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Open ocean aphotic/twilight zone: All that Glitters - NOAA Ocean Explorer 
Lesson PlanSummary
Students learn about deep-sea bioluminescence through a hands-on activity simulating the deep sea environment and the effect of lowered light on the different parts of the spectrum.
There are many diverse habitats in the open ocean, which contribute to the diversity of organisms.
Education Standards
60 minsOpen ocean aphotic/twilight zone: Light at the bottom of the deep, dark ocean? - NOAA Ocean Explorer
Summary
Students learn how organisms adapt to life in the ocean with little light through this role-playing activity.
There are many diverse habitats in the open ocean, which contribute to the diversity of organisms.
Education Standards
Open ocean aphotic/twilight zone: Fishy deep-sea designs - NOAA Ocean Explorer
Summary
Students explore the adaptation of fishes living in the mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones of the deep ocean.
There are many diverse habitats in the open ocean, which contribute to the diversity of organisms.
Education Standards
Hydrothermal vents: This old tubeworm - NOAA Ocean Explorer
Summary
Students learn about the process of chemosynthesis and how to calculate age of tube worms found in deep-sea vents.
There are many diverse habitats in the open ocean, which contribute to the diversity of organisms.
Education Standards
Hydrothermal vents: Let’s Make a Tubeworm! - NOAA Ocean Explorer
Lesson PlanSummary
Students create a model of a tubeworm, learn about symbiotic relationships, and compare chemosynthesis with photosynthesis.
There are many diverse habitats in the open ocean, which contribute to the diversity of organisms.
Education Standards
Polar seas: Polar Regions: Arctic Adaptations and Global Impact - National Geographic X-Peditions
Summary
Students conduct research to learn about adaptations of organisms in polar environments.
There are many diverse habitats in the open ocean, which contribute to the diversity of organisms.
Education Standards
Estuaries: Give Me Shelter - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students observe the feeding behavior and success rate of blue gill feeding on brine shrimp in two different environments; one with seagrass and one without.
Coastal ocean systems provide important habitats for organisms.
Education Standards
Estuaries: Predator Prey Interaction - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students explore the role of seagrass as habitats.
Coastal ocean systems provide important habitats for organisms.
Education Standards
Estuaries: Larvae Feeding - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students play the role of feeding fish to demonstrate how striped bass larvae feed on copepods, their zooplankton prey, and how larvae are preyed upon by bigger fish.
Coastal ocean systems provide important habitats for organisms.
Education Standards
Wetlands: Marsh Elevation - University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Summary
In this field investigation, students visit a local wetland to explore plant zonation. Students construct a transect, use quadrats to count grass species, and graph their findings.
Coastal ocean systems provide important habitats for organisms.
Education Standards
