Why is oceanography important?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g35/seasoceanography.html
A lesson plan for grade 8 Science
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In this interdisciplinary Xpeditions lesson which involves geology, biology, chemistry, and physics, students the study of the entire ocean, from the shallow coastal areas to the deepest trenches. Activities in this lesson engage students in whole class discussion and online research.
Students will:
- brainstorm the reasons why oceanography is important;
- create “oceanography journals” based on information that they gather at the two Web sites; and
- create posters explaining how oceanography is used and why it’s important.
Xpeditions provides detailed instructions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, and links to helpful web resources.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 8
- Goal 3: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the hydrosphere.
- Objective 3.01: Analyze the unique properties of water including:
- Universal solvent.
- Cohesion and adhesion.
- Polarity.
- Density and buoyancy.
- Specific heat.
- Objective 3.02: Explain the structure of the hydrosphere including:
- Water distribution on earth.
- Local river basin.
- Local water availability.
- Objective 3.03: Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:
- Estuaries.
- Marine ecosystems.
- Upwelling.
- Behavior of gases in the marine environment.
- Value and sustainability of marine resources.
- Deep ocean technology and understandings gained.
- Objective 3.04: Describe how terrestrial and aquatic food webs are interconnected.
- Objective 3.05: Analyze hydrospheric data over time to predict the health of a water system including:
- Temperature.
- Dissolved oxygen.
- pH.
- Nitrates.
- Turbidity.
- Bio-indicators.
- Objective 3.06: Evaluate technologies and information systems used to monitor the hydrosphere.
- Objective 3.07: Describe how humans affect the quality of water:
- Point and non-point sources of water pollution in North Carolina.
- Possible effects of excess nutrients in North Carolina waters.
- Economic trade-offs.
- Local water issues.
- Objective 3.08: Recognize that the good health of environments and organisms requires:
- Monitoring of the hydrosphere.
- Water quality standards.
- Methods of water treatment.
- Maintaining safe water quality.
- Stewardship.
- Objective 3.01: Analyze the unique properties of water including:
