Guest Blog by Woody Moses, NAME Washington Co-Director For millennia, people have gathered food from the shores of the Salish Sea. Unfortunately, these meals can sometimes lead to serious health issues, or even death. Consequently, whenever Giovannina and I collect filter-feeding bivalves from Washington coastal waters (clams, oysters, mussels, etc.), we always check “The Map.” […]
Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators and Canadian Network for Ocean Education invite you to a Virtual Panel and Discussion When: August 19th from 10:00 am–12 noon PDT Where: online through Zoom Integrating virtual and hands-on marine education: experiences, reflection and addressing challenges Register Now! Agenda: During the plenary session, panelists will introduce themselves and speak […]
UPDATE—This event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation. Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators & Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition present our 11th Annual “Sharing the Coast Conference” When: March 13-15, 2020 Where: Southwestern Oregon Community College, Coos Bay, Oregon Schedule & Information Download the full schedule here. Friday night: FREE! OPEN TO PUBLIC! Dr. Eric […]
UPDATE—This event has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation. Come Razor Clamming with NAME! April 10-12 Copalis Beach, WA Washington NAME will be heading out to the coast on Friday, April 10, 2020 for a weekend of festivities and marine biology. We arise early Saturday, April 11, to hunt for the mighty Pacific Razor […]
Join us for a “Pacific Seas Snooze” Overnight at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Saturday November 16, 2019 Register Now! Location: 5400 N Pearl St. Tacoma Time: 7:00 pm Saturday – 9:30 am Sunday Ages: Participants must be at least 5 years old NAME Members: Adults: $40, Children: $25 Non-Members: Adults: $45, Children: $30 (Breakfast […]
Science Literacy Week 2019 is all about our OCEANS! NAME-BC will be joining World Fisheries Trust and Hillside Centre in a celebration of science literacy as we sail from coast to coast to coast across Canada’s oceans! Join local science educators and communicators at this one-day, hands-on science extravaganza, featuring a marine touch tank filled with […]
It was a fun and educational evening for WA NAMERS at the recent Whale Trail event at West Seattle’s C&P Coffeehouse on December 4, 2018. Celebrating the return of the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) to Puget Sound, The Whale Trail, hosted an evening of presentations dedicated to our favorite, local cetaceans. Led by Whale […]
I have been a marine educator for over 35 years. Besides working with various school and scout groups, I have the opportunity to work with over 1300 amazing volunteers along the Oregon coast who have adopted a mile of beach and are asked to report officially, quarterly, on the state of their beach. My job […]
Co-hosted by CaNOE and the BC Chapter of the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators NAME BC WHEN: 4:00 – 6:00 pm Thursday, February 22 WHERE: Canoe Brewpub, 450 Swift Street, Victoria WHO: Everyone welcome – bring a friend! WHAT: Network with fellow educators and scientists, share your news and learn more about marine education and […]
Save the Date: July 29-August 2, 2018, Portland, Oregon The NAME-Oregon team is hard at work planning an exciting conference in 2018! Please check back for more details about the conference—including presentations, lodging, and registration information—as they become available.
Join Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), the Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE), and the Royal BC Museum (RBCM) for a fun and informative ocean-focused Pro-D-Day. Become acquainted with the growing network advancing ocean literacy in Canada; explore cool, weird and wonderful marine creatures in the Museum’s collections; and dive into ONC’s Ocean Sense program to explore learning resources newly […]
The National Marine Educators Association’s annual conference was just held in Charleston, South Carolina. This four-day event was replete with activities for both new and experienced marine educators. Featured speakers included scientists, environmentalists, artists, writers, storytellers and members of the Gullah/Geechee Nation. The sessions were chock-full of curriculum ideas and hands-on activities. To access presenter […]
All of us at NAME were honored to know and work with Joy Elizabeth Tally. Her passion for the environment and love for her community made a deep, permanent mark on NAME as an organization, and for each one of us fortunate enough to know her as a friend. If you would like to make […]
“On Watch”—from the President’s Desk January 30, 2017 There’s something about water that draws all of us closer to the fundamental mystery and wonder of life. And when we find others – friends, loved ones, mentors or colleagues – with whom we can share this mystical journey, we know we have been given a profound […]
Please join us for State of the Salish Sea—A Virtual Tour with Chrys Bertolotto, Natural Resource Programs Manager, WSU Snohomish County Extension. Saturday February 4, 2017 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm Highline College MaST Center (located near Redondo Beach Park) The Salish Sea stretches from northern Vancouver Island south to Olympia, Washington and is nestled between the Cascade […]
Planning—Fishing in the Future Summary: Complex changes in ocean conditions are affecting the distribution and availability of some commercial fish species. Fishers and fishery managers use science to adapt to and prepare for the future. In this topic guide, students explore online data tools designed to help fisheries adapt to climate change. Concepts to teach: […]
Planning—Adopt a Wetland Summary: Students adopt a wetland and collect data to help determine the amount of carbon sequestered by the wetland, and engage in water quality monitoring to promote the efficiency of carbon sequestration. Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Stability and Change Disciplinary Core Ideas ESS3.C – Human Impacts on Earth Systems ETS1.B – […]
Impacts—Hypoxia Summary: How are oxygen levels in the ocean changing as a result of climate change? In the waters off the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., seasonal upwelling brings nutrient-dense, oxygen-poor water to the surface, and the strength and duration of upwelling occasionally forms hypoxic (low oxygen) zones in on the sea floor along the […]
Impacts—Ocean Acidification Summary: The ocean is becoming more acidic because of carbon dioxide emissions. The change threatens the health marine organisms that depend on available calcium carbonate to make their shells. In this topic guide, students use models and real data to explore the relationship between atmospheric CO2 and ocean pH, and the impacts that […]
Science Concepts—Upwelling Summary: From the NANOOS Well, Well, Well lesson: “In this activity, students investigate the relationship between winds, surface currents, sea surface temperature and upwelling and downwelling off the coast of Oregon and Washington. Students analyze data to make predictions on today’s upwelling or downwelling conditions.” Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Stability and Change […]
Science Concepts—Blue Carbon Summary: This topic guide begins with a review of photosynthesis and progresses to the role marine wetlands play in carbon storage. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Animals, in contrast, breathe in oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been adding more carbon into […]
Science Concepts—Carbon on the move Summary: Carbon is an important element that comprises part of all living organisms and is found in many nonliving parts of our planet and atmosphere. In this topic guide, students explore the carbon cycle to discover how carbon moves between atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. With a clear understanding of the […]
Planning—Inland Planning Summary: Connections between inland and ocean ecosystems are embodied by the life cycle and geographic distribution of salmon. These anadromous species depend on inland freshwater streams and rivers for spawning, but they also depend on the ocean for their adult existence. Natural resource managers in the Pacific Northwest have spent a lot of […]
Planning—Coastal Decision-Making Summary: How and why should different perspectives be considered when deciding how to use and protect coastal resources? In the NOAA lesson “I’ll Stay Here If It Kills Me,” students use role-playing to explore the human dimensions of coastal decision-making. In most of the role-playing exercises, each student assumes the role of a […]
Impacts—Inland Glaciers Summary: As we have seen in other topic guides, the ocean stores solar radiation and its currents distribute heat to shape climate zones throughout the globe. Ocean processes affect not just coastal climates, but also temperature and precipitation far inland. In this topic guide, students learn about how changes in temperature and precipitation […]
Impacts—Coastal Hazards Summary: Extreme weather events have significant impacts on coastal environments, and scientists look for patterns to determine how climate change is affecting the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Storm surges, high winds, and heavy precipitation can alter coastal physical environments, affect water quality, and result in coastal habitat loss. In this […]
Science Concepts—ENSO and Climate Variability Summary: A major source of climate variability in the Pacific Northwest comes from the El Niño / Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Although ENSO is defined by shifts in ocean currents and winds off the western coast of South America, the resulting changes in sea surface temperature (SST) affects our weather in […]
Science Concepts—Ocean Circulation Summary: Ocean currents redistribute heat around the world and affect the world’s climate. Thermohaline circulation (THC) is a system of both surface and deep currents that transports water through all ocean basins. Complex interactions between wind, the rotation of the earth, temperature and density drives ocean currents and affect weather and climate. […]
Science Concepts—Climate vs Weather Summary: Sometimes people who are trying to understand climate change have asked the question, “How could the planet be warming given that it is so cold outside today?” Weather and climate are not the same thing. Weather is what’s happening outside your window; atmospheric conditions that you can see, feel or […]
Mitigation—Reduce Emissions Summary: Global climate change is caused by the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that come from human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels. An important solution to the problem of global climate change is for humans to significantly reduce the amount of carbon we emit into the atmosphere. In […]
Planning—The Flood Next Time Summary: In what manner and to what extent are communities preparing for future climate-induced coastal flooding and erosion? Communities are slowly beginning to understand the problem, and are in process of deciding which entities are responsible for planning, implementing and supporting adaptation strategies. This topic guide focuses on some of the […]
Planning—Shoreline Structure Summary: How do different types of shoreline react to flooding and sea level rise? In this topic guide, students learn about various “hard” and “soft” features of coastal shorelines, the role wetlands play to control flooding, and some engineering solutions for absorbing wave energy that could lead to coastal erosion. As a field […]
Impacts—The New Waterfront Summary: Climate induced sea level rise can lead to erosion and flooding events that threaten natural and human communities, establish new coastlines, and change ecosystems. What are the predicted impacts of sea level rise for a given area on the Oregon coast? Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Cause and Effect, Stability and […]
Impacts—Melting Ice Summary: One indicator of climate change is the increased melting of sea ice and glaciers on land. While many people hold a common misconception that the melting of sea ice will increase sea level, sea ice melting actually contributes very little to sea level rise. In contrast, melting land ice could contribute to […]
Science Concepts—Thermal Expansion Summary: As the ocean’s temperature increases, its volume expands. In this topic guide, students use a model to demonstrate the relationship between water temperature and volume, and then use their findings to describe the impact a warming ocean has on sea level. Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Structure and Function Disciplinary Core […]
Science Concepts—Sea Level Summary: One consequence of climate change is sea level rise. In order to determine whether global sea level is changing, scientists must be able to understand natural temporal and spatial sea level variability. This topic guide includes resources related to global sea level measurements and trends. Students compare global sea level trends […]
Science Concepts—Ocean Temperature Summary: Water has a much higher heat capacity than air, and the ocean absorbs 90% of the heat energy trapped by greenhouse gases. As the planet warms, the amount of heat stored in the world’s oceans increases. This topic guide provides resources that support student learning about ocean heat capacity and how […]
Introduction—How do we know the world is warming? Summary: What is climate change? How do we know it is happening? The resources in this topic guide provide an overview to the topic of climate change. Simple explanations and analogies are presented so that students can articulate a big picture view of the issue, with the […]
Introduction—How do we know the world is warming? Summary: What is climate change? How do we know it is happening? The resources in this topic guide provide an overview to the topic of climate change. Simple explanations and analogies are presented so that students can articulate a big picture view of the issue, with the […]
Mitigation—Reduce Emissions Summary: We know what factors are contributing to a change in our global climate and ocean, so what can students, parents, and schools do to help? There are actions that individuals and communities can take to help reduce the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases that go into the atmosphere. This topic […]
Get ready to explore the theory, construction, and operation of a model wave-energy generator! Designed by William Hanshumaker, Ph.D., Oregon Sea Grant, and Alan Perrill, Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC), this activity works to further students’ and the general public’s knowledge of and interest in wave-energy generators. Students will build variations of model wave-energy buoys […]
The NAME-Alaska team is hard at work planning an exciting conference in 2017! Save the Date: August 7-11, 2017, Homer, Alaska Please visit the conference page for more details about the conference, including presentations, lodging, and registration information.
Date: Saturday, January 28 – Sunday, January 29, 2017 Address: 5400 N Pearl St., Tacoma, WA Cost: $30 NAME members & $40 Non-NAME members, if registered by January 13th. Kids under 2 are free and kids under 10 are half price. All you have to do is e-mail: wmoses@highline.edu to get your spot reserved and then pay at the door. Overnight fee […]
The Oregon Coast STEM Hub promotes integrated science, technology, engineering and math education and serves coastal teachers, students and communities. It is one of six Regional STEM Hubs funded in 2014-2015 by the Oregon Department of Education. The Oregon Coast STEM Hub is centered at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport and serves the entire Oregon […]
Planning—Fishing in the Future Summary: Complex changes in ocean conditions are affecting the distribution and availability of some commercial fish species. Fishers and fishery managers use science to adapt to and prepare for the future. In this topic guide, students explore online data tools designed to help fisheries adapt to climate change. Concepts to teach: […]
Planning—Adopt a Wetland Summary: Students adopt a wetland and collect data to help determine the amount of carbon sequestered by the wetland, and engage in water quality monitoring to promote the efficiency of carbon sequestration. Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Cause and Effect Disciplinary Core Ideas ESS3.C – Human Impacts on Earth Systems Science Practices […]
Impacts—Hypoxia Summary: How are oxygen levels in the ocean changing as a result of climate change? In the waters off the Pacific Northwest of the U.S., seasonal upwelling brings nutrient-dense, oxygen-poor water to the surface, and the strength and duration of upwelling occasionally forms hypoxic (low oxygen) zones in on the sea floor along the […]
Impacts—Ocean Acidification Summary: The ocean is becoming more acidic because of carbon dioxide emissions. The change threatens the health marine organisms that depend on available calcium carbonate to make their shells. In this topic guide, students use models and real data to explore the relationship between atmospheric CO2 and ocean pH, and the impacts that […]
Science Concepts—Upwelling Summary: From the NANOOS Well, Well, Well lesson: “In this activity, students investigate the relationship between winds, surface currents, sea surface temperature and upwelling and downwelling off the coast of Oregon and Washington. Students analyze data to make predictions on today’s upwelling or downwelling conditions.” Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Energy and Matter […]
Science Concepts—Blue Carbon Summary: This topic guide begins with a review of photosynthesis and progresses to the role marine wetlands play in carbon storage. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Animals, in contrast, breathe in oxygen, and breathe out carbon dioxide. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been adding more carbon into […]
Science Concepts—Carbon on the Move Summary: Carbon is an important element that comprises part of all living organisms and is found in many nonliving parts of our planet and atmosphere. In this topic guide, students explore the carbon cycle to discover how carbon moves between atmosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. With a clear understanding of the […]
Planning—Inland Planning for Salmon Summary: Connections between inland and ocean ecosystems are embodied by the life cycle and geographic distribution of salmon. These anadromous species depend on inland freshwater streams and rivers for spawning, but they also depend on the ocean for their adult existence. Natural resource managers in the Pacific Northwest have spent a […]
Planning—Dealing with Drought Summary: Global climate models predict that Oregon will experience a reduction of water availability, increased drought, and increased chances for wildfire in coming years. In this topic guide, students brainstorm steps they, their families and their schools can take to plan for these conditions. Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Cause and Effect […]
Impacts—Phenology Summary: Phenology is the study of periodic, seasonal biological phenomena that are often correlated with climatic conditions. Examples include the timing of plant flowering or bird migration. Changes in climate can result in phenophase shifts that can in turn affect the way ecosystems function. In this topic guide, students observe the timing of a […]
Impacts—Inland Glaciers Summary: As we have seen in other topic guides, the ocean stores solar radiation and its currents distribute heat to shape climate zones throughout the globe. Ocean processes affect not just coastal climates, but also temperature and precipitation far inland. In this topic guide, students learn about how changes in temperature and precipitation […]
Impacts—Coastal Hazards Summary: Extreme weather events have significant impacts on coastal environments, and scientists look for patterns to determine how climate change is affecting the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Storm surges, high winds, and heavy precipitation can alter coastal physical environments, affect water quality, and result in coastal habitat loss. In this […]
Science Concepts—Investigating El Niño Summary: During an El Niño event, shifting winds and ocean currents lead to greater than normal sea surface temperatures and changes in weather patterns around the globe. In Data in the Classroom lessons, students use real data to explore relationships between ocean and atmosphere, and the ocean characteristics that are associated […]
Science Concepts—Deep Density Drivers Summary: Ocean currents redistribute heat around the world and affect the world’s climate. In this topic guide, students use a model to find out how density drives deep ocean currents, and use the information to describe the potential impacts an influx of fresh water could have on ocean circulation. Concepts to […]
Science Concepts—The Ocean and our Weather Summary: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate. The ocean absorbs heat from solar radiation, and loses heat by evaporation. When water from the ocean enters the atmosphere as water vapor, it condenses and forms rain. In fact, most of the rain that falls on land […]
Science Concepts—Climate vs Weather Summary: Sometimes people who are trying to understand climate change have asked the question, “How could the planet be warming given that it is so cold outside today?” Weather and climate are not the same thing. Weather is what’s happening outside your window; atmospheric conditions that you can see, feel or […]
Planning—The Fragile Fringe Summary: Coastal salt marshes may be at risk when sea level changes at a rate that is more rapid than normal. While coastal wetlands usually build up sediments and vegetation at rates similar to the rates that they subside (sink) or erode, the expected rate of sea level rise over the next […]
Planning—Shoreline Structure Summary: How do different types of shoreline react to flooding and sea level rise? In this topic guide, students learn about various “hard” and “soft” features of coastal shorelines and how wetlands can help control flooding. As a field experience, students examine characteristics of a shoreline and predict its resiliency to sea level […]
Impacts—The New Waterfront Summary: Climate induced sea level rise can lead to erosion and flooding events that threaten natural and human communities, establish new coastlines, and change ecosystems. What are the predicted impacts of sea level rise for a given area on the Oregon coast? Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Stability and Change Disciplinary Core […]
Impacts—Melting Ice Summary: One indicator of climate change is the increased melting of ice on sea and on land. Students view scientific data showing the extent of ice in the Arctic to see how the amounts have changed over time. They then conduct an experiment to demonstrate which masses of melting ice contribute most to […]
Science Concepts—Thermal Expansion Summary: As the ocean’s temperature increases, its volume expands. In this topic guide, students use a model to demonstrate the relationship between water temperature and volume, and then use their findings to describe the impact a warming ocean has on sea level. Concepts to teach: Crosscutting Concepts Cause and Effect Disciplinary Core […]
Science Concepts—Sea Level Summary: One consequence of climate change is sea level rise. In order to determine whether global sea level is changing, scientists must be able to understand natural temporal and spatial sea level variability. In this topic guide, students will use online data to learn about how sea level is measured, and how […]
Science Concepts—Ocean Temperature Summary: Water has a much higher heat capacity than air, and the ocean absorbs 90% of the heat energy trapped by greenhouse gases. As the planet warms, the amount of heat stored in the world’s oceans increases. This topic guide provides resources that support student learning about ocean heat capacity and how […]
Stewardship—Protected Areas Summary: Marine resources can be conserved through the establishment of National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Protected Areas, and other protections. Students will learn about the importance of and controversies surrounding these protected areas. Concepts to teach: National Marine Sanctuary, Marine Protected Area, conservation Goals: Students learn about spatial planning issues affecting marine environments in […]
Stewardship—Bycatch Reduction Summary: The You’re Excluded topic guide in the previous section helps students learn about the concept of population ecology and sustainability in fishing practices. The activity ends with a stewardship component, highlighted here, which challenges students to devise solution that reduces bycatch. Concepts to teach: Bycatch, excluder, trawl, iterative, efficiency, selectivity, engineering design […]
Stewardship—Finding a Balance Summary: The How Many Fish? topic guide in the previous section helps students learn about the concept of population ecology and sustainability in fishing practices. Each activity ends with a stewardship component, highlighted here, which challenges students to devise solution that promote sustainability. Concepts to teach: Problem-solving, engineering design, fisheries management, sustainability […]
Human Impacts—You’re Excluded Summary: Although fishing gear may be designed to catch a particular species of marketable fish, sometimes other species also accidentally get caught. Through hands on simulation, students explore how fishing trawls may be modified to reduce bycatch. Concepts to teach: Bycatch, excluder, trawl, iterative, efficiency, selectivity, engineering design Goals: To deal with […]
Human Impacts—How Many Fish? Summary: How many fish do humans harvest, and can we harvest as many as we can and still expect fish populations to remain stable over time? Through hands-on modeling activities, students explore issues of population ecology and stock management issues in the Pacific Northwest. All of the activities presented here lead […]
Human Use of Resources—Fishing Summary: For many Oregonians, one of the primary ways they connect with the ocean is through catching and eating seafood. This topic guide explores the story of Oregon’s fishing history, and invites students to reflect on the impacts seafood and fishing have in their own lives. Concepts to teach: Recreational fishing, […]
Human Use of Resources—Beach Bill Summary: For many Oregonians, one of the primary ways they connect with the ocean is through recreational tourism. Over one million vacationers visit Oregon’s beaches each year. This topic guide explores the history and unique legislation concerning public beach access in Oregon. Concepts to teach: Beach bill, legislation, public access, […]
Place—Words from the Ocean Summary: No matter how far away we might live from the beach, we are culturally connected to the ocean and its resources. Students discover how some common English words and phrases can be tied to maritime history. Concepts to teach: Language arts, social studies Goals: Students recognize how the ocean’s prominence […]
Place—Algae in Your House Summary: No matter how far away we might live from the beach, we are culturally connected to the ocean and its resources. Students examine the contents of their kitchen cupboards to find evidence of the ocean’s influence. Concepts to teach: Nutrition, social studies Goals: Students discover that although we sometimes can […]
Stewardship—Team Marine Summary: Turn environmental awareness into student action. “Team Marine” from Santa Monica High School is an active student group that tries to “raise awareness about the global marine debris, energy and climate change crises through different service learning and community outreach projects.” Team Marine maintains a website with their achievements, resource links, and […]
Human Impacts—Real Time Data Summary: How is water quality inland related to water quality located downstream? Much real time or near-real-time data collected by scientists and remote sensing equipment are posted online. In this focus area, students access some of these tools to answer questions about water quality. Concepts to teach: Water quality, real time […]
Human Impacts—Huntington Beach Case Study Summary: When bacterial concentration measurements in coastal waters exceed levels considered safe for recreation, beaches may be closed to protect the public. In this case study, students follow the story of a bacterial contamination problem in Huntington Beach, California Concepts to teach: Bacterial contamination, sewage treatment outflow, water quality regulation […]
Human Impacts—Nonpoint Source Pollution Summary: Nonpoint source pollution (NSP) comes from many diffuse sources, and is a leading cause of water quality problems in the U.S.. In this topic guide, students identify different types of NSP and their effects on water quality. Concepts to teach: Nonpoint source pollution, runoff, point source pollution, toxins, biomagnification, eutrophication […]
Human Use of Resources—Wastewater Management Summary: Where does dirty water go when it leaves your home? This topic guide focuses on wastewater movement and treatment in municipal areas. Concepts to teach: Storm water, wastewater, water treatment plant, septic system Goals: Students recognize that water is an important resource used by humans, and that wastewater must […]
Place—Stormwater Pathways Summary: Where does rainwater go after it hits the ground? In this topic guide, students find out where stormwater around their school or other local area goes, and what environmental contaminants might get picked up along the way. Concepts to teach: Stormwater, storm drains, sewer system Goals: Students work with storm drain maps […]
Stewardship—Stop the Invasion Summary: Aquatic invasive species are a big problem, but there are actions students can take that make a difference. Whether through mapping and reporting invasive species, participating in invasive species removal projects, or through educating the public, students help stop the spread of invasive species. Concepts to teach: Invasive species, early detection […]
Stewardship—Landscaping Projects Summary: In the previous topic guides, students learned about the human impacts affecting land and water ecosystems. In this topic guide, students take action to improve or restore a local area to improve the health of the ecosystem. Concepts to teach: Ecosystem, habitat, stewardship, sustainability, invasive species, erosion Goals: Students plan improvements to […]
Human Impacts—Invasive Species Impacts Summary: The Oregon Sea Grant Extension WISE Program (Watershed and Invasive Species Education) provides teacher resources for teaching about invasive species in Oregon. WISE teachers have created, tested and posted their lesson plans online, and we highlight some of those projects in this focus area. Concepts to teach: Invasive species Goals: […]
Human Impacts—How Do Trees Affect Erosion? Summary: Students explore the concept of erosion and how it impacts environments. They also discover how trees and other factors affect erosion. Concepts to teach: Erosion, impervious surfaces, turbidity, models, scientific inquiry Goals: Students use a model to discover how trees help prevent erosion and turbidity. Standards: S6.3S1, S6.3S2 […]
Human Impacts—Local Habitat Assessment Summary: Students explore their schoolyard or other local site to determine how human activity may have impacts on animal habitats, animal populations, and/or plant populations. Concepts to teach: Habitat, adaptation, scientific inquiry, erosion, invasive species Goals: Students will apply their knowledge about land use to their local outdoor site, and assess […]
Human Use of Resources—Water Use Summary: How much water do we use? By exploring online water use resources and conducting personal surveys at home and in the classroom, students will gain an understanding of how humans utilize water resources. Concepts to teach: Water use, resource, conservation Goals: Students will gain a better understanding of the […]
Human Use of Resources—Land Plan Challenge Summary: Community planning can balance human needs and the health of natural resources. In this classroom modeling activity from Windows to the Universe, “students use simplified maps to plan towns, being conscious of water resources, and then learn how their town fits into the larger community.” Concepts to teach: […]
Human Use of Resources—This Land is Your Land Summary: The classroom-based This Land is Your Land lesson plan from TeachEngineering.org is designed for 4th grade students, with scaling suggestions for 3rd and 5th graders. Because the instructor uses maps of the local area, the activity is place-based, relevant and supports potential field experiences. “In this […]
Place—Field Trip Sites Summary: Planning a field trip to learn about the Oregon coast? Connect students with your field trip destination prior to your visit, to better prepare them for the experience and to reduce some of the novelty that could inhibit effective use of time while on site. Concepts to teach: Preparation Phase, spatial […]
Place—Mapping the Connection Summary: This focus area begins with the recognition that the ability to read and understand maps is essential to place-based learning, and can help students construct ideas about the relationship between where they live and the ocean. Students practice reading different kinds of maps, and they use maps to find out how […]
Stewardship—Citizen Biomonitoring Summary: Students contribute to the scientific understanding of a local ecosystem by collecting water quality data and reporting results to the community. Concepts to teach: Stewardship, action, water quality, process of scientific inquiry Goals: Students engage in scientific inquiry and come to see themselves as scientists as they collect and report data about […]
Stewardship—Landscaping Projects Summary: In the previous topic guides, students learned about the human impacts affecting land and water ecosystems. In this topic guide, students take action to improve or restore a local area to improve the health of the ecosystem. Concepts to teach: Ecosystem, habitat, stewardship, sustainability, invasive species, erosion Goals: Students plan improvements to […]
Human Impacts—Invasive Species Impacts Summary: The Oregon Sea Grant Extension WISE Program (Watershed and Invasive Species Education) provides teacher resources for teaching about invasive species in Oregon. WISE teachers have created, tested and posted their lesson plans online, and we highlight some of those projects in this focus area. Concepts to teach: Invasive species Goals: […]
Human Impacts—Effects of Erosion Summary: Students explore their schoolyard or other local site to determine how human activity may have impacts on animal habitats, animal populations, and/or plant populations. Concepts to teach: Habitat, adaptation, erosion, impervious surfaces, invasive species, turbidity Goals: Students will apply their knowledge about land use to their local outdoor site, and […]
Human Use of Resources—Water Use Summary: How much water do we use? By exploring online water use resources and conducting personal surveys at home and in the classroom, students will gain an understanding of how humans utilize water resources. Concepts to teach: Water use, resource, conservation Goals: Students will gain a better understanding of the […]
Human Use of Resources—Land Plan Challenge Summary: Community planning can balance human needs and the health of natural resources. In this classroom modeling activity from Windows to the Universe, “students use simplified maps to plan towns, being conscious of water resources, and then learn how their town fits into the larger community.” Concepts to teach: […]
Human Use of Resources—Land Use and Land Cover Summary: Students use Google Earth to make land use maps, and compare current and historic land uses. Concepts to teach: Land use, land cover, Google Earth, historical changes in land use Goals: Students become familiar with using Google Earth mapping software to learn more about and identify […]
Place—Field Trip Sites Summary: Planning a field trip to learn about the Oregon coast? Connect students with your field trip destination prior to your visit, to better prepare them for the experience and to reduce some of the novelty that could inhibit effective use of time while on site. Concepts to teach: Preparation Phase, spatial […]
Human Impacts—How Many Fish? Summary: How many fish do humans harvest, and can we harvest as many as we can and still expect fish populations to remain stable over time? Through hands-on modeling activities, students explore issues of population ecology and stock management issues in the Pacific Northwest. All of the activities presented here lead […]
Stewardship—Protected Areas Summary: Marine resources can be conserved through the establishment of National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Protected Areas, and other protections. Students will learn about the importance of and controversies surrounding these protected areas. Concepts to teach: National Marine Sanctuary, Marine Protected Area, conservation Goals: Students learn about spatial planning issues affecting marine environments in […]
Stewardship—Bycatch Reduction Summary: The You’re Excluded topic guide in the previous section helps students learn about the concept of population ecology and sustainability in fishing practices. The activity ends with a stewardship component, highlighted here, which challenges students to devise solution that reduces bycatch. Concepts to teach: Bycatch, excluder, trawl, iterative, efficiency, selectivity, engineering design […]
Stewardship—Finding a Balance Summary: The How Many Fish? topic guide in the previous section helps students learn about the concept of population ecology and sustainability in fishing practices. Each activity ends with a stewardship component, highlighted here, which challenges students to devise solution that promote sustainability. Concepts to teach: Problem-solving, engineering design, fisheries management, sustainability […]
Human Impacts—You’re Excluded Summary: Although fishing gear may be designed to catch a particular species of marketable fish, sometimes other species also accidentally get caught. Through hands on simulation, students explore how fishing trawls may be modified to reduce bycatch. Concepts to teach: Bycatch, excluder, trawl, iterative, efficiency, selectivity, engineering design Goals: To deal with […]
Place—Mapping the Connection Summary: This focus area begins with the recognition that the ability to read and understand maps is essential to place-based learning, and can help students construct ideas about the relationship between where they live and the ocean. Students practice reading different kinds of maps, and they use maps to find out how […]
Human Use of Resources—Fishing Summary: For many Oregonians, one of the primary ways they connect with the ocean is through catching and eating seafood. This topic guide explores the story of Oregon’s fishing history, and invites students to reflect on the impacts seafood and fishing have in their own lives. Concepts to teach: Recreational fishing, […]
Human Use of Resources—Beach Bill Summary: For many Oregonians, one of the primary ways they connect with the ocean is through recreational tourism. Over one million vacationers visit Oregon’s beaches each year. This topic guide explores the history and unique legislation concerning public beach access in Oregon. Concepts to teach: Beach bill, legislation, public access, […]
Place—Words from the Ocean Summary: No matter how far away we might live from the beach, we are culturally connected to the ocean and its resources. Students discover how some common English words and phrases can be tied to maritime history. Concepts to teach: Language arts, social studies Goals: Students recognize how the ocean’s prominence […]
Place—Algae in Your House Summary: No matter how far away we might live from the beach, we are culturally connected to the ocean and its resources. Students examine the contents of their kitchen cupboards to find evidence of the ocean’s influence. Concepts to teach: Nutrition, social studies Goals: Students discover that although we sometimes can […]
Stewardship—Citizen Biomonitoring Summary: Students contribute to the scientific understanding of a local ecosystem by collecting water quality data and reporting results to the community. Concepts to teach: Stewardship, action, water quality, process of scientific inquiry Goals: Students engage in scientific inquiry and come to see themselves as scientists as they collect and report data about […]
Stewardship—Storm Drain Marking Summary: Many people erroneously believe storm drains connect to sewer treatment systems. But in most communities, whatever enters the drains is discharged directly into a neighboring body of water (lake, river or bay) without benefit of treatment. In this activity, students mark storm drains to warn citizens not to dump polluting materials. […]
Human Impacts—Real Time Data Summary: How is water quality inland related to water quality located downstream? Real time or near-real-time data collected by scientists and remote sensing equipment are available to view online. In this focus area, students access some of these tools to answer questions about water quality. Concepts to teach: Water quality, real […]
Human Impacts—Who Dirtied the Water? Summary: Who is responsible for pollution of water resources and the subsequent clean up? Students identify a variety of pollution sources though participating in a story about the progressive contamination of a model body of water. They recognize that once the water is contaminated, it is difficult to determine to […]
Human Impacts—Nonpoint Source Pollution Summary: Nonpoint source pollution (NSP) comes from many diffuse sources, and is a leading cause of water quality problems in the U.S.. In this topic guide, students identify different types of NSP and their effects on water quality. Concepts to teach: Nonpoint source pollution, runoff, point source pollution, toxins, biomagnification, eutrophication […]
Human Use of Resources—Dirty Water, Clean Water Summary: Where does dirty water go when it leaves your home? This topic guide focuses on wastewater movement and treatment in municipal areas. Concepts to teach: Storm water, wastewater, water treatment plant, septic system Goals: Students recognize that water is an important resource used by humans, and that […]
Place—Stormwater Pathways Summary: Where does rainwater go after it hits the ground? In this topic guide, students find out where stormwater around their school or other local area goes, and what environmental contaminants might get picked up along the way. Concepts to teach: Stormwater, storm drains, sewer system Goals: Students work with storm drain maps […]
Place—Human Impact Survey Summary: The field-based “Human Impact Survey” lesson plan from Alaska Sea Grant is one part of a larger curriculum unit that focuses on the relationship between humans and the ocean. In this lesson, students construct knowledge about aquatic pollution through firsthand exploration of the local environment. Concepts to teach: Pollution, marine debris, […]
Coastal Ecology—Arctic Ocean Ecology Summary: Students analyze data from the Arctic Ocean expeditions to make inferences about productivity and nutritional relationships among three biological realms of the Canada Basin of the Arctic Ocean. Concepts to teach: Food webs, trophic levels, sea-ice realm, pelagic realm, benthic realm, nitrogen isotopes Goals: Students will examine data collected from […]
Coastal Ecology—Tidepool Diversity Summary: This activity uses common data collection methods to introduce students to how scientists study highly dense and diverse rocky intertidal populations. Written for a site near Cape Perpetua, the concepts are highly adaptable to any intertidal area, or even a habitat nearby school. Students can compare data to long term data […]
Coastal Ecology—Energy Flow Summary: Students will construct an energy pyramid and then create a food web of organisms in appropriate trophic levels of the ocean. Concepts to teach: Food webs, ocean habitats Goals: Use life history facts to create energy pyramids and food webs. Make connections between energy consumption and ecosystem dynamics in marine environments. […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Telemetry Tales Summary: Steller sea lions are disappearing from the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. In this topic guide, students practice using telemetry data from wild sea lions to try to learn more about what is going on with the species’ population. Concepts to teach: Population ecology, telemetry, science inquiry Goals: […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—TOPP Predators Summary: Students use satellite tagging data to follow the movement of marine animals over time. Examining satellite maps of sea Surface Temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a data combined with satellite tagging data, students answer questions related to open-ocean animals, their habitats and migratory behaviors. Concepts to teach: Technology, georeferencing, pelagic predators […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Squid Dissection Summary: Students will dissect a squid, learn about squid anatomy and adaptations, and then compare their dissected specimen to an octopus. Students relate the phenotypic traits they observe to the process of biological evolution. Concepts to teach: Squid anatomy and adaptations, comparative anatomy, evolution, natural selection Goals: Students will investigate […]
Introduction—Tidepool Inquiry Summary: These field activities introduce students of all ages to the intertidal habitats of rocky shores while safely exploring tidepools. Using guided inquiry and structured group investigation, students will observe species living in this diverse habitat to make hypothesis about adaptations and interactions that are occurring in the community. Concepts to teach: Rocky […]
Introduction—Ocean Observation Summary: This activity will help familiarize students with methods scientists use to study the coastal ocean in the Pacific Northwest, and will encourage them to pose and investigate their own questions about the ocean. Concepts to teach: Physical and Earth Science, Inquiry Goals: To show students how technology enables scientists to study local […]
Coastal Ecology—Biodiversity in an Estuary Summary: In this activity, students investigate the incredible biodiversity that exists in estuarine environments. They begin by exploring using Google Earth to explore a National Estuarine Research Reserve in Florida. Students then produce an estuary biodiversity concept map and individual organism profile that becomes part of an estuary wildlife exhibit. […]
Coastal Ecology—Tidal Flat Exploration Summary: This field lesson provides a structured experience for students to investigate the life of the tidal flats of the estuary and explore the relationship between sediments, elevation, and the life beneath surface. Concepts to teach: Marine and coastal ecosystems, habitats, estuaries, benthic organisms Goals: Students will collect and use evidence […]
Coastal Ecology—Eelgrass Communities Summary: Students collect transect data in the field to determine the distribution and abundance of life in eelgrass beds. Suitable sampling sites are available at South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and other locations on the Oregon coast. Concepts to teach: Sampling protocol, density, diversity Goals: Students discover the diversity of plants […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Salinity and Tides Summary: Students learn about tides and salinity in estuaries. Based on observations of time-lapse models of tides and salinity distribution in an estuary, students make predictions about salinity changes, and use salinity data to generate graphs to explain salinity patterns in an estuary. Concepts to teach: pH, temperature, dissolved […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Survival in an Estuary Summary: Students will investigate the range of conditions that selected animal and plant species need to survive in an estuarine environment. They examine and analyze data for abiotic factors to determine if a particular species would survive in an estuary under the given conditions. Concepts to teach: Ecology, […]
Introduction—Mapping Watersheds & Estuaries Summary: In these activities, students use remote sensing imagery to explore and classify natural and human derived land uses in watershed ecosystems. The activity from Estuaries 101 focuses on the San Francisco Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, and students trace the extent of its watershed using Google Earth. In the TIDES activity, […]
Introduction—Observing Estuaries Summary: Students will investigate landforms and features associated with estuaries. They will then use Google Earth and other resources to engage in a scavenger hunt to locate and identify said estuarine landforms and features. Concepts to teach: Habitats and Species; Landforms; Estuaries Goals: Students will learn what an estuary is and the various […]
Coastal Ecology—Watershed Health Summary: The health of watersheds can be affected by a myriad of factors, and watershed councils and managers often must prioritize issues and projects for local regions. In this topic guide, students connect with local watershed councils to identify, learn more about, and participate in the resolution of current local watershed issues. […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Salmon Studies Summary: Through water quality monitoring, assess habitat suitability for salmon. Concepts to teach: Adaptations, survival, migration, freshwater vs. saltwater habitats Goals: Students will learn about the unique life cycle and migration habits of salmon and how they find their way back to their freshwater breeding grounds. Standards: H.2L.2, H.3S.1, H.3S.2, […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Macroinvertebrates Summary: Students will examine different aquatic habitats, collect macroinvertebrates from each and use an index to determine water quality based on the relative presence and absence of tolerant and intolerant species of macroinvertebrates found in each sample. Concepts to teach: Aquatic habitats and species, biomonitoring Goals: Students will understand how macroinvertebrates […]
Introduction—Mapping Watersheds & Estuaries Summary: In these activities, students use remote sensing imagery to explore and classify natural and human derived land uses in watershed ecosystems. The activity from Estuary Education focuses on the San Francisco Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, and students trace the extent of its watershed using Google Earth. In the TIDES activity, […]
Introduction—Watershed Modeling Summary: Students will create and explore small scale models of watersheds made from either paper or in a large group using a shower curtain. Students work to identify various living and nonliving features within their model and look at how they function within a watershed. Run-off, erosion, and sources of pollution are explored […]
Introduction—Watershed Walk Summary: This topic guide focuses on introducing students to watersheds by experiencing the one right outside their door. Students begin by using mapping programs and brief activities to learn about the water cycle and how water moves through the watershed. Students will then engage in a guided watershed walk on local school grounds […]
Coastal Ecology—Biodiversity Summary: “In this lesson, students will explore the biodiversity of two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) national marine sanctuaries. Following a discussion of the term “biodiversity” and why biodiversity is important, students will take virtual trips (via video footage) to Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, located off the California coast, and the […]
Coastal Ecology—Web of Life Summary: This activity will give students a look at how all animals and plants in a system are interconnected and what can happen when just one organism is removed. Some of the discussion focuses on the sea otter- a species that is now extinct from the Oregon coast. Concepts to teach: […]
Coastal Ecology—Recipe for an Ocean Summary: This activity will inspire students to brainstorm the components that make up an ocean community and introduce them to the concepts of food chains, energy transfer and food webs. The second part of the activity, designed for older students, challenges them to create a food web in relation to […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Ocean Animal Adaptations Summary: The ocean is home to a variety of animal species, and each has structural and behavioral adaptations that allow for survival in marine ecosystems. Concepts to teach: Adaptation, marine ecosystems, evolution Goals: The ocean supports a great diversity of life. Animal species are adapted to environments. Standards: 6.2L.2, […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Squid Dissection Summary: Students will dissect a squid, learn about squid anatomy and adaptations, and then compare their dissected specimen to an octopus. Concepts to teach: Squid anatomy and adaptations, Compare and Contrast Goals: Students will investigate and discuss internal and external squid anatomy. Some features of the squid will be compared […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Rocky Shore Survivors Summary: Students become intertidal organisms and role-play various tidal situations to understand how they adaptations for survival are necessary and effective. Concepts to teach: Adaptations and Survival; Rocky Shores Habitat Goals: Students will learn about the challenges and benefits of living in the rocky shores and the adaptations inhabitants […]
Introduction—Ocean Observation Summary: This activity will help familiarize students with methods scientists use to study the coastal ocean in the Pacific Northwest, and will encourage them to pose and investigate their own questions about the ocean. Concepts to teach: Physical and Earth Science, Inquiry Goals: To show students how technology enables scientists to study local […]
Introduction—Tidepool Inquiry Summary: These field activities introduce students of all ages to the intertidal habitats of rocky shores while safely exploring tidepools. Using guided inquiry and structured group investigation, students will observe species living in this diverse habitat to make and test hypotheses about adaptations and interactions that are occurring in the community. Concepts to […]
Coastal Ecology—Estuary Food Pyramid Summary: When animals eat plants or other animals in order to survive, there is a flow of food energy through the ecosystem. What starts out as energy from the sun is converted into food energy by organisms that use photosynthesis, and is transferred to other organisms as they consume food. The […]
Coastal Ecology—Surveying the Shoreline Summary: Wrack, the debris cast ashore, wash up along many tidally influence shores in Oregon and are often a main nutrient source for communities living along a shoreline habitat. The source of the wrack varies depending on the location, but time and again evidence of the watershed to ocean connection is […]
Coastal Ecology—Tidal Flat Exploration Summary: This field lesson provides a structured experience for students to investigate the life of the tidal flats of the estuary and explore the relationship between sediments, elevation, and the life beneath surface. Concepts to teach: Marine and coastal ecosystems, habitats, estuaries, benthic organisms Goals: Students will collect and use evidence […]
Coastal Ecology—Salt Marsh Mania Summary: In this activity, students will explore the range of diversity of salt marsh plants. As an introduction, students will learn how to draw and describe key characteristics of familiar plant samples in the classroom. In the field, students will work to observe salt marsh diversity through a variety of sampling […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Bountiful Birds Summary: Estuaries support an abundance of life, and a diversity of habitat types. How have birds adapted to survive in estuary habitats? This curriculum from the NOAA/NERRS Estuaries 101 website contains two exercises that address this question. In the first exercise, students engage in a role-playing activity to model different […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Life in the Waters Summary: These lessons are fun, hands-on activities designed to give students a better understanding of how salty ocean water and fresh water interact and mix in an estuary, and how temperature affects this process. Concepts to teach: Density, turbidity, salinity, dissolved oxygen Goals: To demonstrate the influence of […]
Coastal Habitats & Species—Tides of the Estuary Summary: These lessons are designed to give an introduction to how tides and tidal cycles work by having students visualize, act out, reading and graph how tidal cycles work. Context is given to tides by way of discussing and understanding how they influence life around the estuary and […]