NYSMEA: New York State Marine Education Association



Follow NYSMEA on:		Resources for Educators: Lesson Plans . Field Trip Destinations . Scholarships & Grants . Internships & Volunteer Opportunities . Professional Development . Citizen Science . sSELF Program Resources for Educators > Lesson Plans The aim of this collection is to highlight excellent, relevant, and standards-based lesson plans that focus on local environments and/or are developed by local stakeholders. If you have a lesson plan that you think other teachers would find useful, please send the information to LessonPlans@nysmea.org. For a great comprehensive national database of lesson plans and educational materials, visit The Bridge. Build A Habitat NY Aquarium: Students select the elements necessary for a particular animal to survive and make a habitat for the animal. Campus Debris and the Ocean NOAA-sponsored Signals of Spring - ACES/U.S. Satellite Laboratory Students conduct a survey of the litter on their school campus and relate their findings to marine debris. Can Salt Kill Beans NY Aquarium An analytical activity in which students learn that most plants cannot grow in salt water. The Carbon Question NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies In this module, the fundamental science question, "How much carbon is being stored in the terrestrial part of the earth?" is explored from many vantage points, including studies in local environmental settings and ecosystems and global biomes and measurements from ground based and satellite instruments. Caring for Planet Earth: The Great Lakes Great Lakes Information Network Help students assess their water use by analyzing everyday activities. The Changing Hudson Project Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies A web-based, high school curriculum designed by educators and scientists to connect students with current research about the Hudson River. Color Your Catch NY Sea Grant Kids learn about some Long Island fish species - including blackfish, summer flounder and striped bass - while they color away and draw lines to their favorite catch. Comparing Watersheds What's in Your Water? - The National Water Study Challenge NOAA-sponsored Signals of Spring - ACES/U.S. Satellite Laboratory Students collect water quality data, using instruments as basic as a thermometer and pH paper, and share data online with schools across the Nation. Activity incorporates topographic maps, watersheds, and water quality measures. Composting in Schools Cornell University A series of lessons related to composting. Includes lessons about setting up, using, and studying indoor or outdoor compost piles at school. Connecting to the Standards through Marine Science New Jersey Sea Grant This activity packet includes middle and high school lesson plans on a variety of topics including weathering and erosion, ocean currents, pH and more. Coral Reefs Endangered Science Teacher Research Program In this lesson geared toward the Living Environment curriculum, students study coral reefs and simulate the effects of ocean acidification on these diverse ecosystems. A Disaster in the Making New York Times Students examine the effects of some of our country’s most famous natural disasters. Dining Out with Fishes and Birds of the Hudson NY State Department of Environmental Conservation An elementary science lesson focused on adaptations of birds and fishes in which students construct a Hudson River food web. East River Estuary Guide (pdf) and coloring book (pdf) Learn all about the East River with these fun and educational resources. Eco-Choices Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Using the idea that environmental impacts are interrelated, students make decisions for hypothetical towns. They will discover that their decisions have consequences on water quality, air quality, biodiversity and human health; while realizing that air and water movement connect communities. This two hour lesson (which can be divided over 2 class periods) has been used in 5-12 grade classrooms. Effect of the Sun’s Energy on Ocean and Atmosphere NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies This lesson uses authentic data and model to investigate radiative balance within the Earth system. Elements of Survival NY Aquarium An activity where students learn about the living and non-living components of a habitat. Examining Freshwater Ecosystems Science Teacher Research Program A lesson geared for The Living Environment in which students observe the interactions between snails and Elodea and discuss how changes in New York State freshwater environments affect organisms. Explore YOUR Water Cycle Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Use this worksheet to guide you (or your students) through using online data resources. Exploring the Estuary! A Teacher’s guide to the New York New Jersey Harbor Estuary Region NY Sea Grant First produced in 2003, this updated guide highlights regional education organizations providing K-12 estuary-related field trips, lesson plans and classroom activities. The directory aims to introduce educators to the dynamic network of organizations and resources available to help students learn about the harbor. Finding the Salt Front NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Students will use Hudson River salinity data to create a line graph that shows the location of the salt front, and use math skills to explore how this location varies over time. Fish Communities in the Hudson NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Students will use tables of fish collection data to draw conclusions about where fish live in the Hudson River estuary. Hazardous Chemicals in Your Neighborhood PBS Students will investigate local issues related to hazardous chemicals, including their sources and how to mitigate their effects. Horseshoe Crab Model Town of Hempstead Marine Nature Study Area Create paper models of horseshoe crabs as your students study this ancient creature. The Hudson’s Ups and Downs A perfect opportunity for upper elementary/middle school students to practice reading line graphs while learning about tidal cycles. Hudson Valley Rock Identification Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Students will learn about the geologic history of the Hudson River Valley. Ice Breakers New York Times Explore changes in ice caps due to global climate change using hands-on activities. IFISH NY Lesson Plans NY Sea Grant A series of lessons on topics including food webs, invasive species, adaptations, and more. Invasive Plants and Water Quality Adirondack Curriculum Project This activity, targeted for Regents Chemistry classes, helps students to examine the effects of invasive plants on water quality. Invasive Species of New York State Adirondack Curriculum Project This activity leads students through the process of learning about local invasive species. Jamaica Bay Education Resource Directory New York City Department of Environmental Protection and Jamaica Bay Watershed Protection Plan Education Coordinating Committee This directory offers resource to enhance classroom lessons, field explorations, independent research, professional development and community service activities. Long Island Sound in a Jar CT Sea Grant 96-page illustrated compendium of fun, educational hands-on activities for youth, demonstrating the impacts of humans on aquatic ecosystems. Perfect for youth camp leaders, environmental groups, teachers, and families. Lumpy, Bumpy, Scratchy and Smooth NY Aquarium An activity in which students explore the body coverings of animals in terms of texture. Marine Science at Work- Case Studies and Youth Action Plans New York Sea Grant Students make connections between land and water as they examine contaminants and striped bass populations. Marine Nature Study Area Protocol Town of Hempstead Marine Nature Study Area An excellent resource for teaching students to conduct quadrats, line transects, and then calculate diversity indices. Math Lessons Using the Hudson NYS Department of Environmental Conservation These lessons use data from studies of the Hudson River and its creatures to construct word problems that require mathematics skills for their solution. A number of the lessons present information in tables or bar graphs that students must interpret to answer questions. Modeling Beach Erosion NJ Marine Sciences Consortium/NJ Sea Grant A hands-on activity in which students examine strategies for mitigating beach erosion. New York City Water Quality Assessment Project Teachers Network Through a structured research activity, students learn about the physical, chemical and biological aspects of water quality. New York Recycles New York Department of Environmental Conservation An elementary-level activity guide related to recycling. The New York City Waterfront New York Sea Grant An old but good curriculum book about the history of New York City’s amazing waterfront and its importance. Students learn science, mathematics, geography and social studies in this interdisciplinary set of lessons that includes hands-on lessons about dredging, groundwater and more. No Impact Project Lessons The “No Impact Man” lived with his family in NYC while trying to exert no impact on the environment. This series of lessons on consumption, energy, food, transportation, and water, encourages students to examine their own impacts and to consider lifestyle choices. North American Indians and Nature Hudson River School Students will examine the deep connection between Native Americans and their surroundings, and use poetry and art to learn about Hudson River School artists. Project Osprey A full activity guide related to this local raptor. Rollin’ on the River National Teacher Training Institute Lesson plan explores the importance of the Hudson River to the economic development of the United States. Shaped to Survive New York Aquarium Students create an animal that is appropriately shaped for survival. Shipping on the Great Lakes Ohio Sea Grant The Great Lakes are central to the economy of the United States. In this activity set, students calculate and compare the energy costs of various forms of transportation as they learn about goods transported through some of our Nation’s most important waterways. Signals of Spring – ACES Jeopardy Game U.S. Satellite Laboratory An interactive Jeopardy game focusing on marine vertebrates, environmental issues, and the National Marine Sanctuaries. Small Watershed Ecology Assessment Project Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies SWEAP introduces middle and high school students to their local land and water environments. Students learn about the factors that determine the quantity and quality of water flowing from any watershed, and the impact this has on aquatic ecosystems. Tracking Marine Animals NOAA-sponsored Signals of Spring - ACES/U.S. Satellite Laboratory Students use authentic animal tracking data to study the marine animals and their habitats. These Maps are for the Birds New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Combine science and social studies skills to look at land use and how birds in New York State use different habitats. Which Fish Where? New York State Department of Environmental Conservation A middle school lesson plan in which students use tables and graphs to assess the distribution of fish species in the Hudson River. Wind Wisdom for School Power An elementary lesson series focusing on the feasibility of wind power in New York State. NYSMEA:146 Suffolk Hall Stony Brook . NY . 11794 Phone: 631-632-9216 NYSMEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ©NYSMEA. All Rights Reserved 2010.