Lesson Matrix Teacher's Guide

Lesson 1
Navigating


(PDF)
(HTML)

 

 

Lesson 2
Coriolis Force


(PDF)
(HTML)

 

 

Lesson 3
Data To Information


(PDF)
(HTML)

 

 

Lesson 4
Ocean Warming


(PDF)
(HTML)

 

 

Lesson 5
Energy Balance


(PDF)
(HTML)

Lesson 1: Navigating the Ocean

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level: Grade 9.8

Ocean Literacy Key Concepts
#1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features

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Title

Teaching Strategy

Objective

Time Estimate
(min)

Disciplines

National
Education
Standards
(roll over for links)

How Did They Do That?
(PDF)
(HTML)

Content Knowledge

Introduction to early ocean exploration

3

Geography

 

History



What Do You Know?
(PDF)
(HTML)


Pre-conceptions

Quiz

To assess background knowledge of wind systems, Earth’s magnetism, latitude & longitude

10


Geography

Earth Science

Drifter Model
(PDF)
(HTML)

Student

Investigation


To test the direction of an object drifting on an ocean surface current

45 +


Physics

Rubber Duckies
(PDF)
(HTML)



Theoretical

Explanation


To describe difficulties in modeling fluid dynamics

30

Physics

Mathematics


Dead Reckoning
(PDF)
(HTML)

To describe how location can be determined on the open ocean

30

Geography

Earth Science


Astronomical Fix
(PDF)
(HTML)

To describe how to use the Sun and other stars to provide reference points necessary to determine position accurately


10

Earth Science

Physics

Find Your Place

In The Sun
(PDF)
(HTML)

Student

Investigation

To determine your longitude and latitude using the Sun’s shadow and an online, interactive calculator


45

Earth Science


Columbus Voyages
(PDF)
(HTML)



Analyzing

Data

To manipulate an online interactive model of historical data from a voyage of Columbus to trace the track on a map


30

Geography

History

Voyage Of The Bounty
(PDF)
(HTML)

How well do the predictions of magnetic variation match Captain Bligh’s observations?


30

Earth Science

Geography

Lesson 2: Traveling on a Rotating Sphere

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level: Grade 9.6

Ocean Literacy Key Concepts
#1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features

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Title

Teaching Strategy

Objective

Time Estimate
(min)

Disciplines

National
Education
Standards

(roll over for links)

Spin-offs Of A Rotating Sphere
(PDF) (HTML)

Content Knowledge

Introduction to planetary wind systems

3

Earth Science

 

Geography


What Do You Know?
(PDF) (HTML)

Pre-conceptions Quiz

To assess background knowledge of force and Earth’s rotation

10

Physics

 

Earth Science





Model Of Heated Fluid Circulation
(PDF) (HTML)


Where Do The Trade Winds Blow?
(PDF) (HTML)


Traveling On A Rotating Sphere
(PDF) (HTML)


Sizing Up Inertial Circles
(PDF) (HTML)


Take A Spin With The Coriolis Model
(PDF) (HTML)


Theoretical Explanation


Analyzing Data

To describe the process of convection and how it applies to the Trade Winds


To demonstrate an understanding of how a rotating sphere affects speed at different locations


To demonstrate an understanding of variables that affect circular motion


To demonstrate an understanding of the Coriolis force and how it affects the trade winds


To demonstrate an understanding of how Coriolis acceleration is different at different latitudes

30

Earth Science

Physics

Lesson 3: Data To Information

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level: Grade 9.6

Ocean Literacy Key Concepts
#3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate

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Title

Teaching Strategy

Objective

Time Estimate
(min)

Disciplines

National
Education
Standards

(roll over for links)

Ocean Surface Currents And Global Climate
(PDF) (HTML)
Content Knowledge Introduction to key variables that impact weather 5

Earth Science

Geography

What Do You Know?
(PDF) (HTML)
Pre-Conceptions Survey To assess background knowledge of how satellites collect data on Earth’s surface 10 Earth Science
Sailing The Seas
(PDF) (HTML)
Student Investigation To show possible routes for goods imported and exported between countries 30

Social Studies

Earth Science

View Of The Ocean From Satellites
(PDF) (HTML)

Ocean Surface Current Satellite Data
(PDF) (HTML)

Content Knowledge

Theoretical Explanation

To demonstrate an understanding of how satellites collect data and the kinds of data they collect 30 Earth Science
Gathering Data And Scientific Method
(PDF) (HTML)
Content Knowledge To demonstrate an understanding of the scientific method and the nature of science 10
All Sciences

Uncertainty In Forecast
(PDF) (HTML)

Tropical Pacific Surface Currents
(PDF) (HTML)

Analyzing Data To demonstrate an understanding of how speed of ocean surface currents vary with distance from the Equator 25

Earth Science

Math

Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly
(PDF) (HTML)
Analyzing Data To show evidence of sea surface temperature anomalies in the world ocean 15 Earth Science
Weather Going Wild
(PDF) (HTML)
Content Knowledge To show evidence of El Niño patterns in surface current data 45

Earth Science

Geography

More Challenging:
Patterns In Slope And Standard Deviation
(PDF) (HTML)
Analyzing Data To determine the slope and standard deviation of data collected 20

Math

Earth Science

Lesson 4: Global Ocean Warming

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level: Grade 9.6

Ocean Literacy Key Concepts
#3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate

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Title

Teaching Strategy

Objective

Time Estimate
(min)

Disciplines

National
Education
Standards

(roll over for links)

Earth’s Weather Machine
(PDF) (HTML)

Content Knowledge

Introduction to weather patterns and climate prediction

3

Earth Science

  • Geography The World in Spatial Terms
    Standard 1: How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information

    Physical Systems
    Standard 7: The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface

    Environment and Society
    Standard 15: How physical systems affect human systems
  • Math Measurement Standard
    Make decisions about units and scales that are appropriate for problem situations involving measurement

    Data Analysis and Probability
    Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them
    Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data

    Representation Standard
    Use representations to model and interpret physical, social, and mathematical phenomena
  • Science Science as Inquiry
    Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry

    Earth and Space Science
    Energy in the Earth System

    Science and Technology
    Understanding about science and technology

    Science in Personal and Social Perspective Natural and human-induced hazards
    Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

What Do You Know?
(PDF) (HTML)

Pre-Conceptions

Quiz

To assess background knowledge of physical properties of water and heating and cooling of water

10

Earth Science

Scientific/Mathematical Models In Your Backyard
(PDF) (HTML)


Theoretical

Explanation


To describe the usefulness of scientific/mathematical models


20


Earth Science

 

Physics


A Model In A Cup
(PDF) (HTML)

Weather Models
(PDF) (HTML)

Advection

In The Ocean
(PDF) (HTML)

Analyzing Data

To demonstrate an understanding of

how speed and direction of currents is altered by latitude

15

Earth Science

Energy Flow And Sea Surface Temperature
(PDF) (HTML)

Content Knowledge

(Ocean and energy exchange)


Earth Science

Physics

Energy Flow Model
(PDF) (HTML)

Analyzing Data

To predict how energy released by the ocean surface will affect temperatures and compare predictions with a computer model

30

Earth Science

Lesson 5: Patterns of Ocean Energy Balance

Flesch-Kincaid Reading Level: Grade 10.1

Ocean Literacy Key Concepts
#3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate

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Title

Teaching Strategy

Objective

Time Estimate
(min)

Disciplines

National
Education
Standards

(roll over for links)

Energy Flow In The Earth System
(PDF) (HTML)

Content Knowledge

Introduction to flow of energy through the Earth system

3

Earth Science

What Do You Know?
(PDF) (HTML)

Pre-Conceptions

Quiz

To assess background knowledge of how energy received by the Sun affects ocean temperatures

10

Earth Science

Gathering And Manipulating Data
(PDF) (HTML)


Joyful Data Graphing And Finding The Mean
(PDF) (HTML)

Student Investigation

Theoretical Explanation

To compute the statistical measures of data

15

Math

 

Earth Science

Physics

Standard Deviation For The Courageous
(PDF) (HTML)

Theoretical Explanation

(More Challenging)

To compute mean and standard deviation

15

Math

 

Physics

Earth Science

Energy In = Energy Out
(PDF) (HTML)


Air Temperature Investigations
(PDF) (HTML)

Theoretical Explanation

Data Analysis

To demonstrate an understanding of patterns of diurnal heating and cooling of the atmosphere



20

Earth Science

Math

The Annual Energy Cycle
(PDF) (HTML)



Data Analysis

To demonstrate an understanding of fluctuations of solar energy received at locations on Earth

15

Earth Science


Sea Surface Temperature
(PDF) (HTML)

Temperatures Travel The Pathways Of The Sea
(PDF) (HTML)

To identify patterns in sea surface current and temperature data

20

To describe the currents that explain the dynamics of El Niño

10