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LESSON PLANS AND ACTIVITIES
Click on a lesson plan or activity name to learn more about it
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Coral Reef Symbiosis
/ Moorea Coral Reef LTER EducationThis lesson introduces the idea of interrelationships among organisms and how these could help them persist in a coral reef ecosystem. Students will learn about symbiotic relationships, with mutualism among coral and zooxanthellae as the model organisms in this first lesson. Topics include the transfer of energy and matter through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. These concepts are approached through the marine environment, rather than the terrestrial environment, which allows most students to take a step out of their comfort zone.
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In this activity, students will be able to compare and contrast the feeding strategies of at least three different types of gelatinous zooplankton, and explain why gelatinous zooplankton may function at several trophic levels within a marine food web. Given information on the vertical distribution of temperature in a water column, students will be able to make inferences about potential influences on the distribution of planktonic species in the water column.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov -
In this activity, students will be able to identify major taxa that are dominant in deep benthic communities of the Arctic Ocean. Given distribution data for major taxa in different Arctic benthic communities, students will be able to identify patterns in the distribution of these taxa and infer plausible reasons for these patterns.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov -
In this activity, students will be able to describe how ratios of stable nitrogen isotopes can be used to study trophic relationships between marine organisms, make inferences about trophic relationships between organisms and habitats, and compare and contrast organisms in sea ice, pelagic, and benthic communities in terms of feeding strategies and consequent stable nitrogen isotope ratios.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov -
In this activity, students will be able to identify and explain at least three lines of evidence that suggest the Arctic climate is changing, identify and discuss at least three social, three economic and three environmental consequences expected as a result of Arctic climate change, identify at least three climate-related issues of concern to Arctic indigenous peoples, and identify at least 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 -
In this activity, students will be able to identify the natural processes that produce methane, describe where methane deposits are located in the Arctic region, explain how warmer climates may affect Arctic methane deposits, explain how the release of large volumes of methane might affect Earth’s climate, and describe how methane releases may have contributed to mass extinction events in Earth’s geologic history.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov -
Students will describe how climate change is affecting sea ice, vegetation, and glaciers in the Arctic region, explain how changes in the Arctic climate can produce global impacts, and will be able to provide three examples of such impacts. Students will also explain how a given impact resulting from climate change may be considered ‘positive’ as well as ‘negative’, and will be able to provide at least one example of each.
Hands-on activity: Make a photocube showing changes in glaciers.For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov -
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 -
In this activity, students will be able to compare and contrast at least three different groups of organisms that are included in ‘gelatinous zooplankton’, describe how gelatinous zooplankton fit into marine food webs, and explain how inadequate information about an organism may lead to that organism being perceived as insignificant.
For more information:
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov -
Biomes: Wild Arctic
/ Discovery EducationThis lesson investigates the plants and animals that live in the Arctic. Students will learn key terms, including food web, zooplankton, and sea ice. They will also devise food chains found in the Arctic, these will then be expanded to food webs, showing the connections among all Arctic life.
For more information: http://discoveryeducation.com/ -
Environmental Issues in the Polar Regions
/ National Geographic XpeditionsThe Polar Regions are frequently neglected in discussions of the environment, but they shouldn't be. The environment of the Polar Regions is particularly susceptible to human impacts such as pollution and the depletion of the ozone layer. Moreover, the effects of global warming on the Polar Regions are likely to have major repercussions in the rest of the world.
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What Do People Know about the Arctic and Antarctic?
/ National Geographic XpeditionsIt's common to confuse characteristics of the Arctic and the Antarctic, and many people have never learned the differences between these two regions.
In this lesson, students will research the landscapes, climates, and animal life of the Polar Regions. They will then interview people to find out what they think and know about the regions. They will conclude by writing paragraphs explaining why it's important to know about the Polar Regions and detailing the differences between the two regions.
For more information: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/ -
Expedition to the Poles
/ National Geographic XpeditionsStudents will pretend they have just returned from a year in the Arctic or Antarctic. By exploring web sites about expeditions to these regions and creating posters illustrating what they could have seen or done, students will have a better understanding of what life would be like in Polar Region without actually visiting them.
For more information: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/ -
A Vacation to the Polar Regions
/ National Geographic XpeditionsStudents will learn about the characteristics of the Arctic and Antarctic by looking at a globe and pictures of the polar landscape/ animals. They will plan a vacation to one of these regions and draw pictures or write stories depicting themselves on the trip.
For more information: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/ -
Introduction to Latitude and Longitude
/ National Geographic XpeditionsThis lesson introduces students to latitude and longitude. They will look at lines of latitude and longitude on a United States map and discuss the reasons why these lines are helpful. Students will also discuss the ways that temperatures vary with latitude and will explain the clothes they might wear at specific latitudes.
For more information: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/
