SKILLS AND RESEARCH

COSEE-Ocean Systems Web-Quest: this activity introduces students to the COSEE-OS Climate and Oceans web interface which holds numorous resources and information.

OS web quest

Concept Map Activity: This activity is used to find out what students know and summarize a topic though the use of a concept map.

concept map activity

OCEAN TECHNOLOGY

Oceanographic Technology: this lesson exposes students to different types of data collection i.e. satellite, buoy.

ocean technology

Studying Sea Sensors: This lesson discusses different types of 'remote sensing' and thermo radiation. The lesson explains how to create an experiement with easy to find ingredients.

sea sensors

THE PHYSICAL OCEAN: DENSITY AND SALINITY

Why Won't it float?: This lesson explores density through a salinity lab done in the classroom.

why won't it float?

Properties of the Ocean: This lesson explores density relationships in the ocean using the GoMOOS buoy data.

 ocean properties

Ocean Variables: This lesson asks the question "How do temperature, salinity and density affect ocean stratification and mixing?" this lesson talks about the sensors that collect this information including using the GoMOOS site to look at buoy data.

Water temperature and density: This lesson helps students understand how parameters act within a Hypoxic Zone.

 water temp & density

Ocean Density: using Aquarius and other websites to create and analyze density graphs.

Relating Density to Salnity:This lesson continues the unit on salinity by participating in a lab that explores students understanding of density in the ocean.

Density and Salinity in Hypoxic Zones: This lesson is a continuation of the unit on Hypoxic Zones in the Gulf of Mexico, using data to understand density and salinity relationships.

Changing Salinity: This lesson studies change in salinity levels over time using the GoMOOS buoy data available online. Graph reading and discussion.

Comparison of buoy data: Studying salinity, this lesson looks at buoy data throughout the year and teaches students to look for changes.

Salinity at depth: This lesson helps students understand how salinity behaves at different depths though using GoMOOS buoy data.

THE PHYSICAL OCEAN: WATER AND WAVES

Gathering and graphing Data: Using Hobo temperature probes, students collect and graph their own data while learning about primary productivity in the ocean.

graphing data

Interpretation of Graphs: this mini unit explores GoMOOS buoy data and shows students how to analyze and interpret a variety of oceanographic parameters including wave height, air and water temperature, density and salinity and more.

Seasonal Change - thermoclines: This lesson teaches students how to read a thermocline graph and interpret them in connection with seasonal change in the ocean.

thermoclines

Properties of Water: Introduction to states of water through interactive participation. Discussion includes water density data from GOMOOS.

water properties

Water Cycle: This lesson is written for a highly special needs class, basic information is included.

Sea Surface Temperature, What about it? This lesson explores what information surfers can gather from SST images. Why would it be useful to them?

Sea Surface Temperature in the Gulf of Maine: Use GoMOOS data to study when the warmest time of year in the Gulf of Maine might be.

SST in GOM

What about Waves? This is the first of a 4 lesson unit discussing change in waves, and sea surface temperature in the Gulf of Maine using buoy and satellite data.

 what about waves?

Wave Data in the Gulf of Maine: Analyze wave heights and wave period in relationship to a surfer.

wave period height

THE PHYSICAL OCEAN: DISSOLVED OXYGEN

Dissolved Oxygen in Hypoxic Zones: The key question in this lesson is what factors affect dissolved oxygen in sea water.

diss o2 hypoxic

THE BIOLOGICAL OCEAN

Primary Production and Data Anaysis, SeaSix: This lesson discusses phytoplankton, photosysnthsis in a game form. Check out the lesson SeaSix to see how students learn what it takes for a phytoplankton to grow.

pp and data seasix

Construct a Coccolithophore: Continuing on from the SeaSix photosynthsis lesson, this walks students through how to build a phytoplankton model out of paper while learning about chemistry.

const a coccolith

The 'R' months: When are bivalves safe to eat? GOMOOS bouy data is used to study chlorophyll data over time.

Comparing Oceans: Using Giovanni to study Sea surface temperature and chlorophyll in two different areas of the same ocean.

comp oceans

Hypoxic Zones in the Gulf of Mexico: Using SST and chlor. data, looks at dead zones and how they differ from other more biologically productive regions.

hypoxic GoMex (a) hypoxic GoMex (b)

Studying Algal Blooms using Satellite Images: This lesson teaches students to use NASA created Giovanni satellite software to learn about chlorophyll blooms.

alg bloom satel (a)
alg bloom satel (b)

What causes seasonal algal blooms? Where do algal blooms take place and how do scientists study them. This lesson helps students understand why some algal blooms come and go on a seasonal basis.

What is killing our coral reefs? Students will learn the locations of coral reefs and find out what is changing the ecosystem where they live.

Coastal Dead Zone Case Studies: This ecology based lesson teaches about what coastal dead zones are, why they occur and where they are located.

PELAGIC MAMMALS

Right Whales Activity: an introduction to right whales and their migration and feeding habits in the Gulf of Maine.

right whales

Exploring the factors that affect whale migrations: Understanding whale migrations and major ocean factors including water temperature chlorophyll concentration and more.

whale migrations

Exploring Migratory Patterns of Whales: using sea surface temperature images from the NASA created Giovanni satellite tool, students will discuss oceanography and food sources for whales.

whale mig patterns