This lesson is aimed at helping students improve their skills with claims, evidence, and reasoning. There are two case studies available, one on ocean acidification and one on invasive species. Students will watch an introduction video, read and explore information on the topic, then answer prompts based on data (temperature, salinity, and pH for ocean […]
This short activity allows students to visualize the negative impacts on ocean organisms as the pH of the ocean drops (ocean acidification or OA). It focuses on the how the changes in ocean chemistry, as more CO2 dissolves in the water, affects life in the ocean. Student groups play four rounds of a modified card […]
MIDDLE SCHOOL LESSON: This activity was written with a middle school audience in mind, and provides an introduction to ocean acidification using a video from the California Academy of Sciences. After the introduction, students are guided through a yearlong, seasonal sampling of 1 or more bodies of water in their geographical area (the Pacific Coast of […]
MBARI has gathered some educational resources that may be useful to parents and students while sheltering in place.
Current models predict that the ocean’s pH will decrease through the time because of increased CO2 absorption by the ocean. Organisms that incorporate calcium into their bodies will most likely be adversely affected. In this lesson, students will realize that the ocean’s they experience today may be different from what they will share with their […]
To collect and compare the physical measurements of the North Atlantic and the North Pacific Ocean. To use available archive data to look for patterns over time and to share results via Skype and e-mail.
This inquiry activity allows students to use the scientific method to explore the pH of various liquids and apply the results to determine the impact of fluctuations in ocean chemistry on calcifying organisms that absorb seawater and create calcium carbonate exoskeletons. Interrelationships pertaining to the Atmosphere, Lithosphere, and Hydrosphere through biogeochemical cycles may also be […]
The four labs that I have developed for the unit on ocean acidification investigate pH, the solubility of CO2 in cold and hot water, the change in pH when CO2 is added to salt and fresh water and the buffering capacity of seawater.
Ocean Acidification is a current topic in the ocean and climate news. Students will utilize a guided WebQuest to research the possible future effects of ocean acidification, explore current models used to predict the changes in the ocean’s pH and discuss the current data collection for research.
Research programs at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) encompass the entire ocean, from the surface waters to the deep seafloor, and from the coastal zone to the open sea. The need to understand the ocean in all its complexity and variability drives MBARI's research and development efforts.