LEARN NC

K–12 teaching and learning · from the UNC School of Education

Didn't find what you were looking for?

How do hurricanes form?
In Hurricanes on sandy shorelines: Lessons for development, page 2
Hurricanes begin when areas of low atmospheric pressure move off Africa and into the Atlantic, where they grow and intensify in the moisture-laden air above the warm tropical ocean. Air moves toward these atmospheric lows from all directions and curves to...
By Dirk Frankenberg.
How is coastal sand formed into barrier islands?
In Small sand volume barrier islands: Environmental processes and development risks, page 2
Coastal sand is organized into barrier islands when three conditions are met: There is a supply of sand sufficient to form islands; sea level is rising; and there are winds and waves with sufficient energy to move the sand around....
By Dirk Frankenberg.
Changes in sea level, great and small
In Evidence of rising sea level: Coastal erosion and plant community changes, page 1
The level of the sea is always changing. These changes may be small and short-lived, as when water rushes up the beach after waves break, but others are large and long-lived — as has been the case with the post-glacial rise of the present era. Small-scale...
By Dirk Frankenberg.
Diagram of hurricane formation
Diagram of hurricane formation
Diagram of hurricane formation showing movement of warm, humid air and cold, unstable air between the upper and lower atmosphere.
Format: image/photograph
Discovery Place and the Charlotte Nature Museum
Discovery Place offers hands-on activities in all areas of science for students at both the Discovery Halls and Charlotte Nature Museum.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
North Carolina Coastal Federation
Visit the North Carolina Coastal Federation and learn about the projects that the NCCF is doing toward restoration of coastal areas in North Carolina.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
MarineQuest
Ocean education and marine environmental education programs providing "hands-on, feet-wet, high-tech" experiences for K-12 students.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Sea Grant North Carolina
With a variety of research and outreach programs, this organization provides several educational opportunities for marine science educators including workshops, marine science and environmental education curriculum development, research opportunities and grants, and field trips.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences
Resources for learning about natural North Carolina including animals, snakes, insects and ecosystems.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Carolina Ocean Studies
A visit to the beautiful barrier islands and ocean reefs of North Carolina will help students understand the importance of our coastal environment and the habitat of the creatures that live there.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
The Science House
Through school demonstration programs, student science camps, teacher workshops and innovative laboratory training, and support projects, the NCSU Science House partners with K-12 teachers to emphasize the use of hands-on learning activities in mathematics and science.
Format: article/field trip opportunity
Operation beach teach
This lesson is the introduction to an integrated marine science unit which culminates in an early fall trip to Hammocks Beach State Park. (See attachment: Pre-Activity). The unit is designed to hook students into science and provide joyful learning experiences across the curriculum.
Format: lesson plan (grade 4 Visual Arts Education, English Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies)
By Melissa Tukey.
Hurricanes on sandy shorelines: Lessons for development
A Carolina Environmental Diversity Explorations “virtual field trip” that examines the sand sharing system of sedimentary coastlines and the impact of hurricanes on those coastlines and on human development.
Format: slideshow (multiple pages)
Small sand volume barrier islands: Environmental processes and development risks
This Carolina Environmental Diversity Explorations “virtual field trip” explores the nature and structure of barrier islands with small sand volume, on which built structures are highly susceptible to damage from hurricanes.
Format: slideshow (multiple pages)
Evidence of rising sea level: Coastal erosion and plant community changes
A Carolina Environmental Diversity Explorations “virtual field trip” that examines the causes and effects of changes in sea level, both short-term (as a result of storms) and long-term (as a result of climate change).
Format: slideshow (multiple pages)
Ocean and You Marine Science Education
Bring the ocean to your classroom and explore marine and environmental education with this innovative program created by an oceanographer and two science educators.
Format: article/field trip opportunity

Resources on the web

OceanWorld
Illustrated information about fisheries, weather, waves, icebergs, currents, coral reefs, and other oceanography topics with real time data and interactive quizzes. Includes a variety of tools for teachers and an online textbook for high school students. (Learn more)
Format: website/activity
Provided by: Texas A&M University
OceanLink
This website is dedicated to ocean education. Throughout these pages, students will find all kinds of interesting information about subjects varying from, the biggest sea animals, marine biology careers, answers to common ocean/animal questions, a glossary,... (Learn more)
Format: website/general
Provided by: Bamfield Marine Station
c.o.o.l. classroom
Students will predict a plankton bloom, determine the displacement of a boat adrift at sea, predict good fishing days, and more while improving basic skills training, problem solving, and critical thinking skills. Find video, printable teaching guides, and... (Learn more)
Format: website/lesson plan
Provided by: Rutgers University
National Marine Sanctuaries
An essential resource for the classroom studying marine science. Includes virtual tours of marine sanctuaries of the United States and their territories, virtual dives, photos, videos, lesson plans, lab experiments, workshops, and much more. Learn about coral... (Learn more)
Format: website/lesson plan
Provided by: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration