Snack-Sized Science: Chalk it up to Ocean Acidification

• In this 30-minute demonstration of an ocean acidification lab, students will be able to follow along with the experiment and learn about ocean acidification.
  
• Students will learn how acidic environments dissolve calcium carbonate and that ocean acidification is caused by excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

Positives

• The host is very engaging and speaks clearly.
• The experiments use easy-to-source items.

Additional Prerequisites

• Teachers will need to prepare the materials for the experiments ahead of time.
• Teachers may want to review the video prior to using it in the classroom.

Differentiation 

• This is a long video, so teachers may want to show it in short clips.
• Social studies classes can link this experiment to the destruction of sculptures, headstones, and buildings in areas that experienced high amounts of acid rain throughout our history.
• Science classes can also link this experiment to the effects of acid rain and acid fig on trees and other organisms.
  
• Before watching the video, students could write down what they know about ocean acidification and how it affects marine life. After performing the experiments, students could reflect on what they learned.
• Other resources on this topic include this video on the importance of protecting coral reefs, these EarthEcho Academy videos on the impact of ocean acidification on marine organisms, and this Khan Academy video on the effects of ocean acidification.

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