NOAA Education - Specially for Teachers ( Oceans and Coasts )


HOME Specially for Teachers	Oceans and Coasts
These items are designed for the teacher to use in the classroom or as background reference material. There is also information about programs that provide training and other opportunities for educators. THE TOPICS ON THIS PAGE INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT: NOAA's Ocean Explorer - NEW! NOAA's Ocean Service Education - Updated! NOAA's Tsunami Education Resource Kit Marine Education Resources The Water Cycle NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program Sea Grant and Sea Grant Resources Estuaries Fisheries and Marine Protected Resources NOAA's OCEAN EXPLORER Ocean Exploration Lesson Plans http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/lessonplans/lessonplans.html This section provides direct access to lesson plans developed by scientists and educators during Ocean Explorer field seasons. These lessons are geared toward students in Grades 5-12. Presented here as Web-based education materials, each lesson plan corresponds with a specific ocean exploration and can be supplemented with daily logs prepared by scientists and educators during each mission at sea. Images and video captured in the daily logs provide an invaluable resource for teachers and students as they explore these lessons. 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. Some also have Adaptations for Teachers of Deaf Students. The web links provided in Lesson Plans are verified at the time of publication, but over time, some links may change or become obsolete. Searching the web with key words may help to locate an updated site. Ocean Exploration Expedition Education Modules (EEMs) http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/modules/welcome.html Expedition Education Modules are designed as an education unit to share the excitement of daily at-sea discoveries and the science behind NOAA’s major ocean exploration expedition. Each module contains an Expedition Purpose, Lessons, Multimedia Learning Objects, OceanAGE Career Connections, and Other Resources and Links. Click on each of the expeditions listed to visit its corresponding Expedition Education Module. Multmedia Learning Objects http://www.learningdemo.com/noaa/ Multimedia Learning Objects provide engaging interactive multimedia activities and presentations on 15 major topics, featuring authentic streaming video and images from deep sea explorations. Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration Curriculum http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/curriculum/welcome.html Learning Ocean Science through Ocean Exploration is a curriculum for teachers of Grades 6-12 that takes lesson plans that were developed for NOAA Voyages of Discovery and the Ocean Explorer Web Site and presents them in a comprehensive scope and sequence through subject area categories that cut across individual expeditions. Each lesson focuses on an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning and is correlated to the National Science Education Standards. The curriculum themes are arranged in an order that progresses from physical science through earth science to biological and environmental science, as ocean sciences include all of these areas. Curriculum themes are based on 1) the geologic formations that cut across expeditions (seamounts, ridges and banks, canyons and shelves, and mid-ocean spreading ridges), 2) using models to understand structures and functions, and 3) using scientific data in the classroom to model scientific work and thinking. What is unique in this approach is the combination of the Ocean Explorer Web Site with each lesson presented here. Through this approach, teachers and students have a direct connection to the scientists whose work they are modeling in the classroom and a direct connection to the exciting new discoveries through NOAA ocean exploration. OceanAGE (Another Generation of Explorers) Ocean Careers http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/oceanage/welcome.html OceanAGE Careers invites students to interact with the talented people who explore our ocean planet. From underwater pilots to research scientists, these marine explorers provide students with first-hand knowledge of exciting careers through live interviews, profiles, and mission logs. On the right you will find a variety of professions which link you to a profile of an individual in that field today. The profile describes what they are doing now and the steps they took to get to this point. We also offer Web forums and Web chats with selected experts throughout the year. Ocean Challenge Puzzle http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/oequizx/welcome.html Team up with other players around the globe or your classroom to solve the puzzle. Help the group by revealing one more piece of the hidden picture. The puzzle contains hundreds of questions and answers representing a broad spectrum of ocean science knowledge. NOAA's OCEAN SERVICE EDUCATION NOAA's Ocean Service Education Web Site NOAA’s Ocean Service (NOS) education team creates innovative products that enlighten students and educators about the breadth of scientific research, technology, and activities conducted by NOS in the areas of oceans, coasts, and charting and navigation. These include student activities, tutorials, case studies, and lesson plans. All lesson plans emphasize hands-on activities using on-line data resources, are correlated to National Science Education Standards Professional development opportunities are offered at educational conferences and at informal institutions to assist teachers in utilizing the wealth of online resources. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education Corals Tutorial Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Thousands of species rely on reefs for survival. Thousands of communities all over the world also depend on coral reefs for food, protection and jobs. The Coral Tutorial is an overview of the biology of and threats to coral reefs, as well as efforts being made to conserve and protect them. It includes images, animations, and videos. A Roadmap to Resources complements the tutorial. It directs you to specific online coral data and information within the NOS and NOAA family of products. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals Currents Tutorial When used in association with water, the term "current" describes the motion of the water. Oceanic currents are driven by several factors; one is the rise and fall of the tides, a second factor is wind. A third factor that drives currents is thermohaline circulation-a process driven by density differences in water due to temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline) in different parts of the ocean. The Currents Tutorial is an overview of the types of currents, what causes them, how they are measured, and how they affect people's lives. A Roadmap to Resources directs you to online data and education offerings from NOAA and other reliable resources. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/currents Estuaries Tutorial Estuaries are bodies of water and their surrounding coastal habitats typically found where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries harbor unique plant and animal communities because their waters are brackish—a mixture of fresh water draining from the land and salty seawater. Estuaries are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Of the 32 largest cities in the world, 22 are located on estuaries. Not surprisingly, human activities have led to a decline in the health of estuaries, making them one of the most threatened ecosystems on Earth. The Estuaries Tutorial is an overview of estuarine habitats, the threats facing them, and efforts to monitor and protect estuaries nationwide. A Roadmap to Resources directs you to online data and education offerings from NOAA and other reliable resources. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/estuaries Global Positioning Tutorial Geodesy is the science which makes global positioning possible. Geodesy is literally the science of measuring and monitoring the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points on its surface. The Global Positioning Tutorial is an overview of the history, essential elements, and modern methods of geodesy. The Roadmap to Resources complements the information in the tutorial, leading you to additional information and data resources from NOAA and other reliable resources. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/geodesy Pollution Tutorial The Pollution Tutorial will help you learn about nonpoint source pollution, which is pollution from sources that can't be tied to a specific location (city streets, farm fields, etc.) You'll read about the history and types of nonpoint source pollution, methods used to detect pollutants, and assess and reduce their damaging effects on the environment. The Roadmap to Resources complements the information in the tutorial by directing you to additional information and data resources from NOAA and other reliable resources. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/pollution Tides Tutorial Maritime activities throughout the world depend on accurate tidal and current information for safe operation. NOAA's National Ocean Service collects, studies and provides access to thousands of historical and real-time observations as well as predictions of water levels, coastal currents and other data. The Tides and Waters Levels Tutorial is an overview of the complex systems that govern the movement of tides and water levels. The Roadmap to Resources complements the information in the tutorial by directing you to additional information and data resources from NOAA and other reliable resources. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/tides Prince William's Oily Mess In March 1989, the tanker Exxon Valdez grounded on Bligh Reef in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, rupturing its hull and spilling nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil. It remains the largest oil spill ever to occur in U.S. waters. How does an ecosystem recover from such a major spill? Delve into this case study to find out. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/stories/oilymess The Lionfish Invasion! Learn about invasive species with the beautiful but venomous lionfish as a case study. Read the story of Paula Whitfield, an NOS fisheries biologist, who has studied the invasion since the first lionfish was sighted off the U.S. Atlantic coast in 2000. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/stories/lionfish Lesson Plan Library The Lesson Plan Library is a collection of 50 guided inquiry based activities based on the research, technology, and activities conducted by NOAA's Ocean Service in the areas of oceans, coasts, and charting and navigation. All of the lessons emphasize hands-on activities using on-line data resources, and are correlated to National Science Education Standards. Each lesson includes: Focus Questions, Learning Objectives, Teaching Times, Background Information, Learning Procedures, a “Me” Connection, Evaluations, Extensions, as well as Resources and Student Handouts. The lessons in the Discovery Classroom have been developed for students at the high school level, but are easily adapted for students at the middle school or undergraduate level. http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/classroom TSUNAMIS NOAA's Tsunami Education Resource Kit - If one 10 year old girl could save a hundred lives, think about how many more lives could have been saved if the residents and tourists were more informed about tsunamis. These educational resources will provide curricula and textbooks for K-12. Brochures, websites, hands-on activities, and visualizations will supplement an existing curricula. A tsunameter will help elementary students visualize the difference between tsunami and tidal waves. www.oesd.noaa.gov/terk_intro.htm MARINE EDUCATION RESOURCES Marine Careers - The site includes overviews of the fields of marine biology, oceanography, and ocean engineering; a look at what the future is likely to hold for careers in these fields; links to a wide range of additional resources; information on salaries in various marine science fields; and other great stuff. This site is a project of the Sea Grant Programs at the University of Maine/University of New Hampshire, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. It is based on the publication Marine Science Careers: A Sea Grant Guide to Ocean Opportunities. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.marinecareers.net Ocean Explorer - The United States is a country of explorers, but it is only recently that our country has faced the difficult task of exploring our final frontier: the oceans. Over the past few decades we have significantly increased our understanding of the oceans and we are increasingly aware of our dependence on the oceans for healthy fisheries, clean habitats, and the potential to discover new medicines and answer questions about global climate. Yet, 95 percent of the ocean remains unexplored. This site provides a platform to follow ocean explorations in near real-time, to learn about ocean exploration technologies, to observe remote marine flora and fauna in the multimedia gallery, to review NOAA's 200-year history of ocean exploration, and to discover additional NOAA resources in a virtual library. oceanexplorer.noaa.gov The Bridge - Ocean Science Education Teacher Resource Center - This is a site where teachers will find a selection of the best online resources for ocean sciences education. The goal of the site is to provide educator with content-correct and content-current marine information and data; to support researchers in outreach efforts; and to improve communications among educators and between the education and research communities. "The Bridge" is supported by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, the National Marine Educators Association and the national network of Sea Grant educators. Sea Grant a partnership program funded by NOAA and the states in which the programs exist. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.vims.edu/bridge Science with NOAA Research - This web page provides middle school science students and teachers with research and investigation experiences using on-line resources. Teachers will find information that will help them prepare students for investigating the various sites in this program. Even if the teacher does not have much experience in using web-based activities in science classes, the directions are easy to follow. Topics include ocean temperatures, currents, fisheries, and the Great Lakes. www.oar.noaa.gov/k12/ A Resource for Teachers - This resource guide, originally developed as part of the 125th Anniversary activities for the National Marine Fisheries Service, can be used in the classroom for students K-12. The packet includes 48 marine fisheries and marine resources worksheets or outlines (plus answer sheets) which can be photocopied. www.afsc.noaa.gov/sep/ResGuide_framed.htm NOAA's Resource Guide for Teachers of Marine Science - This resource guide was prepared by staff of the National Marine Fisheries Service to provide a guide on Coastal Awareness in Science for elementary, junior high and high school science teachers. Its purpose is to promote the exploration of ecology and coastal awareness. The guide is divided into a reference to books at the elementary, middle, and high school levels; as well as a section on teacher resources with curriculum guides, lesson plans, bibliographic collections, etc. and audiovisual materials for all age levels, includes CD-ROM, Film and Video. This guide can also be found in a .pdf format at noaabibl.pdf. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). swfsc.ucsd.edu/bibliography/GUIDE.htm Marine Education Links - Another page on this web site has Marine Education links in categories: aquariums, oceans, whales, and environmental groups. this link is useful for getting to non-governmental partners of NOAA. www.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/doc/marine3.htm The Sustainable Seas Expeditions Teacher Materials - The Sustainable Seas Expeditions strive to provide high-quality marine science teaching materials that are linked to national standards in science and geography. One of the main goals of the SSE is to provide teachers with the tools to bring new technologies, new knowledge and new learning opportunities to students. www.sustainableseas.noaa.gov/aboutsse/education/teacher_materials.htm The Land-Sea Connection: A Teacher Curriculum - This teacher curriculum was developed to complement a new full-color, bathymetric and topographic map of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (information about the map can be found at http://www.mbnmsf.org/pages/sanctuarymap.html) and to help students increase their understanding of science and geography. This curriculum also introduces students to the excitement of real-time underwater exploration with a research mission called Sustainable Seas Expeditions (SSE) on the Internet. The authors of this curriculum recommend using the SSE Teacher Resource Book as it contains many more ideas and activities for enriching and supplementing your science curriculum: www.sanctuaries.nos.noaa.gov/special/special.html#TeacherBook. bonita.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/Educate/teachercurriculum/welcome.html "La Conexión de Mar y Tierra" (The Land-Sea Connection: A Teacher Curriculum) - This is a Spanish translation of the teacher curriculum of The Land-Sea Connection, which was developed to complement a new full-color, bathymetric and topographic map of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (information about the map can be found at http://www.mbnmsf.org/pages/sanctuarymap.html) and to help students increase their understanding of science and geography. bonita.mbnms.nos.noaa.gov/Educate/teachercurriculumspanish/welcome.html Learn About Brain-Eating Sea Squirts and More at Hawaii's Fun Site - Interesting and useful information abounds on Hawaii Sea Grant's award-winning Sea Squirt website. First, visitors learn that "after finding a suitable rock or place to call home, juvenile red sea squirts no longer need their brains, so they eat them. Shaka the shark doles out advice for kids visiting the beach. "Don't stand on coral reef," and "Use the restroom, not the ocean," are two of his points. Downloads include a marine activity workbook, several coloring and activity books and marine life icons for your computer. Links for teachers, kids and parents, a quiz to test knowledge of Hawaiian sea life and a virtual aquarium are more features on the site. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.soest.hawaii.edu/SEAGRANT/kids/indexkids.html The Coral Reef Resource Guide - A Compilation of Activities for Middle School Students. - The breathtakingly beautiful coral reefs of the world cover less than a half of one percent of our planet’s sea floor. And yet, these magnificent underwater empires are home to an estimated 25 percent of all oceanic species, a dazzling diversity of sea creatures. Like the teeming metropolis of Rome, a coral reef “was not built in a day.” Rather, the coral heads in a reef grow at a painstakingly slow average rate of half an inch per year and require epochs of geological time to amass into reefs and coral cays. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.aquarium.usm.edu/coralreef/index.html Guía de Recurso para Arrecifes de Coral - Una Colección de Actividades para Estudiantes de Escuela Intermedia - Los escpectacularmente bellos arrecifes coralinos del mundo cubren menos de la mitad de un uno porciento del fondo oceánico de nuestro planeta. Aún así, estos magníficos imperios sumergidos, son el hogar para aproximadamente el 25 porciento de todas las especies oceánicas, una impresionante diversidad de criaturas marinas. Al igual que la rebosante metropolis de Roma, un arrecife de coral “no se construyó en un día.” Es más, las cabezas de coral en un arrecife crecen a la penosamente lenta velocidad promedio de media pulgada por año y requieren de épocas geológicas para acumularse en arrecifes y cayos coralinos. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.aquarium.usm.edu/coralreef/spcoral/index.html COAST Resource Guide - This guide, intended to be used by teachers to structure classroom activities, is divided into two sections to reflect the different emphases and requirements of elementary/middle school programs and high school programs. The elementary/middle school section was developed from the award-winning Operation Pathfinder "Best of the Best" and is an electronic version of the Resource Guide for Oceanography and Coastal Processes. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.coast-nopp.org/resource_guide/index.html National Undersea Research Program - Education is everyone's job. Teachers and students cannot do it alone. Hundreds of National Undersea Research Program (NURP) scientists go underwater each year to study coral reefs, volcanoes, mud and much more. While NURP's main mission is scientific research, its scientists also share their results through partnerships with education and outreach programs. http://www.nurp.noaa.gov NEMO Education - the newest frontier in oceanographic research is within 200 miles of the coast of Oregon. Explore the deep ocean hot springs and the deep sea creatures. http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/nemo/education.html THE WATER CYCLE The Water Cycle Game - This game explains the complexity of the water cycle through role-playing as a molecule of water. Students can gain a better understanding of the complexity of the movement of water. response.restoration.noaa.gov/watercyclegame NOAA's TEACHER AT SEA PROGRAM The Teacher at Sea Program - This program allows a teacher in grade K-16 to apply for the opportunity to serve as a researcher on NOAA Ships. The current application materials and ship schedules are available on-line. A complete application consists of Form A: Participant's Application; forms B and C: Supervisor and Colleague Recommendations; and the Medical History Questionnaire. You need to send your completed application packet at least 3 months prior to your desired sailing date. www.tas.noaa.gov SEA GRANT AND SEA GRANT RESOURCES About Sea Grant - Through this site, teachers can access the web sites of their local programs, which are located in coastal and Great lakes States and Puerto Rico, and each of which has developed its own method of providing marine and coastal information to teachers. These methods include summer inservice programs, newsletters, lectures, speakers, field trip assistance, and curricula materials in print, electronic and video formats. http://www.seagrant.noaa.gov/aboutsg/aboutsg.html Sea Grant Media Center Education/General Information Page - To help teachers navigate the many pages of the world wide web, here is a selection of Sea Grant sponsored education web sites. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.seagrantnews.org/education/ Sea Grant Media Center - This site provides access to the world of marine research and resources available through the National Sea Grant College Program. Links include: Sea Grant News; Coastal Science Experts; Sea Grant on Radio; Sea Grant's Marine Science Calendar of Events; Sea Grant State Program Web Site Directory; Sea Grant Programs' Newsletters, Magazines; Sea Grant's Coastal Tourism Web Sites & Marina Net; Other Coastal & Marine Resources on the Web; Sea Grant Programs' Publications Directory & Ordering Information; as well as a search engine. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). www.seagrantnews.org/index.html The National Sea Grant Depository - The Depository is an archive of all Sea Grant publications and includes more than 72,000 items. This site is a searchable database in which teachers can enter key words to find a variety of materials. Examples of searches that teachers may consider include: classroom activities, curriculum, marine mammals, etc. Many of the publications are available on-line in a pdf format. Also, interlibrary loan is available to teachers, scientists and individuals for research/study purposes. Topics include: Introduction to Searching the Database, Recent Acquisitions, Loan Policies, Video Collection, Ordering Sea Grant Publications, and Links to Sea Grant Home Pages. (This is a not a U.S. Government website. NOAA is not responsible for the content of external internet sites). nsgd.gso.uri.edu ESTUARIES Estuaries - Where Rivers Meet the Sea - This site has two purposes: 1. Provide information on National Estuaries Day activities, such as Estuary Live and local National Estuarine Research Reserve and National Estuary Program events. 2. Serve as a long-term resource for information on the importance of estuaries and the need to protect them. This is an interagency Web site intended to provide students, educators and the general public with information on a variety of estuarine issues. estuaries.gov Education in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System - Education has always played an important role in this office's resource protection mission. Successful education programs include student curricula, field trip programs, adult lectures, teacher workshops, volunteer programs and a wide variety of printed media. This site leads into additional educational sites in the system. www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/nerr/nerrs_education.html FISHERIES AND MARINE PROTECTED RESOURCES Habitats of North Pacific Marine Fish - This exercise teaches how fish prefer different parts of the ocean. Temperatures vary in different parts of the ocean, and different fish are adapted to live in these different temperatures. Students color in a map of the North Pacific and then add stickers of different fish species based upon information provided on where the fish like to live. This version also includes a key showing a correctly completed version. The link will provide a downloaded, color printable version of the exercise and "print your own" fish stickers in Adobe Acrobat format. This page takes at least 90 seconds to download. The fish stickers are printed on Avery laser labels, style #5160. www.pfeg.noaa.gov/research/publications/PDF/PFELfishteacher.pdf Viewing Protected Marine Species in the Wild - This web page helps the public understand its responsibilities to marine mammals in the wild. The National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for managing and protecting whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea lions, and it has regulations prohibiting feeding these marine mammals in the wild. There are also restrictions as to how close we can get to these animals. www.nmfs.noaa.gov/prot_res/MMWatch/MMViewing.html National Marine Sanctuary Education Activities - National Marine Sanctuaries are living classrooms where people can see, touch and learn about our nation's underwater treasures. Our mission is to inspire ocean literacy and conservation through national marine sanctuaries. Visit the sanctuary education website for standards-based lesson plans, professional development opportunities, field studies, multicultural programs, online resources and more. The National Marine Sanctuary Program aims to provide teachers with resources and training to support ocean literacy in America's classrooms. You will find curriculum, lesson plans, and activities that will excite your students about science and technology. http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/ Tales of Whales, Turtles, Sharks, and Snails: An Elementary Level Education Handbook - This is a marine study guide for Grades 4-6. The purpose of this publication is to increase the awareness, knowledge and literacy of elementary students in marine-related subjects Also, it's not necessary to be in proximity to a coastal environment in order to benefit from the activities presented in this handbook. http://www.graysreef.nos.noaa.gov/tw.html The National Marine Mammal Laboratory's Education Web Site - In the interest of inspiring young people to learn about and care for marine mammals, the National Marine Mammal Laboratory has created this "Education Web" site. With its array of pictures, the quiz, links to other world wide web resources, and science-based content, this site is designed to answer basic questions about marine mammals and marine mammal science. The Education Web site has two sections, a marine mammal science and career section and an animal section. nmml.afsc.noaa.gov/education/aboutsite.htm Musical Habitats - This is a classroom activity or game that is written for grades K-5 and on the web in a .pdf format. It teaches students about 6 different marine habitats in a active setting. www.nero.nmfs.gov/ro/doc/game2.htm Fisheries Learning on the Web - Fisheries Learning on the Web (FLOW) is a comprehensive curriculum about the Great Lakes ecosystem. Lessons are geared toward educators who teach upper elementary and middle school students. Each lesson is aligned with national and state curriculum standards for science and social studies and features a hands-on classroom activity. FLOW was selected “Teachers' Top Web Picks” (BRIDGE Web site) for Sea Grant Ocean Science Center Education. http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/ Publication of the NOAA Education Team. Website Owner: NOAA Office of Education. Privacy Policy \| Disclaimer \| Questions/Comments? Contact Us Last Updated: March 2, 2007 7:30 PM