Open Ocean Lesson Plan And Activity printable pdf download

Partnerships for Reform through Investigative Science and Math

Lesson 1: The Open Ocean, What is it and How Does it

Open Ocean

Change?

Summary

Concepts

Students are introduced to what the open ocean is through

What is the open

brainstorming and pictures. The students then explore the physical

ocean? What are

(abiotic) features of the Pacific open ocean. The students also learn

some physical

where Hawaii is situated in the Pacific and the characteristics of the

properties of the

ocean that surrounds us. Students then learn how the areas of the

open ocean, and

ocean with different physical properties change through a hands-on

how do currents

lab that models how currents move water.

affect these

properties?

Objectives

1. Introduce Unit.

Standards

2. Describe the major physical properties of the ocean including

Addressed

salinity, temperature, depth, and nutrient levels.

HCPS 5.1 & 5.3

3. Explore and describe how currents change the physical

properties of the open ocean.

Duration

Prep: 45 min

Materials

Activity: 2 periods

Period

(45 minutes each)

• Chart Paper

• Physical maps of the open ocean (see Unit)

Source Material

• Map walk worksheet

MARE (currents

lab)

Period

• Currents Lab worksheet

Vocabulary

• 4 identical plastic bottles (12-16 oz. most water bottles work)

Open Ocean

• Tornado tube (this piece screws the two bottles together)

Salinity

• Room temp water, Hot tap water, Ice cold water

Current

• ! Cup Kosher salt/sea salt (dissolves better than table salt)

Nutrients

• Food coloring (not yellow: Red and Blue work great)

Bathymetry

• 2 trays

Abiotic

• Clean up supplies (towel, paper towels)

Biotic

Upwelling

Making Connections

This session is meant to introduce the students to the open ocean

environment. The physical features of the open ocean are very

dynamic and may be very different between areas. Physical features

also define what types of organisms thrive in different areas.

Background

Our oceans are vast areas of water that span thousands of miles and

may be several miles deep in some places. Previously,

oceanographic trips took months to gather information that covered

Lesson 1: The Open Ocean

Open Ocean Lesson Plan And Activity

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