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Our Magnificent Ocean

Provided by: UCI Science Project |Published on: May 1, 2024

Lesson PlansTransdisciplinary

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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.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Science

Authors: UCI Science Project

Region: North America, USA - West, United States, California

Languages: English

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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.

Scientist Notes

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.

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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.