Lessons for the Olympic Coast Deep Corals Expedition
Educators and scientists working with NOAA developed a series of lessons for students in Grades 5 - 12 that are specifically tied to the science behind the Olympic Coast Deep Corals Expedition. These lessons focus on cutting-edge ocean exploration and research using state-of-the-art technologies.
The lessons are grouped into the following categories:
Grades 9-12 (Chemical, Biological, Earth, and Physical Science)
In addition to being tied to the National Science Education Standards and the Ocean Literacy Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts, the hands-on, inquiry-based activities include focus questions, background information for teachers, links to interesting Internet sites, and extensions. Dive Journals that document discoveries during key ROV dives, complete with compelling images and video, are posted on the Olympic Coast Deep Corals Expedition Web site and can be used to supplement the lessons.
Read a description of each lesson and/or download them to your computer. All of the lessons are available in a PDF format, and may be viewed and printed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download a lesson, click on its title from the listing below. (Note: if you have problems downloading one of these lessons, right-click on the link and save the lesson to your desktop.)
Deep Gardens (8 pages; 200 k)
(adapted from the Florida Coast Deep Corals 2005 Expedition)
Focus: Comparison of deep-sea and shallow-water tropical coral reefs (Life Science)
In this activity, students will compare and contrast deep-sea coral reefs with their shallow-water counterparts, describe three types of coral associated with deep-sea coral reefs, and explain three benefits associated with deep-sea coral reefs. Students will explain why many scientists are concerned about the future of deep-sea coral reefs.
Treasures in Jeopardy (7 pages; 188 k)
(adapted from the Florida Coast Deep Corals 2005 Expedition)
Focus: Conservation of deep-sea coral reefs (Life Science)
In this activity, students will compare and contrast deep-sea coral reefs with their shallow-water counterparts and explain at least three benefits associated with deep-sea coral reefs. Students will also describe human activities that threaten deep-sea coral reefs and describe actions that should be taken to protect deep-sea coral reef resources.
Keep It Complex! (9 pages; 216 k)
(adapted from The Charleston Bump 2003 Expedition)
Focus: Effects of habitat complexity on biological diversity (Life Science)
In this activity, students will be able to describe the significance of complexity in benthic habitats to organisms that live in these habitats and will describe at least three attributes of benthic habitats that can increase the physical complexity of these habitats. Students will also be able to give examples of organisms that increase the structural complexity of their communities and infer and explain relationships between species diversity and habitat complexity in benthic communities.
Other Relevant Lesson Plans from NOAA’s Ocean Exploration Program
Grades 5-6
The Biggest Plates on Earth (7 pages, 192k) (from the 2002 Submarine Ring of Fire 2005 Expedition)
Focus: Plate tectonics – movement of plates, results of plate movement, and magnetic anomalies at spreading centers.
Grades 5-6
A Piece of Cake (4 pages, 244 k) (from The Charleston Bump 2003 Expedition)
Focus: Spatial heterogeneity in deep-water coral communities (Life Science)
In this activity, students will be able to explain what a habitat is, describe at least three functions or benefits that habitats provide, and describe some habitats that are typical of deep-water hard bottom communities. Students will also be able to explain how organisms, such as deep-water corals and sponges, add to the variety of habitats in areas such as the Charleston Bump.
Are You Related? (11 pages, 465k) (from the Florida Coast Deep Corals 2005 Expedition)
Focus: Molecular genetics of deepwater corals (Life Science)
In this activity, students will define "microsatellite markers" and explain how they may be used to identify different populations and species, explain two definitions of "species," and describe processes that result in speciation. Students will also use microsatellite data to make inferences about populations of deep-sea corals.
Easy as Pi (4 pages, 252k) (from The Charleston Bump 2003 Expedition)
Focus: Structural complexity in benthic habitats (Life Science/Mathematics)
In this activity, students will be able to describe the importance of structural features that increase surface area in benthic habitats and quantify the relative impact of various structural modifications on surface area in model habitats. Students will also be able to give examples of organisms that increase the structural complexity of their communities.
Journey to the Unknown (10 pages, 1Mb) (from the 2003 Mountains in the Sea Expedition)
Focus: Ocean Exploration
In this activity, students will experience the excitement of discovery and problem-solving to learn what organisms could live in extreme environments in the deep ocean; student will understand the importance of ocean exploration.
Architects of the Deep Reef (5 pages, 388k) (from the 2003 Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Habitats Expedition)
Focus: Reproduction in Cnidaria (Life Science)
In this activity, students will be able to identify and describe at least five characteristics of Cnidaria coral, compare and contrast the four classes of Cnidaria, and describe typical reproductive strategies used by Cnidaria. Students will also be able to infer which of these strategies are likely to be used by the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa, and will be able to describe the advantages of these strategies.
Friend, Foe, or . . .(5 pages, 331k) (from the North Atlantic Stepping Stones 2005 Expedition)
Focus (Life Science) - Symbiotic relationships with corals
In this activity, students will be able to define and describe symbiotic, mutualistic, commensal, parasitic, facultative and obligatory relationships between organisms; describe at least three species that have symbiotic relationships with corals; and discuss whether these relationships are mutualistic, commensal, or parasitic.
Grades 7-8
Mapping Deep-sea Habitats in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (7 pages, 80kb) (from the 2002 Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Expedition)
Focus: Bathymetric mapping of deep-sea habitats (Earth Science - This activity can be easily modified for Grades 5-6)
In this activity, students will be able to create a two-dimensional topographic map given bathymetric survey data, will create a three-dimensional model of landforms from a two-dimensional topographic map, and will be able to interpret two- and three-dimensional topographic data.
I, Robot, Can Do That! (9 pages, 357k) (from the Lost City 2005 Expedition)
Focus - Underwater Robotic Vehicles for Scientific Exploration (Physical Science/Life Science)
In this activity, students will be able to describe and contrast at least three types of underwater robots used for scientific explorations, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using underwater robots in scientific explorations, and identify robotic vehicles best suited to carry out certain tasks.
Biodiversity of Deep Sea Corals (3 pages, 1Mb) (from the 2003 Mountains in the Sea Expedition) Focus: Deep-sea corals
In this activity, students will research life found on tropical coral reefs to develop an understanding of the biodiversity of the ecosystem; students will research life found in deep-sea coral beds to develop an understanding of the biodiversity of the ecosystem; students will compare the diversity and adaptations of tropical corals to deep-sea corals.
Design a Reef! (5 pages, 408k) (from the 2003 Gulf of Mexico Deep Sea Habitats Expedition)
Focus: Niches in coral reef ecosystems (Life Science)
In this activity, students will compare and contrast coral reefs in shallow water and deep water, describe the major functions that organisms must perform in a coral reef ecosystem, and explain how these functions might be provided in a miniature coral reef ecosystem. Students will also be able to explain the importance of three physical factors in coral reef ecosystems and infer the fundamental source of energy in a deep-water coral reef.
Mapping Deep-sea Habitats in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (7 pages, 80kb) (from the Northwestern Hawaiian Island Expedition)
Focus: Bathymetric mapping of deep-sea habitats (Earth Science - This activity can be easily modified for Grades 5-6)
In this activity, students will be able to create a two-dimensional topographic map given bathymetric survey data, will create a three-dimensional model of landforms from a two-dimensional topographic map, and will be able to interpret two- and three-dimensional topographic data.
Come on Down! (6 pages, 464k) (from the 2002 Galapagos Rift Expedition)
Focus: Ocean Exploration
In this activity, students will research the development and use of research vessels/vehicles used for deep ocean exploration; students will calculate the density of objects by determining the mass and volume; students will construct a device that exhibits neutral buoyancy.
Grades 9-12
Feeding in the Flow (6 pages, 268k) (from The Charleston Bump 2003 Expedition)
Focus: Effect of water currents on feeding efficiency in corals (Life Science)
In this activity, students will be able to describe at least two ways in which current flow may affect the feeding efficiency of particle-feeding organisms and explain how interactions between current flow and the morphology of a particle-feeding organism may affect the organism’s feeding efficiency. Students will also be able to identify at least two environmental factors in addition to current flow that may affect the morphology of reef-building corals.
How Diverse is That? (6 pages, 552 k) (from the 2003 Windows to the Deep Expedition)
Focus: Quantifying biological diversity (Life Science)
In this activity, students will be able to discuss the meaning of biological diversity and will be able to compare and contrast the concepts of variety and relative abundance as they relate to biological diversity. Given abundance and distribution data of species in two communities, students will be able to calculate an appropriate numeric indicator that describes the biological diversity of these communities.
Designing Tools for Ocean Exploration (13 pages, 1Mb) (from the 2003 Mountains in the Sea Expedition)
Focus: Ocean Exploration
In this activity, students will understand the complexity of ocean exploration, the technological applications and capabilities required for ocean exploration, the importance of teamwork in scientific research projects, and will develop abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry.
For More Information
Contact Paula Keener-Chavis, national education coordinator for the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration, for more information.
Other lesson plans developed for this Web site are available in the Education Section.
