This assessment is meant to be used in conjunction with the lesson "Score One for the Estuaries." In this lesson, students will learn how to mitigate the impacts of climate change through several example projects being implemented at the National Estuarine Research Reserves.

In this lesson, students will learn how to mitigate the impacts of climate change through several example projects being implemented at the National Estuarine Research Reserves.

In this activity, students will learn how radar altimetry is used to measure sea surface height, and determine the direction and speed of ocean surface currents from TOPEX/Poseidon altimetry data. Procedures and materials are provided.

Students will experience a simulated oil spill and try various methods of clean-up. Instructions for the teacher in creating a materials kit is included.

With James Cameron's historic DEEPSEA CHALLENGE dive, students will investigate pressure, biological adaptations, and the engineering process through hands-on activities. Students will design an underwater vehicle that can withstand both heat and cold. They will also engineer a model vessel that can rise slowly to the surface from a depth of 3 meters under water.

In this lesson, students identify several species of marine animals that might become stranded and distonguish their characteristics and habitats. Students will then plot stranding sites onto a map using latitude and longitude as well as compass directions with respect to coastal features. Students will also identify several coastal features and important currents, form hypotheses and make analyses bsaed on the data.

Students obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about flows and cycles of energy in cold-seep ecosystems. Students will develop a model that describes some of the interdependent relationships in cold-seep ecosystems. Students will also develop and use a model to explain states and changes between states of methane hydrates.

Students identify stresses that threaten the health of ocean ecosystems, explain natural and human-caused processes that contribute to these stresses, and discuss actions that may be taken to reduce these stresses.

Students identify cause-and-effect relationships between sugar cane production and the health of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Students discover benefits to ocean exploration. Students will work collaboratively to research the topic and prepare an oral report. Students will also construct Learning Shapes to summarize modern reasons for ocean exploration and will use their creations to play a competitive "Ocean Exploration Bowl" game.

Students model bioaccumulation of toxins in marine animals. They participate in a food web game where feeding decisions determine their survival.

This resource uses text, images, maps and a laboratory exercise to explain how differences in the temperature and salinity of ocean water cause the formation of deep-ocean currents. It is part of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's "Ocean Surface Topography from Space" website. This material is also available on the "Visit to An Ocean Planet" CD-ROM.

Students investigate causes of water quality degradation and analyze the relationship between harmful algal blooms, toxic algae, and dead zones. They explore water quality "success stories" and actions to improve water quality.

Students investigate the relationship between winds, surface currents, sea surface temperature and upwelling/downwelling off the northern Pacific coast. Students analyze data to make predictions about current upwelling/downwelling conditions.

In this lesson, students will describe relationships among precipitation, runoff, and wetlands. Students will relate the importance of wetland functions to their own needs and daily lives.

Students will describe at least three energy-obtaining strategies used by organisms in deep-sea reef communities. They will also interpret analyses of oxygen isotope values to connect these energy-obtaining strategies with the organisms found in the communities.

Students explore the relationship between temperature, salinity and density in coastal marine waters. Students access and retrieve water column profile data from the NANOOS and/or the WA Department of Ecology’s Marine Water Monitoring database. Using this data, students construct water column profiles and provide plausible explanations for the trends seen.

This is an encyclopedia entry for the term "marine sanctuary." A marine sanctuary is a general type of marine protected area (MPA). The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and the Pelagos Sanctuary for Mediterranean Marine Animals are featured. Text for this entry is appropriate for the middle and high school levels.

This is an encyclopedia entry for "marsh." A marsh is a wetland, an area of land where water covers ground for long periods of time. Text is appropriate for middle and high grade levels.