An Ocean of Activities!
Surf's up! Education World offers lessons that offer students the opportunity to explore the largest bodies of water on Earth: oceans! Included: Activities that involve students in creating time lines and posters, learning about ocean mysteries and legends, and much more!
Summertime is the perfect time for walking the beach, riding the waves, and sailing the oceans. The lessons we've put together for you promise to engage students in comparing Earth's oceans, learning about the ocean's creatures, considering common foods and household items that contain seaweed from the ocean, and investigating common words that have origins in maritime cultures, and much more!
Before we dive in, we'd like to point out a couple of exciting online projects. These projects might be just the thing for you -- if your ocean study is to be a "deep" one!
- Experience the thrill of ocean exploration -- online! Follow Voyage of the Odyssey! This unique, three-year scientific expedition is studying whales, fish, albatrosses, and other marine life to measure the health of the world's seas. The Odyssey began its journey in March 2000, sailing from San Diego to the Galpagos Islands. Numerous other stopping points are planned, including the Solomon Islands in the western Pacific, Christmas Island and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, and the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean. The Web site provides opportunities to track the trek through many interactive activities. Starting in the fall 2000, the site will also offer Class from the Sea, an online program about the journey for students and teachers, with content material connected to national standards, classroom activities, online discussions with the crew and more!
- The 12th annual JASON Project scientific expedition started in January 2000. JASON XII, Hawai'i -- A Living Laboratory, explores the land and water ecosystems of this fascinating island. Past JASON Expeditions include studies of ocean environments, the Great Lakes, the Mediterranean Sea, and how marine life adapts to a changing sea. Founded by oceanographer and explorer Robert Ballard, the JASON Project contains a host of online activities, projects, and lessons connecting students and teachers to each journey. Ballard is probably best known for his discovery of the wreck of the RMS Titanic in 1985.
Even if you don't plan to take your ocean studies unit to those depths, you are sure to find some great activities among this week's ten ocean lesson plans! So jump in, the water's fine! Brief descriptions of this week's activities follow. Click any headline below for a complete teaching resource.
- Oceans of the World
Students compare and contrast information about the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans using the Internet or library sources. They also locate the oceans on a world map.
- There Are Algae in Your House!
Students learn about common foods, such as cheese, peanut butter, and frozen desserts, and household items that contain ocean seaweed.
- Words from the Ocean
Students study some common words that have origins in maritime cultures and explore how the meanings of the words have changed over the years.
- Save the Oceans Poster
Students work in pairs to create posters showing things people can do to protect and preserve the oceans.
- Oceans: True or False?
Students take a quiz to test their knowledge of the oceans.
- Ocean Exploration Time Lines
Students use suggested online or library sources to create time lines of various ocean explorations.
- Ocean Mysteries, Legends, and Customs
Students use the Internet to research and write about mysteries, legends, and customs related to the ocean.
- Ocean Life Mural
Students create a mural showing various kinds of creatures that live in the ocean.
- Ride the Wave!
Students participate in an activity that shows how sonar works.
- Ocean Puzzle Fun
Students complete word search, word scramble, and maze puzzles with an ocean theme.
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