Curriculum

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.

Students use salad tongs, tweezers and other tools to discover the relationship between the shape of a bird's beak, its habitat and diet.

How do crabs stay alive in their habitats? Students use crab picture cards, construct a hermit crab model and experiment with household utensils to see how different kinds of crabs eat and protect themselves.

How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.

Students use blue film glasses to observe camouflage strategies of deep sea organisms and explore the properties of light in water.

Students explore a marine food web by dissecting a gelatin-dessert-filled plastic glove “stomach” of a marine consumer. They identify what kind of consumer their marine animal is by examining the prey items they discover in the stomach and then construct a marine food web as a class.

What happens when plastics enter the ocean? Students explore the density of different plastics. They then predict how plastics affect marine food webs and brainstorm actions to reduce plastic pollution.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What makes a shark a shark? Students explore shark anatomy by taking part in a debate justifying the importance of specific shark adaptations and physical characteristics.

What affects the health of a watershed? By constructing a shower curtain model, students explore how human actions influence a watershed.

What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.

How easy is hazardous waste to clean up? In this simulation, students are challenged to find and remove a "baking soda contaminant" from a plastic shoebox filled with damp sand.

How are beaches formed? Students construct a beach in a pan and investigate the effects of wind and waves on a beach.

Students use salad tongs, tweezers and other tools to discover the relationship between the shape of a bird's beak, its habitat and diet.

How do crabs stay alive in their habitats? Students use crab picture cards, construct a hermit crab model and experiment with household utensils to see how different kinds of crabs eat and protect themselves.

How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.

Where does sand come from? Students observe characteristics of sand grains and find other students with matching sand samples. Students then use the provided latitude and longitude to find their beach on a map.

Students explore the concept of habitat by examining outdoor habitat items (e.g., leaves, branches, snails, etc.) that have been collected and brought into the classroom. Students use the exploration as an inquiry starting point. They make observations, generate questions of interest and design and conduct their own investigations.

Students explore a marine food web by dissecting a gelatin-dessert-filled plastic glove “stomach” of a marine consumer. They identify what kind of consumer their marine animal is by examining the prey items they discover in the stomach and then construct a marine food web as a class.

What happens when plastics enter the ocean? Students explore the density of different plastics. They then predict how plastics affect marine food webs and brainstorm actions to reduce plastic pollution.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What makes a shark a shark? Students explore shark anatomy by taking part in a debate justifying the importance of specific shark adaptations and physical characteristics.

What affects the health of a watershed? By constructing a shower curtain model, students explore how human actions influence a watershed.

What is pH and how does carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels increase the acidity of the ocean? Students find out by doing a serial dilution to create their own pH scale. Then they add carbon dioxide to fresh water and sea water and use their pH scale to analyze results.

What creates ocean waves? Students use various tools to experiment with wind strength and create waves in a model ocean. They then predict and test the effect of waves on a rocky shore habitat.

What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.

In this short demonstration illustrating ocean plastic pollution, students observe a two-liter model of plastic pieces suspended in the water column. Students then review the concept of a gyre, discuss how and why plastic particles are found in gyres and what impact plastics may have on ocean organisms and habitats.

Students use blue film glasses to observe camouflage strategies of deep sea organisms and explore the properties of light in water.

What happens when plastics enter the ocean? Students explore the density of different plastics. They then predict how plastics affect marine food webs and brainstorm actions to reduce plastic pollution.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.

How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.

Where does sand come from? Students observe characteristics of sand grains and find other students with matching sand samples. Students then use the provided latitude and longitude to find their beach on a map.

Students explore the concept of habitat by examining outdoor habitat items (e.g., leaves, branches, snails, etc.) that have been collected and brought into the classroom. Students use the exploration as an inquiry starting point. They make observations, generate questions of interest and design and conduct their own investigations.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.

Students use salad tongs, tweezers and other tools to discover the relationship between the shape of a bird's beak, its habitat and diet.

How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.

In this short demonstration illustrating ocean plastic pollution, students observe a two-liter model of plastic pieces suspended in the water column. Students then review the concept of a gyre, discuss how and why plastic particles are found in gyres and what impact plastics may have on ocean organisms and habitats.

Students use blue film glasses to observe camouflage strategies of deep sea organisms and explore the properties of light in water.

Students explore a marine food web by dissecting a gelatin-dessert-filled plastic glove “stomach” of a marine consumer. They identify what kind of consumer their marine animal is by examining the prey items they discover in the stomach and then construct a marine food web as a class.

What happens when plastics enter the ocean? Students explore the density of different plastics. They then predict how plastics affect marine food webs and brainstorm actions to reduce plastic pollution.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What makes a shark a shark? Students explore shark anatomy by taking part in a debate justifying the importance of specific shark adaptations and physical characteristics.

What affects the health of a watershed? By constructing a shower curtain model, students explore how human actions influence a watershed.

What is pH and how does carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels increase the acidity of the ocean? Students find out by doing a serial dilution to create their own pH scale. Then they add carbon dioxide to fresh water and sea water and use their pH scale to analyze results.

What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.

How easy is hazardous waste to clean up? In this simulation, students are challenged to find and remove a "baking soda contaminant" from a plastic shoebox filled with damp sand.

How are beaches formed? Students construct a beach in a pan and investigate the effects of wind and waves on a beach.

Students use salad tongs, tweezers and other tools to discover the relationship between the shape of a bird's beak, its habitat and diet.

How do crabs stay alive in their habitats? Students use crab picture cards, construct a hermit crab model and experiment with household utensils to see how different kinds of crabs eat and protect themselves.

How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.

What are the differences between tides and waves? Students find out by creating a model tide pool in a plastic dishpan. They then construct clay animals and experiment with water levels and waves.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What affects the health of a watershed? By constructing a shower curtain model, students explore how human actions influence a watershed.

What is pH and how does carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels increase the acidity of the ocean? Students find out by doing a serial dilution to create their own pH scale. Then they add carbon dioxide to fresh water and sea water and use their pH scale to analyze results.

What creates ocean waves? Students use various tools to experiment with wind strength and create waves in a model ocean. They then predict and test the effect of waves on a rocky shore habitat.

What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.

How easy is hazardous waste to clean up? In this simulation, students are challenged to find and remove a "baking soda contaminant" from a plastic shoebox filled with damp sand.

How are beaches formed? Students construct a beach in a pan and investigate the effects of wind and waves on a beach.

Students use salad tongs, tweezers and other tools to discover the relationship between the shape of a bird's beak, its habitat and diet.

How do crabs stay alive in their habitats? Students use crab picture cards, construct a hermit crab model and experiment with household utensils to see how different kinds of crabs eat and protect themselves.

How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.

Where does sand come from? Students observe characteristics of sand grains and find other students with matching sand samples. Students then use the provided latitude and longitude to find their beach on a map.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What affects the health of a watershed? By constructing a shower curtain model, students explore how human actions influence a watershed.

What creates ocean waves? Students use various tools to experiment with wind strength and create waves in a model ocean. They then predict and test the effect of waves on a rocky shore habitat.

Students explore a marine food web by dissecting a gelatin-dessert-filled plastic glove “stomach” of a marine consumer. They identify what kind of consumer their marine animal is by examining the prey items they discover in the stomach and then construct a marine food web as a class.

What happens when plastics enter the ocean? Students explore the density of different plastics. They then predict how plastics affect marine food webs and brainstorm actions to reduce plastic pollution.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What affects the health of a watershed? By constructing a shower curtain model, students explore how human actions influence a watershed.

How are beaches formed? Students construct a beach in a pan and investigate the effects of wind and waves on a beach.

Students use salad tongs, tweezers and other tools to discover the relationship between the shape of a bird's beak, its habitat and diet.

How do crabs stay alive in their habitats? Students use crab picture cards, construct a hermit crab model and experiment with household utensils to see how different kinds of crabs eat and protect themselves.

How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.

What are the differences between tides and waves? Students find out by creating a model tide pool in a plastic dishpan. They then construct clay animals and experiment with water levels and waves.

Students explore the concept of habitat by examining outdoor habitat items (e.g., leaves, branches, snails, etc.) that have been collected and brought into the classroom. Students use the exploration as an inquiry starting point. They make observations, generate questions of interest and design and conduct their own investigations.

What creates ocean waves? Students use various tools to experiment with wind strength and create waves in a model ocean. They then predict and test the effect of waves on a rocky shore habitat.

In this short demonstration illustrating ocean plastic pollution, students observe a two-liter model of plastic pieces suspended in the water column. Students then review the concept of a gyre, discuss how and why plastic particles are found in gyres and what impact plastics may have on ocean organisms and habitats.

Students explore a marine food web by dissecting a gelatin-dessert-filled plastic glove “stomach” of a marine consumer. They identify what kind of consumer their marine animal is by examining the prey items they discover in the stomach and then construct a marine food web as a class.

What happens when plastics enter the ocean? Students explore the density of different plastics. They then predict how plastics affect marine food webs and brainstorm actions to reduce plastic pollution.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What affects the health of a watershed? By constructing a shower curtain model, students explore how human actions influence a watershed.

What is pH and how does carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels increase the acidity of the ocean? Students find out by doing a serial dilution to create their own pH scale. Then they add carbon dioxide to fresh water and sea water and use their pH scale to analyze results.

In this short demonstration illustrating ocean plastic pollution, students observe a two-liter model of plastic pieces suspended in the water column. Students then review the concept of a gyre, discuss how and why plastic particles are found in gyres and what impact plastics may have on ocean organisms and habitats.

Students explore a marine food web by dissecting a gelatin-dessert-filled plastic glove “stomach” of a marine consumer. They identify what kind of consumer their marine animal is by examining the prey items they discover in the stomach and then construct a marine food web as a class.

What happens when plastics enter the ocean? Students explore the density of different plastics. They then predict how plastics affect marine food webs and brainstorm actions to reduce plastic pollution.

How do we use plastics? In this activity, students examine different kinds of plastics and investigate what happens after plastic objects are thrown in the recycling bin. They are also challenged to think about whether some of the ways we use plastics are better than others.

How much plastic do we consume? In this activity, students design an investigation and conduct an audit of waste (trash and recycling) at home or in their schools to discover the types and quantities of plastics that are consumed.

What is pH and how does carbon dioxide released from the burning of fossil fuels increase the acidity of the ocean? Students find out by doing a serial dilution to create their own pH scale. Then they add carbon dioxide to fresh water and sea water and use their pH scale to analyze results.