STANDARD - NATURAL RESOURCES
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Photosynthesis and Respiration in Seagrass - COSEE Coastal Trends 
Lesson PlanSummary
Students conduct a hands-on experiment that illustrates how different levels of light affect photosynthesis and respiration in seagrass. Note: instructor may need to be creative with timing of the experiment to allow for an adequate incubation period.
Photosynthesis by marine plants produces much of the oxygen in the atmosphere and uses much of the carbon dioxide.
Education Standards
90+ minsWhere 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
Wetlands: Marsh Elevation - University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
Lesson PlanSummary
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
Wetlands: The Fragile Fringe - USGS
Summary
Students explore wetlands through a series of lessons ranging from wetland identification to investigating the beneficial functions of wetlands and causes of wetland loss.
Coastal ocean systems provide important habitats for organisms.
Education Standards
Rocky intertidal: Monitoring the Intertidal with Life-Sized Photos - Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association
Summary
Students use photo quadrats of a real rocky shoreline to investigate the zonation of organisms in the rocky intertidal zone. Note: links to photo quadrats and organism ID guide are listed in the Materials section.
Coastal ocean systems provide important habitats for organisms.
Education Standards
The Benthic Drugstore - NOAA Ocean Explorer
Summary
Students identify and investigate the importance of pharmacologically active chemicals found in specific marine invertebrate species.
The ocean affects human life in many ways. The ocean provides many resources for humans.
Education Standards
Tragedy of Commons Game - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students play the role of fishermen to demonstrate how overfishing can occur.
Humans affect the ocean and therefore must protect it.
Education Standards
The Drill on the Spill: Learning About the Gulf Oil Leak in the Lab - New York Times, The Learning Network
Summary
Students explore the 2010 Gulf of Mexico Oil spill by accessing high quality data-based models and maps on the New York Times website. They also develop a research question about oil spills or clean-up technology and design a lab investigation to answer the question.
Humans affect the ocean and therefore must protect it.
Education Standards
What Affects Dead Zones? - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students explore scenarios in real datasets to investigate how physics and biology interact to produce Dead Zones of various sizes and durations.
Coastal areas and humans are particularly interconnected.
Education Standards
Why have seagrasses disappeared? - COSEE Coastal Trends
Summary
Students use the internet or printed articles and video clips to research why seagrass numbers have declined.
Coastal areas and humans are particularly interconnected.
Education Standards
