Phytoplankton + Productivity 5E
Students will be analyzing select GO-BGC float data to find a connection between chlorophyll-a and dissolved oxygen
EARTH Lessons in Development
Making the Invisible Visible
Have you ever wondered what sound looks like? How can we see sound? Students will be analyzing the spectrogram of an ocean soundscape and create their own spectrogram with a song of their choice. Students will practice the I2 strategy and develop their caption writing skills and graphical analysis skills. This lesson pulls info from […]
Floating with PUPCYCLE
PUPCYCLE (Phytoplankton response to the UPwelling Cycle) is a research project to measure the physiological responses of phytoplankton to upwelling. Upwelling tends to generate regions of high productivity in the oceans that can fuel phytoplankton blooms. Locating the microscopic phytoplankton that create these blooms can be quite challenging and scientists use a variety of methods, […]
Our Ocean is Trending
What we can learn about the ocean’s oxygen and chlorophyll levels by using GO-BGC and SOCCOM Floats. What can students learn about the ocean’s oxygen and chlorophyll levels by using Argo and GO-BGC, and SOCCOM Floats? Students will learn how to access data from GO-BGC floats in order to analyze and compare properties such as […]
Ocean Checkup—How Do You Measure the Health of the Ocean
Argo floats, monitoring ocean health, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a Students will compare dissolved oxygen and chlorophyll a data collected at 3 different locations by Argo floats. Students will discuss the relationship between Chlorophyll A (phytoplankton) and oxygen in the sea, and discuss how the information would be useful in determining ocean health.
Profiling Phytoplankton
Students will learn about different phytoplankton and what impacts their distribution by building a water column representing the Southern Ocean. Students will build a water column that showcases the different types of phytoplankton found at different levels of the Southern Ocean. We will be using data collected from a 2014 Antarctic cruise on the Nathaniel […]
The Ocean Does the Robot
Learning how to access ocean float data and interpreting graphs. In this introductory lesson, students will become familiar with accessing and reading float data. Working in teams, students will use the Argo Fleet Monitoring website to access information about a float of their choice, analyze and interpret data, and communicate findings in a creative way. […]
Graphing pH
Graphing pH levels in the ocean and making connections to ocean acidification. Students will explore the topic of ocean acidification. They will construct, analyze and interpret a pH graph. Students will develop analytical thinking skills.
Graphing Temperature
Graphing temperatures in the ocean. Students will construct, analyze, and interpret real data from a profiling float in the ocean. Students will explore ocean temperature trends and climate change. Students will develop critical thinking, geographical, mathematical, graphing, analyzing, and interpretation skills.
Float Away… How do we study the ocean?
Using comic strips to communicate how floats are used to study the ocean. In all stages of science communication, from childhood interest, to secondary education, to professionals and research, illustrators step in to translate the information into materials that fit the needs of individuals at every level of understanding. This lesson is intended as an […]
Ocean Data GOES from Space Argo the Sea
In this lesson, students will compare and contrast satellite data to float data. The first satellite was launched in 1962 and collected three types of data, with NOAA launching the first ocean-specific satellites in 1970. Floats were first built in 1980, and ARGO launches started in 1999, which collected ocean data. In this lesson, students […]
The Case of the Bloody Red Salt
Ocean scientists invite students to join them in figuring out the mystery of the sick birds in their coastal town. The scientists send the students important clues they have collected. Students work together to observe the data, ask questions, and determine what is causing the problem.
Have an Eye in the Sky
Students use photographs taken with satellites and drones to observe changes on Earth. The students will make inferences based on their observations and calculations to make claims about seasonal ice/snow coverage in the Arctic and whale size and behaviour in the Antarctic.
Is Climate Change Impacting Salmon Populations?
Climate change is a topic we hear about every day, from increasing sea levels, warming oceans, and melting polar ice caps. But is climate change impacting our salmon populations? Students will utilize Pacific Decadal Oscillation data, and Coho and Chinook Salmon data to explore the connection between salmon returns and water temperature.
Data, or it Didn’t Happen
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 […]
Marine Careers: Meet Marine Movers and Shakers
Students will be introduced to an array of marine advocates including scientists, artists, educators and students. These films can be used to introduce students to marine advocates/enthusiasts on a personal level and as introduction to a variety of ways to implement marine advocacy into a career.
Marine Algae and the Mystery of Dissolved Oxygen!
Earth has finite resources, and as a result, matter recycles throughout the world by biogeochemical cycles. The Carbon/Oxygen Cycle is a biogeochemical cycle that is driven by photosynthesis and cellular respiration. As a result of organisms performing these two processes, levels of dissolved oxygen (DO) change within water columns. Inspired by the information available via […]
Can You Build Your Shipwright?
Students will start by completing a webquest on the different equipment that can be found at an ocean observatory. They will explore a variety of research equipment used to determine the biochemical and geophysical activities of our oceans. Students will be able to compare and contrast data for inshore vs offshore mooring systems and gliders. […]
Blue Mud Shrimp Mystery Update
This lesson plan is an extension of the Blue Mud Shrimp Mystery adding information and activities on the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) threatening the white tail deer and elk population in Pennsylvania and other places. It will align with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards, NGSS, and the PA Game Commission environmental education public outreach program. It will be […]
Intro to ROVs
This is an introductory lesson to familiarize students with how ROVs are built and why ROVs are used. Students will observe a variety of deep sea organisms using MBARI YouTube videos and the MBARI Deep Sea guide. Students will explore the subject of why and how ROVs are used to collect data regarding the deep sea. Students will […]
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About MBARI
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.