Related: OLP#7: The ocean is largely unexplored.
LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES
Click on a lesson plan or activity name to learn more about it
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In this activity, students will be able to compare and contrast the pelagic, benthic and sea ice realms of the Arctic Ocean, name at least three organisms that are typical of each of these three realms, and explain how the pelagic, benthic and sea ice realms interact with each other.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov -
Rock Eaters of the Gulf of Alaska
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents will be able to compare and contrast the processes of photosynthesis and chemosynthesis; identify and describe sources of energy used by various organisms for chemosynthesis; predict what chemosynthetic reactions might be possible in selected extreme environments.
For more information: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.
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Secrets of the Sediments
/ Deep Earth Academy/ Consortium for Ocean LeadershipIn this activity, students graph and analyze data from sediments collected off the coast of Santa Barbara, California to determine whether this information can be used to study historical climate change. For more information, www.deepearthacademy.org
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The Good the Bad and the Arctic
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents identify and explain three lines of evidence that suggest arctic climate is changing. Students identify and discuss three social, economic, environmental consequences expected due to climate change in Arctic. Students identify three climate-related issues of concern to Arctic indigenous peoples. Students identify three ways in which Arctic climate change is likely to affect the rest of the Earth’s ecosystems.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
The Methane Circus
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents will describe the overall events that occurred during the Cambrian Explosion; explain how methane hydrates may contribute to global warming; and describe the reasoning behind hypotheses that link methane hydrates with the Cambrian explosion.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
The Puzzle of Ice Age Americans
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents describe alternative theories for arrival of first humans to come to America. Students explain evidence for these theories and explain how exploration of a submerged segment of Gulf Of Mexico coast may give insight into origin of native Americans. Students describe role of skepticism in scientific theory.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
This Old Tubeworm
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents will be able to explain the process of chemosynthesis; explain the relevance of chemosynthesis to biological communities in the vicinity of cold seeps; construct a graphic interpretation of age-specific growth, given data on incremental growth rates of different-sized individuals of the same species; and estimate the age of an individual of a specific size, given information on age-specific growth in individuals of the same species.
For more information: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.
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Three Cold Realms
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents describe three organisms important to the Arctic Ocean realms. Students compare and contrast the Arctic Ocean ecosystem that consists of sea ice, pelagic and benthic waters. Students identify three organisms typical of these three realms and describe how they interact with one another.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
Treasures in Jeopardy
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents will be able to compare and contrast deep-sea coral reefs with their shallow-water counterparts; explain at least three benefits associated with deep-sea coral reefs; describe human activities that threaten deep-sea coral reefs; and describe actions that should be taken to protect deep-sea coral reef resources.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
Wanted: Dead and Well-Preserved. . .Mohawk Guy and his Band of Neogene Planktic Foraminifer Friends
/ Deep Earth Academy/Constortium for Ocean LeadershipStudents use foram “bio cards” to read and interpret authentic scientific data and build a graphic representation to unlock ancient history stored within sediment cores from the western equatorial Pacific. For more information: www.deepearthacademy.org
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Watered Down Topo Map
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents create models of undersea geologic features on a bathymetric chart. Students interpret and explain the difference between bathymetric charts and topographic maps.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
What Was for Dinner
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents will be able to compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities; give at least three examples of organisms that live near hydrothermal vent systems; and describe two sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the Marianas Arc.
For more information: http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.
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Where There’s Smoke…
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents explain how fundamental relationships between melting and boiling points, solubility, temperature and pressure can help to develop plausible explanations for observed chemical phenomena in the vicinity of subduction volcanoes.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov. -
Who Has the Data?
/ NOAA Ocean ServiceStudents learn what types of data scientists collect to monitor coral reefs, and how these data are used.
For more information about NOAA Ocean Service, visit http://oceanservice.noaa.gov.
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Why Do We Explore the Ocean?
/ NOAA Ocean ExplorerStudents will be able to discuss why scientists believe there are important undiscovered features and processes in Earth’s ocean; discuss at least three motives that historically have driven human exploration; explain why ocean exploration is relevant to climate change; and discuss at least three benefits that might result from ocean exploration. For more information http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov.
