Exploring Ocean Mysteries is a curriculum that makes it easy to teach the seven Ocean Literacy Principles while meeting NGSS, Common Core and Climate Literacy standards. Lessons are targeted to middle grades and adaptable for grades 4-12. They use the National Marine Sanctuary System as an engaging backdrop that helps students understand their importance for exploration, research, Indigenous cultures and more.
Ocean Literacy Essential Principle 7: The ocean is largely unexplored.
In the Plan an Ocean Expedition lesson, students plan an expedition to a national marine sanctuary or monument. They choose a phenomenon to investigate, select personnel they will hire and technology they will use. Students create a research question, mission statement, expedition budget and justify how their choices support the mission.
Lesson Plan
Students will:
- Create a research question and expedition mission statement based on a topic related to a national marine sanctuary and their own interests.
- Describe the activities that will take place during the expedition to fulfill their mission.
- Create a detailed budget of personnel and technology expenses.
- Justify the importance of their expedition and explain how it will further our understanding of the ocean.
Imagine you are an ocean explorer planning your next voyage. Based on what you learn, write a question related to a national marine sanctuary or monument that could be answered through exploration.
