Open Sea Teacher Resources
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Curriculum
Activity
California Standards
National Standards
What are the components of an ecosystem? Students assume the roles of different scientists while collecting data at an outdoor field site or aquarium.
- Grade 6: 1e, f; 2a, d; 4a; 5a, b, d; 7b, g, h
- Grade 7: 4a, c, f; 5a; 7a, c, d
- Grade 8: 2b; 8c, d
- Grades 9-12: Chemistry 2a, 4d, 5a, 5d; 7d, Biology 6b, 6d, Earth Sciences 5d, 5g, 6b, 8b, 9a, 9c, Investigation and Experimentation 1a-n
- 5-8: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, History and Nature of Science
- 9-12: Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Life Science
How do different fish survive in their habitats? Students use a fish body part key to "decode" a fish and infer behavior and habitat.
- Grade 3: 3a, b, c, d; 5b, e
- Grade 4: 2b; 3a, b; 6a, f
- Grade 5: 2a, b; 6a, g, h
- K-4: Science as Inquiry, Life Science
- 5-8: Life Science
How do fish protect themselves in the ocean? One adaptation is camouflage. Students make a paper fish and "camouflage"
it into a magazine photo habitat.
- Grade K: 2a, c; 4a, b, e
- Grade 1: 2a, c; 4a, b, e
- Grade 2: 2c, d; 4a, d, f, g
- K-4: Science as Inquiry, Life Science, Physical Science
How does the size of your hand compare to the size of a book or desk? Students estimate the size of various
objects using non-standard measurement, such as a paper “hand” or piece of yarn.
- Grade K: 1a, 4a, 4d
- Grade 2: 4a, 4b, 4c, 4g
- PreK: Head Start Framework
- K-4: Science as Inquiry
What rhymes with sea star? Students make observations of ocean animals and habitats in Aquarium exhibits, on web
cams or in other nonfiction resources. The students then use their findings to write and illustrate poems.
- Grade K: 2a, b, c; 4a, b, e
- Grade 1: 2a, b, c, d; 4a, b
- Grade 2: 2a, b, c, d; 4d
- Grade 3: 3a, b, c, d; 5b
- Grade 4: 2b; 3a, b; 6a
- Grade 5: 2a, b, c, d; 6a
- PreK: Head Start Framework
- K-4: Science as Inquiry, Life Science
- 5-8: Science as Inquiry, Life Science
Students order seafood from a mock menu and use a scoresheet based on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program to gauge the sustainability of their selection.
- Grades 9-12: Biology/Life Sciences 6a, b, c, d; 8b; Earth Sciences 5d; Investigation & Experimentation 1c, d, g,
l, m
- 9-12: Science as Inquiry, Life Science, Science and Technology, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, History and Nature of Science
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.
- Grade 3: 3a, b, c, d; 5a, b
- Grade 4: 3b, 4b, 6a
- Grade 5: 2b, c, d; 6a
- K-4: Life Science
- 5-8: Life Science
 See what's going on in the Aquarium's exhibits without leaving your
classroom! Our web cams are live daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific
time.
Learn more
Watch videos about our animals, exhibits and conservation research
programs or discover more about the ocean through our ocean science
podcast.
Learn more
Dive into our games and interactives to have fun and learn about ocean animals and the places they call home.
Learn more
Resource Links
On Our Website
Sea Searchers Handbook: Open Sea Chapter (PDF Format)
Information about the open water habitat, the pelagic animals that live there and fun activities to do as a family or in the classroom.
Seafood Choices to Help Turtles, Tuna and Sharks
What seafood you buy makes a difference to the future of sharks, turtles and other ocean animals in trouble. Learn why your seafood choices matter.
Shark and Ray Activities
We've got lots of fun activities related to sharks and rays. Make a tribal shark mask. Identify shark and ray survival skills. Learn to draw shark cartoons!
Tuna Research and Conservation
The Tuna Research and Conservation Center—a collaboration between the Aquarium and Stanford University—tags giant bluefin tuna in the ocean and studies them at their facility.
White Shark Research and Conservation
The Aquarium's multi year white shark research program uses satellite tagging of juvenile white sharks to collect data about their life history. The Aquarium hopes that this data collection leads to better management of shark populations in the wild and changes public attitude about this maligned ocean predator.
Your Actions Can Help Save Sharks
Your everyday actions and choices are the key to a future where healthy oceans are rich with sharks and other wildlife. Find out about the threats sharks face and what you can do to help.
You'll find more educational resources in our Classroom Resources section.
External Links
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) Pelagic Predators
MBARI scientists, engineers and staff collaborate on a range of marine research projects. The projects span the interdisciplinary fields of ocean science, including marine biology, ecology, chemistry and geology.
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary: Pelagic Zone
A comprehensive and educational scientific characterization of the open seas habitat in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): Ocean Section
NOAA's ocean section spotlights many of its different services and agencies responsible for the management of ocean areas. This section includes a link to NOAA Ocean Explorer to follow ocean explorations in near real-time.
Tagging of Pacific Pelagics (TOPP)
A collaboration among the world's scientists, the TOPP uses satellite tagging technologies to track 22 species of pelagic animals, including tunas, sharks and whales. TOPP hopes to provide insights on where open ocean species breed and feed.
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