Educators and scientists working with NOAA developed a series of lesson plans for students in Grades 5 - 12 that are specifically tied to the science behind the Submarine Ring of Fire 2012: Northeastern Lau Basin Expedition. These lesson plans focus on cutting-edge ocean exploration and research using state-of-the-art technologies. They include focus questions, background information for teachers, links to interesting Internet sites, and extensions. Web logs that document the latest discoveries and complement the lesson plans, complete with compelling images and video, will be sent back each day from sea. Teachers are encouraged to use the background essays, logs, and other resources from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2012: Northeastern Lau Basin Expedition, as well as previous Ocean Explorer expeditions to the region, to supplement the lesson plans.
Read a description of each lesson plan and/or download them to your computer. All of the lesson plans are available in a PDF format, and may be viewed and printed with the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download a lesson plan, 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.)
Grade Level: 5-6
Focus: Ecological role of microbial mats in hydrothermal vent ecosystems (Life Science)
Students plan an investigation using a model ecosystem to explain some of the components of an anaerobic ecosystem, and construct explanations for the potential role of microbial mats in hydrothermal vent ecosystems.
Grade Level: 7-8
Focus: Effects of temperature and pressure on solubility and phase state (Physical Science/Earth Science)
Students use conceptual models of matter to explain the effect of temperature and pressure on solubility and phase state, and construct explanations for observed chemical phenomena around deep-sea volcanoes that are consistent with principles of solubility and phase state.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Volcanic processes at convergent tectonic plate boundaries (Physical Science/Earth Science)
Students analyze and interpret data to construct explanations for processes that form volcanoes at convergent tectonic plate boundaries, and for the role of water in these processes.
Grade Level: 5-6
Focus: Plate tectonics - movement of plates, results of plate movement, and magnetic anomalies at spreading centers (Physical Science/Earth Science)
(from the New Zealand America Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 Expedition)
Students describe the motion of tectonic plates and differentiate between three typical boundary types that occur between tectonic plates; infer what type of boundary exists between two tectonic plates; and describe plate boundaries and tectonic activity in the vicinity of the Kermadec Arc.
Grade Level: 5-6
Focus: Scientific exploration of deep-sea volcanoes
(from the New Zealand America Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 Expedition)
Students compare and contrast submarine volcanoes at convergent and divergent plate boundaries; infer the kinds of living organisms that may be found around hydrothermal vents; describe three ways in which scientists may prepare to explore areas that are practically unknown; and explain two types of primary production that may be important to biological communities around hydrothermal vents in the Kermadec Arc.
Grade Level: 5-6
Focus: Volcanism on the Mariana Arc (Earth Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students explain the tectonic processes that result in the formation of the Mariana Arc and the Mariana Trench, and explain why the Mariana Arc is one of the most volcanically active regions on Earth.
Grade Level: 5-6
Focus: Hydrothermal vent ecology and transfer of energy among organisms that live near vents (Life Science/Physical Science/Earth Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students describe how hydrothermal vents are formed and characterize the physical conditions at these sites; explain what chemosynthesis is and contrast this process with photosynthesis; identify autotrophic bacteria as the basis for food webs in hydrothermal vent communities; and describe common food pathways between organisms typically found in hydrothermal vent communities.
Grade Level: 7-8
Focus: Ecological impacts of volcanism in the Mariana Islands (Life Science/Earth Science)
(from the New Zealand America Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 Expedition)
Students describe at least three beneficial impacts of volcanic activity on marine ecosystems, and explain the overall tectonic processes that cause volcanic activity along the Kermadec Arc.
Grade Level: 7-8
Focus: Volcanism on the Pacific Ring of Fire (Earth Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students describe the processes that produce the Submarine Ring of Fire; explain the factors that contribute to explosive volcanic eruptions; identify at least three benefits that humans derive from volcanism; describe the primary risks posed by volcanic activity in the United States; and identify the volcano within the continental U.S. that is considered most dangerous.
Grade Level: 7-8
Focus: Sources of nutrition for biological communities associated with volcanoes of the Mariana Arc (Life Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities; give at least three examples of organisms that live near hydrothermal vent systems; and describe two sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the Mariana Arc.
Grade Level: 7-8
Focus: Ecological impacts of volcanism in the Mariana Islands (Life Science/Earth Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2004 Expedition)
Students describe at least three beneficial impacts of volcanic activity on marine ecosystems and explain the overall tectonic processes that cause volcanic activity along the Mariana Arc.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Volcanic processes at convergent and divergent tectonic plate boundaries (Earth Science)
(from the New Zealand America Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 Expedition)
Students compare and contrast volcanoes at convergent and divergent plate boundaries; identify three geologic features that are associated with most volcanoes on Earth; and explain why some volcanoes erupt explosively while others do not.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Hydrothermal vent chemistry at subduction volcanoes (Chemistry)
(from the New Zealand America Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 Expedition)
Students use fundamental relationships between melting points, boiling points, solubility, temperature, and pressure to develop plausible explanations for observed chemical phenomena in the vicinity of subduction volcanoes.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Methane-based chemosynthetic processes (Physical Science)
(from the New Zealand America Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 Expedition)
Students interpret phase diagrams, and explain the meaning of “critical point“ and “triple point“; define “supercritical fluid,“ and describe two practical uses of supercritical carbon dioxide; and discuss the concept of carbon dioxide sequestration.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Archaea (Biology)
(from the New Zealand America Submarine Ring of Fire 2007 Expedition)
Students define “lipid biomarkers,“ and explain what the presence of certain biomarkers signifies; describe Archaea and explain why these organisms are often considered to be unusual, and contrast Archaea with bacteria and eukaryotes; define methanogen and methanotroph, explaining the relevance of these terms to Archaea; and discuss the potential significance of Archaea in hydrothermal communities of the Kermadec Arc.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Species variation in hydrothermal vent communities (Life Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students define and describe biogeographic provinces of hydrothermal vent communities; identify and discuss processes contributing to isolation and species exchange between hydrothermal vent communities; and discuss characteristics that may contribute to the survival of species inhabiting hydrothermal vent communities.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Chemistry of hydrothermal vents (Chemistry)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students define hydrothermal vents and explain the overall processes that lead to their formation; explain the origin of mineral-rich fluids associated with hydrothermal vents; explain how “black smokers“ and “white smokers“ are formed; and hypothesize how properties of hydrothermal fluids might be used to locate undiscovered hydrothermal vents.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Seismology and geological origins of the Mariana Arc (Earth Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students explain the processes of plate tectonics and volcanism that resulted in the formation of the Mariana Arc and describe, compare, and contrast S waves and P waves; explain how seismic data recorded at different locations can be used to determine the epicenter of an earthquake; and infer a probable explanation for the existence of ultra-low velocity zones.
Grade Level: 9-12
Focus: Hydrothermal vent chemistry (Chemistry/ Earth Science/ Physical Science)
(from the Submarine Ring of Fire 2006 Expedition)
Students describe hydrothermal vents and characterize vent plumes in terms of physical and chemical properties; describe tow-yo operations and how data from these operations can provide clues to the location of hydrothermal vents; and interpret temperature anomaly data to recognize a probable plume from a hydrothermal vent.
