocean diving data.  Excellent

 

ON THE ATTACK: EXPLORING HOW GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS, OVERFISHING, AND ECOSYSTEM CHANGES AFFECTED SHARK BEHAVIOR IN SUMMER 2001 – LESSON PLAN                                                                                    http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010911tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on sharks for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students explore how government restrictions and overfishing impact the ecosystems of sharks and contribute to or curb their danger to humans. Students then synthesize their understanding of the issues by working in groups to develop board games and by assessing games created by other groups”  Excellent

 

OPEN OCEAN – BLUE PLANET – LESSON PLAN                    NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_openocean/

A lesson plan on the open ocean for grades 6-8.  “Students will • research facts about animal species featured in the video; • prepare illustrated cards with facts; and • create a food-web display.”   Note: We have the video.  Order VT507067    Excellent

PALAU: PARADISE OF THE PACIFIC – LESSON PLANS                    NEW!

            http://www.pbs.org/edens/palau/

A Living Eden site on Palau and its amazing underwater treasures.  The Aquatic Classroom has four lesson plans: Home Improvement: Building My Own Coral Reef; Fast Food, The Fish Way; Catch a Moorish Idol; and Symbiosis: I’ll Help You if You Help Me.    NOTE: You can order the video from the AVA Center. VT507019     Excellent    Also in the Websites section.

 

PILOT WHALES PLACE IN THE OCEAN – LESSON PLAN               

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ccseaswhale.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on pilot whales.  “This lesson asks students to consider why so many whale species can survive within one area of the ocean. Different whale species feed at different depths, and scientists believe that this difference is likely a major factor in permitting so many species to live in one area. Students will discuss how this fact allows pilot whales to thrive, and they will consider how Crittercam can be used to help us learn about pilot whales' deepwater feeding behaviors. They will conclude by writing dialogues pretending that they are scientists taking curious vacationers on a tour to see pilot whales and answering questions about the whales' feeding behaviors and ecological niche.”  Excellent

 

RESCUE AT SEA: MARINE CONSERVATION- A SCIENCE LESSON PLAN   - LESSON PLAN

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/19980922tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on marine scientists for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students examine stereotypes that they may have regarding scientists. Students then read and discuss 'Scientist at Work: High Seas Hunter Pleads for Preservation of Fish' and reflect on the work of a Marine Conservationist and how one particular scientist 'breaks the mold' of their previous concepts of scientists.”  Excellent

 

RESPECT THE BEACH – LESSON PLANS                     NEW URL!

            http://www.surfrider.org/programs/respectthebeach.asp

 “Respect the Beach is a coastal educational program that includes field trips, classroom lectures, handouts, video, interactive computer applications and hands-on projects designed to teach ocean safety, marine ecology and coastal areas stewardship to K-12 students and community groups.”  Includes two sets of activity plans for elementary students: Beachology and Watershed Works.  Excellent

 

SABLE ISLAND’S SEALS, SHARKS AND SAND LANCES – LESSON PLAN

                                                                                                NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ccsable.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on seals and sharks on Sable Island.  “Crittercam has helped scientists discover that both gray and harbor seals feed on the same prey—tiny fish called sand lances. Their feeding behaviors, however, are different. While harbor seals follow schools of sand lances and eat fish that have strayed from the school, gray seals dig into the sandy ocean floor to find fish hiding there.

In this lesson, students will discuss the concept of competition in nature and will learn about competition between these two seal species on Sable Island. They'll conclude by drawing food chains showing sharks, seals, and sand lances and writing paragraphs explaining what their food chains show.”  Excellent

SAVING OUR OCEANS – LESSON PLAN                       NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/18/oceans.html

A lesson plan adaptable for middle to senior high students on the world’s oceans.  “You have been invited to lead the International Oceanographic Conference in Oslo, Norway. Over one hundred of your fellow oceanographers will attend. The problem is, with so many different specialties in the field—from geological to biological oceanography—the oceanographers at the conference are finding it difficult to understand what their colleagues are studying, let alone to grasp the ocean as an entire, diverse system!”  There are activities suggested for younger and older students.  Excellent

 

THE SCIENCE OF THE DEEP SEA – LESSON PLAN                NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g912/ballardscience.html

A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the deep sea.  “This lesson will teach students about conducting science experiments based on theories and using rigorous scientific principles. They should learn about the ways in which scientific investigation is used in the "real world." This lesson asks students to consider the theories and methods Robert Ballard may have used in some of his recent deep-sea investigations.”  Excellent

 

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD IN UNDERSEA ARCHEOLOGY – LESSON PLAN

                                                                                                NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/17/g912/methods.html

A lesson plan on underwater archeology for grades 9-12.  “Current theory says that during the Ice Age, the Black Sea was an isolated freshwater lake surrounded by farmland that was eventually flooded. This lesson asks students to analyze how the scientific method has been used in studies of the Black Sea. Students will diagram the steps the scientists took to test one of their hypotheses concerning the flooding, and they will outline two other hypotheses and the steps that were taken to test them. They will conclude by writing a research plan for future studies.”  Excellent

 

SEA ANIMAL THEME WEBQUESTS, ACTIVITIES AND PUZZLES    NEW!

            http://www.yesnet.yk.ca/schools/wes/webquests_themes/sea_webquest_corinne_2002/sea_theme.html

A collection of webquests for elementary students on sea animals plus resource sites and loads of puzzles and games.  Excellent

 

A SEA-NIC PERSPECTIVE: CREATING A CLASSROOM OCEAN EXHIBIT TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF MARINE HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY – LESSON PLAN                                                                                         NEW!

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20030729tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on the health of the world’s oceans.  “In this lesson, students brainstorm topics related to the health of our world's oceans. They then create presentations about specific issues affecting oceans for display in a classroom exhibit. They then write letters of invitation to guests to view the exhibit.”  Excellent

 

SEA NO EVIL: INVESTIGATING MARINE LIFE AT VARIOUS DEPTHS    - LESSON PLAN

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20010102tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on sea life for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students research the characteristics of marine life at different ocean depths. They then use their findings as the basis for a classroom 'Life Under the Sea' museum exhibit.”  Excellent

 

SEASONAL SEAS – BLUE PLANET – LESSON PLAN  NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_seasonalseas/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the seasonal changes in the oceans.  “Students will • research a marine invertebrate and create an illustrated report; and  • contribute to a classroom exhibit.”

Note: We have the video.  Order VT507068      Excellent

 

SHARKS – LESSON PLAN             NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/ultimateguide-sharks/

A lesson plan on sharks for grades 6-9.  “Students will understand the following:  1.  Sharks exhibit a wide variety of adaptations that help them survive in their habitats.”  Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.  Excellent

 

SHARKS: SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT – LESSON PLAN   NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/recordsharks.html

A lesson plan on sharks for grades 9-12.  “In this lesson, students will investigate sharks' importance to the ecosystem, recent shark attacks and legislation regarding shark feeding, and the geographical distribution of shark attacks in the United States. Students will write outlines for TV programs to educate the public about sharks.”  Excellent

 

THE SHEDD AQUARIUM – EDUCATIONAL ADVENTURES NEW!

            http://www.sheddaquarium.org/SEA/index.cfm

“Shedd Educational Adventures (SEA) contains a treasure trove of aquatic science resources for K-12 teachers and students. SEA brings the Philippines to life for your students with fact sheets and multimedia interactives based on the Wild Reef exhibit at Shedd Aquarium.
Dive into the SEA today!”  Includes 8 lesson plans plus 6 Interactive Activities and an Explorer’s Guide.  Excellent

 

SOLVING THE SEA TURTLE MYSTERY – LESSON PLAN                 NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/ccloggerhead.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on sea turtles.  “An incredible diversity of marine life lives in Western Australia's Shark Bay, an ecosystem of great interest to marine scientists. Scientists have studied the differences between green sea turtles and loggerhead sea turtles in this area.

These turtles have quite different physiques, diets, and diving and breathing patterns. This last factor in particular accounts for the green sea turtle being ten times less likely to be eaten by a tiger shark than the loggerhead turtle.

Students will consider the reasons for this significant difference in vulnerability between the green turtle and the loggerhead turtle. They will be asked to think critically about hints they'll be given concerning Shark Bay's sea turtles and their ability to evade tiger sharks.
The Suggested Assessment in this lesson asks students to draw time lines showing the differences between the turtle species' breathing times. The students will then write paragraphs describing their time lines and explaining how the Crittercam study might help sea turtle conservation efforts.”  Excellent

 

SUBMARINES: THE CLASSROOM FLEET – LESSON PLAN            NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/gk2/k19subs.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on traveling underwater.  “This lesson introduces students to the submarine as a means of travel under the sea, and to the challenges humans face when traveling underwater. Students will learn that submarines, like other boats, can travel on the surface of the sea, but they can also submerge to travel underwater. They will look at pictures of submarines on National Geographic's K-19 and Other Subs in Peril Web site, and review the basic construction of submarines and the underwater environment in which they travel. Students will conclude by creating a mural in their classroom featuring a fleet of their own model submarines and examples of marine life that might be encountered on a journey under the sea.”  Excellent

 

SUNKEN HAZARD: INVESTIGATING POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF THE PRESTIGE OIL SPILL – LESSON PLAN                                                                          http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20021120wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on ocean pollution for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students will use information about past oil spills to predict potential effects of the Prestige spill on the environment, on marine life, and on the human culture and economy of northwestern coastal Spain. Students will take on the roles of experts giving advice to the emergency management team that is handling the oil spill off the coast of Spain, preparing presentations to outline the potential risks to the environment, marine life, and the human culture and economy in Galicia.”   Excellent

 

TAKING CARE OF OUR OCEANS – LESSON PLAN                NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/gk2/seascare.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on the relationship of man to the oceans.  “High coastal population densities have an impact on marine life, such as sea turtles and manatees. In this lesson, students will consider why so many people live near the coast and learn about the impacts of this trend on ocean animals. They will make posters to educate coastal residents and visitors about human impacts on marine life.”  Excellent

 

TALKING TRASH ABOUT THE OCEANS: CREATING A COMMUNITY SERVICE CAMPAIGN TO STOP OFFSHORE DUMPING – LESSON PLAN                      

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20000718tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan for grades 6-12 on pollution.  “In this lesson, students create a community service advertising campaign that raises awareness about the importance of keeping trash out of the marine ecosystem. Students work in teams to create different ad campaigns geared toward particular target audiences. Students implement their plans by producing posters promoting their messages.”   Excellent

 

TIDAL SEAS – BLUE PLANET – LESSON PLAN           NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/BP_tidalseas/

A lesson plan on the changes in the oceans due to the changing of the tides for grades 6-8.  “Students will • discuss specific examples of how tides affect the hunting, survival, or breeding behaviors of animals; and • work in pairs to create their own "Tidal Trivia" game.”   Note: We have the video. Order VT507069     Excellent

 

TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: RESEARCH IN POLAR SEAS – LESSON PLAN

                                                                                                                        NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/01/g68/earth.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the polar seas.  “Winter darkness, intense cold, and ice cover have hindered explorations at the Poles, and the oceans around them are the most remote and least explored on Earth. The Arctic Ocean is water surrounded by land; the Antarctic continent is frozen land surrounded by water. But both climates and the hardships they impose defied explorers until the 20th century. Even now, polar exploration is limited to summer months. In this lesson students will learn about famous explorers of the polar regions and have a simulated polar exploration of their own.”  Excellent

 

TREASURES @ SEA: EXPLORING THE OCEAN THROUGH LITERATURE                     

                                                                                                            NEW!

            http://www.fi.edu/fellows/fellow8/dec98/main.html

A unit of study that uses books and weblinks to teach about the ocean.  See Teacher’s Place to get started.  “Teachers: This Web resource about oceans is written to be adaptable to the teacher's needs. It can be used as a complete unit, as a module for inclusion in a larger study or each component can be used independently. The activities are sorted by the book they compliment but could be used with any unit on the ocean.”  Includes: Book Activities, Writing Activities, Diving for Treasure, Interactive Activities, Art Activities, Web Resources, Teacher’s Place and Start Here.  Excellent

 

A TRIP TO THE BEACH? – LESSON PLAN                    NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/beachshark.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on sharks.  “In this lesson, students will investigate the truth behind common myths about sharks and shark attacks. Students will learn why sharks are important members of the ecosystem. They will also consider the ways humans should modify their habits to account for the presence of sharks, particularly in popular beach areas. Students will conclude by writing letters explaining to family or friends why it is generally safe to take a beach vacation to Florida, despite recent news reports of shark attacks.”  Excellent

 

UNDER THE DEEP BLUE SEA – LESSON PLAN                       NEW!

            http://edsitement.neh.gov/view_lesson_plan.asp?id=245

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on the oceans and ocean life. “This lesson gives students the opportunity to explore oceans and ocean life. After locating the earth's major oceans on a world map, students will "dive underwater" to discover the plants and animals that live in the sea. Students will listen to stories and poems with oceanic settings and learn about the forms of sea life featured in each. They can add their own artwork and text about ocean animals and plants to a cut-away ocean display. Finally, students will engage in various forms of creative writing about the ocean and ocean life.”  Excellent

UNDERSTANDING OCEANS – LESSON PLAN             NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/oceans/

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the world’s oceans.  “Students will understand the following:

1. All the oceans on Earth are really one “world ocean.”  2. Warmer water from the oceans around the equator rises to the top, while colder water from the oceans around the poles sinks to the bottom.  3. Ocean currents are caused by the rising and sinking of warmer and colder water.  4. Ocean currents affect weather and life all over the globe.”   Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.   Excellent

 

USING MAPS IN OCEAN RESEARCH – LESSON PLAN         NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/03/g68/seasgis68.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on ocean research.  “In this lesson, students will consider a number of ocean research scenarios and determine how mapping might help answer questions related to that research.”  Excellent

 

THE WATER COLUMN: WHERE DO OCEAN ANIMALS BELONG? – LESSON  PLAN                                                   NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/seascolumn.html

A lesson plan on the water column for grades 3-5.  “In this lesson, students will learn about three broad ocean habitats—the intertidal zone, the open ocean, and the abyss—and find out about some specific adaptations animals have made in each of these regions. They will conduct Web research and list some of the things they notice about animal adaptations in the ocean. Students will conclude by designing games to help other students match species and their adaptations to appropriate parts of the ocean.”  Excellent

 

A WHALE OF A DIFFERENCE: EXPLORING DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON COMMERCIAL WHALING IN JAPAN         - LESSON PLAN                  

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20020529wednesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson on whales for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students research various perspectives on Japan's commercial whaling industry and formulate position papers representing these views.”  Excellent

 

A WHALE OF A PROBLEM: INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS OF TOURISM AND OTHER VARIABLES ON THE KILLER WHALE POPULATION – LESSON PLAN

            http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20011016tuesday.html?searchpv=learning_lessons

A lesson plan on killer whales for grades 6-12.  “In this lesson, students will evaluate the possible causes contributing to the decline of the killer whale population from a number of differing perspectives. Students then present their findings in a talk show format and in letters of advocacy regarding the killer whale's inclusion in or exclusion from the endangered species list.”  Excellent

 

WHALES – BLUBBER FAT JACKET CLASSROOM ACTIVITY                                 http://www.rom.on.ca/wwatch/teachers-kit/fat.html

Why is blubber a good insulator?  Students find out when they use “blubber” to insulate them from ice.  Excellent

 

WHALES – LESSON PLAN                        NEW!

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/ultimateguide-whales/

A lesson plan on whales for grades 6-8.  “Students will understand the following:  1.  There are many different kinds of whales.  2.  The two main types are baleen whales and toothed whales.”  Includes Discussion Questions, Links, Suggested Readings and more.  Excellent

 

WHALES – TEACHER RESOURCE KIT              NEW!

            http://www.rom.on.ca/wwatch/teachers-kit/home.html

A collection of lesson plans and web links on whales for primary to junior high school students.  Includes 15 lesson plans, Legend – Origin of the Killer Whale, Other Activities, Fat Jacket, and Whale Size.  Note: It includes information about a video which is not included.  See the AVA Website for our catalog – search keyword “whales”.  Excellent

 

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT NURSE SHARK MATING? - LESSON PLAN  NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ccnurseshark.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on nurse sharks.  “Students will learn some basic information about nurse sharks and see photographs of scientists conducting nurse shark studies (from articles such as Crittercams Provide Insights into Nurse Shark Behavior). Students will work in groups to draw pictures of discoveries that scientists have made about nurse shark mating and reproduction, and they will consider the potential benefits of these studies for ocean conservation.”  Excellent

 

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE OCEANS? CAN PHOTOGRAPHY HELP?– LESSON PLAN                                                            NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g912/doubiletwrong.html

A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on the environmental problems facing the world’s oceans.  “Students at this level should be continuing their studies of the world's environmental problems and the factors that contribute to these problems, as well as learning about and hypothesizing potential solutions. In this lesson, students will research environmental problems facing the world's oceans and will think about how the art of photography can help solve these problems, using David Doubilet's photography as an example.”  Excellent

 

WHO SEES THE SEAS AS IMPORTANT? – LESSON PLAN                NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/06/gk2/thys.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on the oceans.  “In this lesson, students will learn about some people who think the ocean is so important that they have devoted their lives to studying it and its inhabitants. Students will learn about a specific type of fish, and compare it to other fish using information gathered by people who are studying these animals.”  Excellent

 

WHY DO WHALES MAKE SOUNDS? – LESSON PLAN                       NEW!

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ccwhalesounds.html

A lesson plan on whales for grades 3-5.  “Students will learn about the vocalizations of several whale species and the special calls of different populations of blue whales. They'll be asked to learn snippets of whale calls and to simulate whales trying to locate each other in the ocean. The students will conclude by drawing pictures of whales vocalizing and by writing captions explaining what their pictures show.”  Excellent

 

WOODS HOLE SEA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION LESSON PLANS

            http://www.sea.edu/k12LessonPlans/k12pgmtop.htm

A long list of K-12 lesson plan on the oceans and sea life from the Woods Hole Oceanography Institute.  Excellent

 

WORLD BUILDERS – BUILD YOUR OWN WORLD – CURRICULUM UNITS NEW!

            http://curriculum.calstatela.edu/courses/builders/index.html

A curriculum that allows students to build their own world.  The sections that apply to the oceans and marine life are: Seaweeds, Aquatic Zoology and Under Water Communities.  Each is a full curriculum unit.  Includes Helpful Websites, Science Notes, Study Questions and more.  Excellent

 

ANIMAL COLORING PAGES                               NEW!

            http://www.coloring.ws/animals.html

Coloring pages to print out.  Included: Crabs, Dolphins, Eels, Fish, Octopus, Seals, Turtles and Whales.  Some have multiple pages.  Very Good

 

AQUARIUM HABITATS – LESSON PLAN                     

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/aquarium.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on aquarium habitats.  “In this lesson, students will consider the ways that people attempt to create aquariums that provide realistic habitats for marine animals. They will use the Internet to "visit" three aquarium habitats and determine whether these aquariums succeed in providing high-quality environments for the animals that live in them. Students will conclude by designing their own aquarium habitats based on what they have learned.”  Very Good

 

ARE SHARKS AS DANGEROUS AS WE THINK THEY ARE? – LESSON PLAN

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g35/dangershark.html

A lesson plan about sharks for grades 3-5 in which students study shark behavior and they real threat they pose compared to the myths.  Very Good

 

BELUGA WHALES IN THE ICE – LESSON PLAN                    

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/09/gk2/migrationbeluga.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on beluga whales.  “Students will view and sketch photographs of ice at different stages of thickness, look at pictures of belugas, and discuss how belugas' bodies are adapted to life in the ice. They will conclude by writing and illustrating paragraphs about how belugas survive in the ice and where the whales go when the ice becomes too thick.”  Very Good

 

THE BEST HOPE FOR NORTHERN RIGHT WHALES – LESSON PLAN   

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/righthope.html

A lesson plan on right whales for grades 9-12.  “This lesson asks students to research current and proposed methods of assisting the recovery of northern right whale populations. Students will conduct Internet research to investigate the best strategies to help save right whales.”  Very Good

 

BOUNCY BLUBBER – LESSON PLAN                           

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=10

A lesson plan in which students look at the current research that shows that marine mammal blubber may serve more functions than as insulation to keep the animals warm.  Very Good

 

COLLABORATIVE THEMATIC UNIT – WHALES                   

            http://www.libsci.sc.edu/miller/whales.htm

A unit for grades K-3 on whales.  Very Good

 

CORAL BLEACHING: MAKING OUR OCEANS WHITER – LESSON PLAN   

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/g68/bowercoral.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 in which students study coral reefs and determine the factors that are killing the corals and possible ways to halt further destruction.  Very Good

 

ECHOES: WHAT ANIMALS CAN TEACH SCIENTISTS - LESSON PLAN                http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/gk2/ballardechoes.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on sonar.  “In this lesson, students will learn how scientists like Robert Ballard use sonar to investigate the depths of the ocean. They will learn that some animals have an unusual way of figuring out what is around them in the dark. They will study the echolocation capabilities of bats and think about how ocean scientists can learn from these animals to develop deep-sea exploration techniques.”  Very Good

 

FISH AREN’T AFRAID OF THE DARK - LESSON PLAN    

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/gk2/seasfish.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on light zones in the ocean.  “In this lesson, students will be introduced to the concept of bioluminescence and will consider how animals benefit from having their own light sources. They will look at pictures of bioluminescent marine animals, and will conclude by making collages or writing stories pretending they have just seen bioluminescent animals from a deep sea vehicle.”  Very Good

 

FOOD WEBS IN THE BAY – LESSON PLAN                             

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/Lessons.cfm?DocID=97

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 in which students examine the aquatic ecosystem of a bay and the plants and animals that live there.  Very Good

 

GREAT BARRIER REEF – LESSON PLAN                                

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g912/geoactreef.html

A lesson plan for grades 9-12 in which students examine coral reefs and their importance to the ecosystem and conservation efforts.  Very Good

 

INTO THE OCEAN – LESSON PLAN                              

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/gk2/doubiletocean.html

A lesson plan in which students study the different ecosystems within the oceans and the kinds of adaptations animals and plants have developed to allow them to exist at the various depths and conditions.  Very Good

 

INTRODUCTION TO WAVES – LESSON PLAN                       

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/gk2/wavesintro.html

A lesson plan for primary students in which they study what causes ocean waves and the components of waves.  Very Good

 

LIGHTING UP THE SEA – LESSON PLAN                     

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/seaslighting.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on  bioluminescence. “Students will explore the reasons for bioluminescence by conducting a simulation and viewing pictures of bioluminescent marine animals on the Web. They will conclude by pretending to be deep sea divers and writing journal entries about their impressions of a bioluminescent animal they have encountered.”  Very Good

 

LIMPET IDENTIFICATION LAB – LESSON PLAN                               http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Biology/BIO0038.html

A lesson plan for grades 9-12 on intertidal life forms.  “OVERVIEW: One of the great goals of biologists through the ages has been to collect and identify as many new animals as possible. The oceans of the world are abundant with life forms different from terrestrial life. The intertidal areas, where land and ocean meet, are even more richly inhabited with life. There are many varieties of limpets found in the intertidal areas, suitable for this laboratory.     PURPOSE: Students of today need to experience the "awe" of new life forms and to develop distinguishing or key characteristics to aid in their study of life. Limpets provide an unusual example with the variation needed to develop identification characteristics in similar animals.” 
Very Good

 

MAKE A WHALE MOBILE – CLASS ACTIVITY

            http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/whalemobile.shtml

A class activity with Templates, a Materials List, and Instructions for making a whale mobile.  Very Good

 

MARINE SANCTUARIES – LESSON PLAN                              

            http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=273

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 in which students learn about marine sanctuaries, their importance and their function.  Very Good

 

NOAA SPECIALLY FOR TEACHERS -    LESSON PLANS

            http://www.education.noaa.gov/teachers.html

A large number of teacher resources including lesson plans, links, and all kinds of other resources.  Sections: Weather, Climate Change and Our Planet, Oceans and Coasts, Satellites and Space, and Training and Other Opportunities & External Links.  Check out the Training section for Resources for Teachers – Ideas for the Classroom.  Very Good  Note: Also in Websites section.

 

OCEAN CONSERVATION: GETTING THE WORD OUT WITH PHOTOGRAPHS – LESSON PLAN

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g68/doubiletconserve.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on ocean conservation.  “This lesson will help students understand that geography is not just a school subject but also an important field that enables people to make sense of the world and prepare for the future. Students will think about how various geographical pursuits can help in this planning process. They will concentrate on how photography can contribute to the process by looking at pictures by undersea photographer David Doubilet.”   Very Good

 

OCEAN CRAFTS                  NEW!

            http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/ocean/

A page of ocean craft ideas for primary students.  Includes a whale mobile, ocean diorama, paper mache octopus and more.  Very Good

 

OCEAN EXPLORATION MUSEUM – LESSON PLAN             

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g35/ballardmuseum.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 in which students learn about the latest findings in oceanographic research and study the work of Dr. Robert Ballard, an oceanographic explorer.  Very Good

 

OCEAN IN A BOTTLE – LESSON PLAN                                    

            http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/ocean/oc-1.html

A lesson plan for grades 4-6 from the Franklin Institute showing students that our oceans are a closed system.  Very Good

 

OCEAN-THEMED MATH PAGES                        NEW!

            http://www.kidzone.ws/math/ocean/index.htm

Printable math worksheets for grades K-5.  Very Good

AN ORCA ODYSSEY – LESSON PLAN                  

            http://schoolcentral.com/whale/htm/TeacherHome.htm

A lesson plan for upper elementary students studying the life cycle of the orca whale.  Very Good

 

PILOT WHALES SOCIAL BEHAVIOR – LESSON PLAN                     

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/ccseaswhale.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on pilot whales.  “Pilot whales are extremely social animals, living in pods that sometimes contain hundreds of individuals. Their social bonding is so strong that they sometimes follow each other to their deaths upon beaches, an event which happened in 2002 on Cape Cod. Students will learn about pilot whales' sociability and bonding and will consider how Crittercam might help scientists learn more about their social behaviors. Students will write research plans proposing questions that scientists could ask when using Crittercam to study pilot whale social behavior in deep water.”      Very Good

 

THE PROS AND CONS OF ARTIFICIAL REEFS – LESSON PLAN               

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g912/artificialreefs.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on artificial reefs, how they are created, how they function and whether we should continue to create them.  Very Good

 

RIGHT WHALES AND PEOPLE – LESSON  PLAN                   

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/gk2/rightpeople.html

A lesson plan for grades 3-5 on right whales.  “This lesson introduces students to a highly endangered species—the northern right whale—and asks them to think about how this species' geographical distribution places it in direct contact with human threats such as ships. Students will draw pictures of right whales and add commercial ships and other human activities to their drawings. They will conclude by writing sentences explaining how the whales they have drawn might be affected by the human activities and what might be done to help the whales.”  Very Good

 

SHARK SURPRISE – CLASSROOM ACTIVITY                       

            http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/fishy/shark1.html

Students create a deck of cards with fish pictures on them.  They then play a matching card game.  Very Good

 

SLICK SEA SPILLS – LESSON PLAN                                         

            http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/activity/earth/earth-2.html

A lesson plan for grades 4-6 from the Franklin Institute on what happens in an oil spill and how it affects the ecosystem.  Very Good

 

SOMETHING FISHY – LESSON PLAN               

            http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Animals/ANM0053.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-9 on fish.  “This lesson affords students an opportunity to synthesize what they have learned about the anatomy of fish with their knowledge of ocean environments and organism's methods of adapting to survive. The problem can be expanded to include other sea creatures and environments.”  Very Good

 

SOMETHING FISHY: LIFE CYCLE OF A SALMON – LESSON PLAN         

            http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Animals/ANM0204.html

An Ask Eric lesson plan for grades 3-5 on the life cycle of a salmon.  Very Good

 

SUBMARINES: THE CLASSROOM FLEET – LESSON PLAN                                    http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/13/gk2/k19subs.html

A lesson plan for grades K-2 on submarines.  “This lesson introduces students to the submarine as a means of travel under the sea, and to the challenges humans face when traveling underwater. Students will learn that submarines, like other boats, can travel on the surface of the sea, but they can also submerge to travel underwater. They will look at pictures of submarines on National Geographic's K-19 and Other Subs in Peril Web site, and review the basic construction of submarines and the underwater environment in which they travel. Students will conclude by creating a mural in their classroom featuring a fleet of their own model submarines and examples of marine life that might be encountered on a journey under the sea.”  Very Good

 

TRASH TRAITS – MARINE DEBRIS – LESSON PLANS                     NEW!

            http://www.marine.usf.edu/beachbuddies/background.html

Information on the problem of marine debris, what constitutes trash, and what to do about it.  Developed for Tampa Bay but adaptable to New Jersey’s coast.  Includes Background and 4 Lesson Plans.  Very Good

 

UNDER THE SEA – INFORMATION AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES  NEW!

            http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atrium/5924/underthesea.htm

Information for elementary students about marine life and the oceans.  Includes Fishy Tales and Fishy Fun.  Very Good

 

UNDERWATER ANIMALS – LESSON PLAN                

            http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/exploringunderwater/

A Discovery School lesson plan for grades K-5 on underwater animals such as whales.  Very Good

 

USING PHOTOGRAPHY TO HELP SAVE THE OCEANS – LESSON PLAN   

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g35/doubiletphoto.html

Students view the photography of David Doubilet and other underwater photographers and see how photographs can teach us about our impact on the oceans.  They then choose one of the creatures shown to study.  Very Good

 

WHALES – A THEMATIC WEB UNIT                            

            http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/Whales/home.html

A thematic web unit for cooperative learning across an integrated curriculum.  Table of Contents: Teacher Resources, Student Activities, Whale Projects, Internet Resources and more.

Very Good

 

WHO PAYS THE PRICE WHEN A SEA DISAPPEARS? – LESSON PLAN   

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/disappear.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 on the Aral Sea.   “This lesson asks students to learn about the problems in the Aral Sea region and to discover how the sea's water loss is affecting specific groups of people, such as babies and fishers. They will work in groups to prepare statements that these people might make, and will present their statements to a mock United Nations panel.”  Very Good

 

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE MANATEES – LESSON PLANS 

            http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/manateeworking.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-8 in which students study the impact of humans on manatee populations and write speeches urging manatee protection.  Very Good

                                                               

ALL ABOUT FISH – LESSON PLAN                    

            http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Animals/ANM0210.html

A lesson plan on fish for 1st grade.  “This activity can be used to supplement a unit about fish. After learning about the characteristics of fish, students create a class Venn diagram comparing and contrasting humans and fish.”  Good

 

CORAL REEF 3D ART – LESSON PLAN             NEW!

            http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Interdisciplinary/INT0087.html

A lesson plan on coral reefs for grades 1-5.  “Students will learn about the animals and plants found in a coral reef by class discussion, pictures, short films and other visual materials. They will then be asked to create their own 3D model of a coral reef.”  Good

 

FINS, FLIPPERS AND BLOWHOLES – LESSON PLAN                                   

http://connectedteacher.classroom.com/lessonplans/content/TWI_SC_K6_FinsLP.pdf

An elementary lesson plan on whales with information on determining the difference between whales and sharks.  Includes Lesson Plan and Activity Sheet.  Good

 

INTO THE SPECTACULAR SEA – CLASS PROJECT   NEW!

            http://www.sanford-artedventures.com/teach/into_the_sea.html

A class project for grades 5-6 in which students create a mural about coral reefs.  Good

 

MAKING WAVES – LESSON PLAN                     NEW!

            http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/guides/marshallislands/miwaves.html

A lesson plan for grades 6-9 on wave action.  “To arouse your students interest in ocean phenomena, set out a "wave bottle." (A wave bottle imitates the motion of waves using the action of a liquid -- a mixture of water and mineral oil. See the directions below on how to make a "wave bottle".)”  Good

 

THE MARINE FOOD CHAIN – LESSON PLAN            

            http://www.engagingscience.org/lessons/5424259.asp

A lesson plan for grades 3-7 on the marine food chain.  Good

 

OCEAN ANIMALS – LESSON PLAN                  

            http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Animals/ANM0042.html

A lesson plan on marine life for grades K-2.  “The students will be able to identify pictures of animals verbally. The students will be able to match animal pictures.”  Good

 

OCEAN CRAFTS FOR KIDS – CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES                 NEW!

            http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/ocean.html

A collection of crafts such as mobiles, and paper mache crafts for primary students.  Good

 

OCEAN CURRENTS – LESSON PLAN               

            http://www.lessonplanspage.com/ScienceOceanCurrents78.htm

A lesson plan for grades 7-8 on ocean currents.  “Students will be divided into 5 groups.
Each group will be assigned so many grams of salt, a color, and specific temperature of water for mixing in the 100 ml beakers. (Note: The water temperature should be approx. 50 degrees in the half filled fish tank.)   Each group will be creating a table to record the following data: Weig