Altimetry
http://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/education/reef_remote_sensing.html
A lesson plan for grade 6 Science
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Many students are aware that there are satellites orbiting around the Earth. They probably can cite some applications of them that tie into their daily lives, namely satellite radio, satellite television, and meteorological reports on television. This second lesson in the Remote Sensing and Coral Reefs curriculum from NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch Program, written by Margaret “Peggy” Koenig, introduces the use of satellites as a tool for studying the Earth. Students will learn how satellites help scientists monitor sea surface height.
The lessons in this unit are designed to be taught in sequence, however, many of the activities are suited to teaching in isolation. This science unit is appropriate for grades four through six. Some concepts tend to be abstract, so depending on students’ ability and background knowledge, this unit might be more suitable in a gifted and talented setting. The curriculum includes the following lesson plans:
- Remote Sensing and the Electromagnetic Spectrum
- Altimetry
- Phytoplankton and Ocean Color
- Introduction to Coral Reefs
- Symbiosis and Coral Anatomy
- Sea Surface Temperature and Coral Bleaching
- Conservation
The lesson plans and PowerPoint presentations are available for download. Users may choose a zipfile of the entire curriculum, or individual lesson plans. All files are PDF, unless otherwise indicated.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 6
- Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.06: Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:
- Measurement.
- Analysis of data.
- Graphing.
- Prediction models.
- Objective 1.06: Use mathematics to gather, organize, and present quantitative data resulting from scientific investigations:
- Goal 6: The learner will conduct investigations and examine models and devices to build an understanding of the characteristics of energy transfer and/or transformation.
- Objective 6.05: Analyze the physical interactions of light and matter:
- Absorption.
- Scattering.
- Color perception.
- Form and function of the human eye.
- Objective 6.05: Analyze the physical interactions of light and matter:
