Science Activities for Ocean Literacy

Science Activities journal is a source of experiments, explorations, projects and curriculum ideas for today�s classroom science teacher. The journal published a special issue on Ocean Literacy for Fall 2009. Many COSEE contacts and colleagues contributed to the issue, and more excellent ocean education activities are scheduled for later issues too! COSEE Great Lakes Director Rosanne Fortner was guest editor for the special issue. Here is how the lesson plans address the seven Ocean Literacy Essential Principles:

#1. The earth has one big ocean with many features: Sailing toward understanding surface currents: a science and geography integration activity for upper-elementary children; Laura Eiditis and Sandra Rutherford, from a NOAA Environmental Literacy project
#2. The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth: Island Formation: Constructing a Coral Island; Heather Austin and Amelia Edd, NSF-GK12 at the University of Oregon�s Institute of Marine Biology
#3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate: How is coastal temperature influenced by the Great Lakes and the Ocean?; Rosanne Fortner, COSEE Great Lakes, and Victor J. Mayer, Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University
#4. The ocean makes Earth habitable: Learning about coastal trends: what is the story with seagrass and how does it affect me?; Kelly Ksiazek and eight others from COSEE Coastal Trends
#5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.: Crawl into inquiry-based learning: Hermit crabs; Maya Wolf of Oregon�s Institute of Marine Biology and Alix Laferriere, from South Slough NERR
#6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.: Recipe for hypoxia: Playing the Dead Zone Game; Jessica Kastler, COSEE CGOM
#7. The ocean is largely unexplored: Use of Ocean Exploration Learning Shapes [geometric solids] to reinforce student inquiry; Paula Keener-Chavis, NOAA Ocean Exploration Program, and Mel Goodwin, NOAAHarmony Project

Science Activities [ISSN 0036-8121] is a popular journal in teacher libraries. Copies of this issue are available from some COSEE staff and from the publisher at: