Blogging and Mapping: Oh My!

Johnson Sea Link submersible

Today we are focusing on different types of oceanographers and the instruments they use.  This will be used to design and build a career mobile.

I also like using video clips as a warm up.  Today, we watched a video clip I got from an online course on the ocean.  It was only 9 minutes but talked about different types of instruments used by biological  oceanographers to study  benthic communities.  It allowed students to see the instruments and listen to a real scientist talk about underwater research.

  If you are a new teacher that are lots of great videos on TED: Ideas Worth Knowing or on YouTube.

Our activity for today was to make a bathymetric map. I used an activity from NOAA's "Ocean Explorer"  Phaedra 2006 Expedition  - Aegean Submarine Volcano Bathymetric Data.  The grade level is for 7-8 but it works just fine for my seniors. You can have each student do it OR you can have them work in groups of two.  I prefer groups of two because it is much faster. One person calls out depths and color while the other graphs the information.

Graphing ocean depth

Group day with "Cookie Monster"

Completed Bathymetric Map

I really like the idea of blogging but I am finding the hardest part is getting students to copy their blog address correctly.   While it is time consuming to set up once it is done it is easy.

We are now using Skyward for grades and attendance.  While I am not a big fan of Skyward I do like the fact that is really easy to email parents.  Right now I am emailing parents letting them their child has not set up his blog.  Blogging is an important grade so I am keeping on top of students and parents to make sure it gets done.

Oceanography 1st day activities

Monday, 10/29

Today we are officially starting oceanography.  I started the period with a short video by Eyewitness on the ocean.  Students had to write down 25 interesting facts about the ocean.  The Eyewitness video's are really good about providing a quick overview on science topics.

Bob Ballard

After the video, I introduce the TED: Ideas Worth Knowing video clip by Bob Ballard.  He discusses why we should explore the ocean.  Bob Ballard is a geophysical oceanographer and was responsible for re-discovering the Titanic.  He is also the founder of the Jason Project.   I was a teacher argonaut in the 1990's.  I went to Belize with five students from around the country and the Bahamas.  It was a great experience and helped me develop marine curriculum that our district is still using today.  The Jason project online has some really good resources if your district is  willing to buy the rights to use their curriculum. 

If you have never heard Bob Ballard speak, you have missed something.  He is very passionate about the ocean and never fails to give an interesting talk.

I have asked students do discuss what they have learned and then give the their opinion on where we should put our money - in to studying the  ocean or space.  I have asked them to research the benefits of going into space so they can give me an informed opinion.

It will be interesting to read their blogs.

Introduction to Oceanography

Research Vessel for studying the Ocean

What is oceanography? 

 It is a study of the ocean and  the environments surrounding the ocean.  It covers both biotic and abiotic components. (Biotic - living, Abiotic - nonliving).  I think of it as an overview of the ocean.  Oceanography is then divided in a number of different disciplines.  Most of my students want to study marine animals.   There is a lot more to understanding our oceans that just studying animals. My goal in teaching oceanography is to open up the ocean world to students and then explore  topics that they would never have considered interesting.  Examples would be hydrothermal vents, underwater volcanoes, brine lakes, and the midocean ridge.  I want them to understand that we have better pictures of the moon than we do of the ocean bottom.  Everyday, scientists are making new discoveries and we have barely touched the surface of this amazing habitat that makes up almost 72% of the earths surface.

Ocean from Space

Oceanographers I would love comments on why you think studying the ocean is important!

Why should students study the ocean?

If you think of our planet as a living thing then you have to consider that everything is connected.  The oceans affect the land and the land affects the ocean.   What man does to one habitat can have far reaching consequences on another. 



Plastic  Debris floating in the Ocean

 Example:
Plastic is a major problem in our oceans. We have developed a throw away lifestyle and the plastic we use often finds its way into the ocean.  Many animals die from eating plastic.  Even if we wanted to it is almost impossible to clean this plastic debris floating in our oceans.  What we can do is prevent today's plastic from entering the ocean.

Help Prevent a Sea of Plastic Pollution

The ocean provides us with food, recreation, transportation of goods, minerals, a history of our planet, medicines, new and amazing animals, a better understanding of the geology of our planet and how life evolved. This is NOT a complete list.

Goods transported at sea

I am absolutely awed by the video of scientists  studying the ocean from small submersibles. Students often ask me would I be willing to go down to the ocean floor in one.  I answer - in a heartbeat!  To view first hand life beneath the sea would be a gift of a lifetime. 

In our limited nine week term we will touch on a number of current issues facing the ocean. If anyone has some suggestions for topics I would love to hear some.  I want to stay as current as possible as well as inform my students.

Marine science is fun to teach because there are so many interesting things you can learn.   You can introduce new topics to students, offer them the opportunity to research topics that interest them, and in the process learn more yourself. Certainly there are numerous sites that offer curriculum and activities that help make your class interesting and engaging.

Oceanogrphy

Ocean from space

This term we will be studying marine science.  We start with oceanography which helps students understand ocean. I love to open oceanography with a video clip I found on TED: Ideas Worth Knowing.  Bob Ballard does a great 16 minute talk on why we should explore the ocean.  Bob Ballard is a great speaker and the students find his talk very interesting. http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_ballard_on_exploring_the_oceans.html

Students will each have their own blog this term.  The focus this term will be on educating the public about issues facing our oceans.   I polled the students  last term and half like blogging the other half would rather write in a journal.  I explained to the students that it is important to have a variety of ways to assess or evaluate learning.  Some students like project grades while others would rather take a written test.  Blogging is just another tool I use to determine if they understand the issues.  Also, blogging gives me a chance to understand their point of view along with giving them a chance to research a topic that interest them.

 The oceanography unit includes:
a. Introduction to oceanography
b. History of oceanography
c. Activity: Careers Mobile 
d. Activity: Boat design and race  

Career Mobile:  Students pick an oceanographer (biological, chemical, physical, geological, geophysical and engineering).  Next, they research their oceanographer and pick a topic. Once they pick a topic, they have to find a scientist that  studies their topic. Then they build their mobile.

Example: Geological Oceanographer, topic: hydrothermal vents or underwater volcanoes - students would then look for a scientist that studies on of these topics  They also have to include a job description, university you could attend, classes you would take, and five instruments this oceanographer would use.  Then they have to present their mobile in class.

Boat Design:  Student have to build a sail boat. It has to fit on half a sheet of computer paper, have a sail, keel and rudder.  It must carry 20 marbles as cargo and sail down a stream table (100 cm) without touching the sides.  A hair dryer is our stationary wind source.  They must complete 3 trials, average the time and calculate velocity/sec.  I have three classes and the fastest time sets the 100.   Students have time to design and test their boat in class before the actual race.  It is a cool activity and the students really get into to it. 

If you teach aquatic science and are looking for good engaging activities you might try  web site  http://www.tryengineering.com/.  They have a lot of great activities. Another good site is NOAA's "Ocean Explorer",  it has a lot of really neat activities based on real research.
 http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/