Our Magnificent Ocean
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Provided by: UCI Science Project|Published on: May 1, 2024
Lesson PlansTransdisciplinaryScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this multi-day lesson, students will investigate what is living in a drop of ocean water, the importance of phytoplankton to all life on Earth, and how climate change affects marine life.
- Students will use microscopes, explore food webs, hear from a California-based marine scientist, make a model to illustrate ocean acidification, and create art to demonstrate their learning.
Subjects: Science
Authors: UCI Science Project
Region: North America, USA - West, United States, California
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The video of the interview with the marine scientist from California will inspire students to consider a science career.
- Students add their thoughts about what is in ocean water to a droplet graphic in different colors, giving them a visual representation of how their knowledge has grown throughout the lessons.
Additional Prerequisites
- Teachers will need different materials for this lesson, including Foldscopes or microscopes and flower petals.
- Use the links in the Teacher Overview doc to access the worksheets and activity sheets, as some of the links in the presentation notes do not work.
- The "What Do I Eat?" worksheet link is broken.
- It may benefit students to know how molecules interact to create new compounds.
- The QR code on the presentation slides may not work.
Differentiation
- Make connections to plants on land that also photosynthesize and have students investigate the importance of all photosynthesizers to life on Earth.
- Teachers can use the vocabulary terms at the bottom of the Sequence and Flow graphic and pair them with representative pictures to help students access them.
- Have students write short stories about phytoplankton to demonstrate their learning.
- Teachers can use the breathing exercise to introduce students to breathing as a coping strategy.
Framework for Shifting Paradigms in Climate Education
This resource exemplifies the Transdisciplinary Key Focus Area.
- Core Component 1: Integration of Arts and Creative Expression
- The lesson culminates in a schoolwide art exhibit where students express their understanding through their choice of artistic medium. By encouraging creative freedom, the activity invites students to synthesize and communicate key concepts in a personal, meaningful way.
- Core Component 2: Experiential and Project-Based Learning
- Students engage directly with their environment through hands-on activities like observing ocean life with foldscopes and constructing models. A virtual field trip extends this experiential learning, helping students make real-world connections and deepening their understanding of marine ecosystems.
- Core Component 3: Building Empathy, Resilience, and Responsibility by Integrating Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
- Breathing exercises equip students with lifelong tools for emotional regulation and focus. Paired with collaborative discussions, these activities foster interpersonal skills and empathy, supporting students’ social and emotional growth alongside academic learning.
Climate change has impacted our ocean negatively, especially on phytoplankton. This lesson plan provides students with insights on the importance of phytoplankton. It is well-sourced and is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
UCI Science Project
UCI Science Project is grounded in research-based educational practices and understands the paradigm shifts needed for the Next Generation Science Standards. Our goal is to support educators as transformative leaders who build capacity in their schools through empowering learning experiences. We are firmly committed to addressing racial, social, and environmental injustices through collaborative efforts that position educators as agents of change for community action.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
