The Ocean and Climate Change
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Provided by: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative|Published on: September 12, 2022
Lesson PlansScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This resource about the changing ocean includes a lesson plan, two podcast episodes, a carbon dioxide absorption demonstration, discussion questions, interactive computer modeling, and an ocean literacy communication activity.
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource gives teachers all the tools they need to teach a comprehensive mini-unit on climate change and the ocean.
- The podcasts feature an informative and interesting interview with Dr. Slyvia Earle the Explorer-in-Residence for the National Geographic Society.
Additional Prerequisites
- For the carbon dioxide demonstration, teachers will need a 500ml graduated cylinder, a funnel, a Petri dish cover, a clear basin that is shorter than the graduated cylinder, a stand and clamp, cold water, warm water, and 2-4 effervescent tablets (e.g. Alka-Seltzer).
Differentiation
- Teachers could expand the ocean literacy communication activity into a school-wide project. Following the directions in the lesson plan, each homeroom or advisory group could choose one of the Ocean Literacy Principles to present to the school community.
- Computer programming, design thinking, or engineering classes could use the section on Argo floats to discuss the engineering design process.
- Other resources on this topic include this video on ocean circulation patterns, this video about ocean acidification, and this lesson on oceans and climate change.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative
Founded in 2014, the Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI) is MIT’s institute-wide effort to mobilize the substantial scientific, engineering, policy, and design capacity of the MIT community to contribute to addressing climate change and other environmental challenges of global import. ESI pursues multidisciplinary research, education, events, and partnerships to help move society toward an environmentally and socially sustainable future. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts on MIT’s main campus, ESI is powered by a lean staff working closely with students and faculty across the full spectrum of disciplines. Led by architecture professor John E. Fernandez, a leading scholar in the emerging field of urban metabolism, ESI is advised by students, faculty, alumni, and thought leaders from many sectors of society.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
