TOPIC - OCEAN LIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS
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Ocean from A to Z - COSEE Coastal Trends 
Lesson PlanSummary
Students create multi-media projects in which they research and report on organisms for each letter of the alphabet. The research is conducted in class and/or on their own over a two-week period.
There is a high diversity of life in the ocean with a wide range of functions and interactions.
Education Standards
90+ minsPhyto or Zoo? - COSEE Coastal Trends
Lesson PlanSummary
Students are introduced to different phytoplankton and zooplankton and build their own dichotomous key through an inquiry based lesson
There is a high diversity of life in the ocean with a wide range of functions and interactions.
Education Standards
The Odd Couple - NOAA Ocean Explorer
Summary
Students learn about symbiotic relationships among organisms of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands through observations and readings of expedition log entries.
There is a high diversity of life in the ocean with a wide range of functions and interactions.
Education Standards
Culturing Bacteria - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students collect water samples, plate the samples on suitable agar, and count bacteria colonies present in each sample to compare and contrast the types of bacteria living in a variety of aquatic environments.
Create a Bacterial Ecosystem - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
In this activity, students mix mud, water, a carbon source, and a sulfur source together in a clear bottle to create a stratified “column” of bacterial communities. Activity requires time to set up in the classroom as well as periodic observations as the "column" stabilizes (4-6 weeks)
Using Genetic Techniques - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students conduct “virtual labs” to explore how scientists extract DNA from samples, amplify the DNA (PCR/Polymerase Chain Reaction), and study the DNA (gel electrophoresis).
Where do the Critters Live? - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students investigate the influence of ocean temperature on the distribution of marine organisms by comparing online ocean temperature data to temperature tolerances of various organisms
Where Will the Stripers Be? - University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Summary
Students examine the influence of abiotic factors on the location of populations of Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass through analysis of temperature and dissolved oxygen data.
Hatch to Catch - Bigelow Laboratory and Dartmouth College
Summary
In this web-based simulation activity, students manipulate environmental variables in order to create optimal environmental conditions that will generate high “hatch” to “catch” survival rates in newly spawned lobster larvae.
Open ocean euphotic zone: The Great Turtle Race - National Geographic
Summary
Students manipulate environmental factors as they play the role of a migrating turtle moving through the ocean.
There are many diverse habitats in the open ocean, which contribute to the diversity of organisms.
Education Standards
