Lesson Plans
Grade 3-5 | ||
Title | Description | URL |
Game of Life![]() |
This game is designed to show students what happens to a species when most of the population is gone and how easily the remaining animals can perish. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/edu cation/lessons.htm |
The Race![]() |
A game that allows students to understand the threats hatchling turtles face and how this affects the marine turtle population. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/edu cation/lessons.htm |
Food for Thought![]() |
Students play a food web game showing the interdependence of life in the ocean as it relates to endangered species. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ education/lessons.htm |
Species on the Edge![]() |
Students examine and evaluate threats to specific sea turtle species. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/ education/lessons.htm |
Entering the Twilight Zone![]() |
Students research different deep ocean habitats, report back to the class about specific organisms and develop a food chain for the entire ecosystem. | oceanexplorer.noaa. gov/explorations/07 mexico/background/ edu/edu.html |
The Ocean in Motion![]() |
Students use maps and build a model to simulate and understand the importance of ocean upwellings. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pag esetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=47 |
Forests of the Sea![]() |
Using games and other activities, students learn about kelp forests in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pag esetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=46 |
Building an Underwater Habitat![]() |
Students will work as a team to design and build a model of an underwater habitat. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module= pagesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=42 |
Filter Feeding![]() |
Students will learn how sponges feed, and learn that organisms at the coral reef interact with one another, sometimes competing for living space. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module= pagesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=43 |
Grade 5-8 | ||
Title | Description | URL |
Oceans for Life: Biodiversity![]() |
Student groups comparing and contrasting the ecosytems of the different National Marine Sanctuaries using video and internet resources. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pa gesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=30 |
Oceans for Life: SPLASH Humpback Whale Monitoring![]() |
Students will give class presentations after using video and internet resources to investigate marine mammal monitoring and conservation programs. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pa gesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=34 |
Oceans for Life: Predators Among Us![]() |
Using video and internet resources, students will explore how people act as predators on coral reefs. They will then generate a brochure depicting how people can protect these ecosystems. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pa gesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=26 |
Oceans for Life: Marine Protected Areas![]() |
Using printed materials, internet resources and video clips, students research the controversy surrounding the establishment of a Marine Protected Area. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pa gesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=28 |
Oceans for Life: Natural Diasters - Exploring Plate Tectonics![]() |
Students explore how plate tectonics has contributed to the richness of ecosystems at certain National Marine Sanctuaries and develop posters of their findings. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pa gesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=33 |
Oceans for Life: Hawaiian Hot Spots![]() |
Students investigate how geologic hot spots contribute to the richness of the Hawaiian Island National Marine Sanctuary ecosystems. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pa gesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=24 |
Game of Life![]() |
Game designed to show students what happens to a species when most of the population is gone and how easily the remaining animals can perish. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/edu cation/lessons.htm |
I Robot, Can Do That!![]() |
Students use written resources to study different types of underwater robotic vehicles and then decide which vehicle is best suited for specific research projects. | oceanexplorer.noaa. gov/explorations/ 08thunderbay/back ground/edu/edu.html |
Entering the Twilight Zone![]() |
Students research different deep ocean habitats, report back to the class about specific organisms and develop a food chain for the entire ecosystem. | oceanexplorer.noaa. gov/explorations/07 mexico/background/ edu/edu.html |
Food for Thought![]() |
Food chains and interdependence among endangered species. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/edu cation/lessons.htm |
Species on the Edge![]() |
Students examine threats to sea turtles. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/edu cation/lessons.htm |
The Race![]() |
Threats hatchling turtles face and how this affects the marine turtle population. | nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/edu cation/lessons.htm |
Climate Change and Coral Activities![]() |
Three simple classroom labs/demonstrations about ocean acidification, thermal expansion, sea level rise and their impacts on coral reefs. | coralreef.noaa.gov/ outreach/resourcecd 08/activities.html |
El Niño - Data in the Classroom![]() |
On-line activities that guide students in the use of historic and near-real time data about El Niño events, culminating with student-directed investigations. | dataintheclass room.org/ |
Sea Level/Tides - Data in the Classroom![]() |
On-line activities that guide students in the use of historic and near-real time data about tides and sea level, culminating with student-directed investigations. | dataintheclass room.org/ |
Estuarine Water Quality - Data in the Classroom![]() |
On-line activities that guide students in the use of historic and near-real time data about estuarian water quality, culminating with student-directed investigations. | dataintheclass room.org/ |
The Ocean in Motion![]() |
Students use maps and build a model to simulate and understand the importance of ocean upwellings. | oceanslive.org/portal/ index.php?module=pa gesetter&func=view pub&tid=3&pid=47 |
Grade 8-12 | |||
Title | Description | URL | |
Designing Tools for Ocean Exploration![]() |
Students will form investigation teams, design sampling tools and test them in a simulated ocean. |
oceanexplorer.noaa. gov/edu/lessonplans /lessonplans.html |
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History's Thermometers![]() |
Students read and discuss how oxygen isotope ratios are related to water temperature and interpret data to make inferences about climate change. | coralreef.noaa.gov/ outreach/resourcecd 08/lessonplans.html |
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Who Has the Data?![]() |
Students will access online data resources about coral reefs and then use the data to characterize these reefs. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Keeping Watch on Coral Reefs![]() |
Students use recent NOAA data of oceanographic conditions to analyze coral bleaching events. The data sources allow students to develop their own inquiry projects. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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A Reef of Your Own![]() |
Students design a model of a coral reef that will display coral physiology, ecology, and behavior. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Do Not Bleach!![]() |
Students use the Coral Tutorial to research coral bleaching followed by class discussions and student-produced "displays". | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Motion in the Ocean![]() |
Students use a tutorial to answer questions about ocean currents then use a graph and other resources to model wind-driven ocean currents. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Ready, Set, Drift![]() |
Students use information, charts, graphs and mathematics to solve practical problems about currents, winds, and tides related to coastal navigation. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Plot Your Course![]() |
Students will determine distance and direction, identify obstacles to navigation,and identify the characteristics of common aids to navigation on a nautical chart. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Do You Need a Map?![]() |
Students will use the nowCOAST Web site to access and retrieve real-time oceanographic and meteorologic data. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Ups and Downs: What Causes Tides![]() |
Students will explain the forces that cause and affect tides, analyze variations in tidal patterns and water levels in selected areas, and describe how tides affect our lives. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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The Moon Made Me Do It!![]() |
Students will discuss some of the effects in living organisms that have been attributed to lunar cycles, and explain in general terms how these effects might be produced. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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GPS 101: Meet Geodesy![]() |
Students will define GPS and geodesy, explain three ways in which GPS is of practical importance, and how a datum of reference points may be used to describe the location within the area. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Where's the Point?![]() |
Students will describe at least five impacts that contaminated runoff may have on coastal ecosystems, and actions that can be taken to reduce or eliminate contaminated runoff. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Get to the Point!![]() |
Students will describe sources of nonpoint source pollution runoff, discuss how bioassays may be used to measure toxicity of contaminants, and explain how these may be used to identify affected areas. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/lesson _plans.html |
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Is It Getting Hot In Here?![]() |
Students will describe at least five forcing factors for climate change, and five ways in which climate change could affect human communities. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/pd/ climate |
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Are You Getting Thirsty?![]() |
Students use online data and other resources to learn about the significance of droughts on past and current societies. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/pd/ climate |
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The Stinging Sea![]() |
Students use online resources to learn about ecological forecasting and use data sources to make comparisons between abiotic factors and sea-nettle populations. | oceanservice.noaa. gov/education/pd/ climate |