How Ocean Currents Work (And How We Are Breaking Them)

• This video provides a deep dive into ocean currents and discusses how climate change can (and likely will) cause these ocean currents to slow and eventually stop.
• Students will learn about the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), how differences in the temperature and salinity of ocean water drive ocean currents, and the many effects this has on the planet.

Positives

• This video gives students an opportunity to understand the ways in which ocean currents play a significant role in keeping the planet healthy.  
• This is an engaging video loaded with humor, relatable examples, and visual science experiments.

Additional Prerequisites

• This video has ads before and during the video on the YouTube platform, but the video is also available without ads on the PBS site.
  

Differentiation

• Cross-curricular connections with social studies classes could be made by discussing how ocean currents may have impacted political and economic conditions and events in Europe.  
  
• Teachers could stop the video after the term AMOC is introduced to ensure that students understand the meaning of this acronym before diving into its significance.
• Because there is a lot to unpack in this video, note-taking guides could benefit students.  Guiding ideas might include: "If climate change eventually leads to a slowdown in the ocean's circulation, what are some consequences we could see?" and "Watch to find out how the temperature and saltiness of ocean water impacts ocean circulation patterns." 
• Many informational text features are presented in the video (including line graphs and maps) that could be used in math and science classes.
• Other resources related to this topic include How Do Oceans Circulate?, Climate Change and the Oceans, and Aquarius: Ocean Circulation.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.