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Curricula & Lesson Plans

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Over 50 lesson plans and two full curricula in the Life Science and Earth Science subject areas, from grades 3rd to 12th, are included. These curricula and lesson plans were developed through a partnership between teachers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and various branches of NOAA.

Each lesson plan or curriculum is available as a pdf download in the tables below. Supplemental materials are also identified and linked for select lesson plans.

Curricula : Grades 4th to 6th
Lesson Topic Summary of Objectives Group/Org.
Navigating Change Environmental responsibility, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI) An educational voyage of five units: The Voyage, Land to Sea Connection, Change Over Time, Human Impacts, You Make The Difference. Grades 4 & 5. Includes maps, a fish poster, and more. Reference map of the NWHI (front -521 kb, back - 425 kb ) Bishop Museum, NOAA. USFWS, Polynesian Voyaging Society, State of Hawai'i
Remote Sensing & Coral Reefs Technology and coral reef monitoring This curriculum contains seven lesson plans about coral reef monitoring. It covers the electromagnetic spectrum, altimetry, coral reefs, symbiosis, phytoplankton, sea surface temperature, and conservation issues. Supplemental material includes two slideshows (See 'Landlords of the Reef' and 'Threats for Corals' in Videos, Slideshows, and More). NOAA
Lesson Plans : Grades 3th to 6th
Lesson Topic Summary of Objectives Group/Org.
Aquarius Technology Building underwater habitats Students will learn to design and build a model of an underwater habitat. NOAA
Coral Reef Community Game Changes in species composition on reefs Students will learn about the living requirements and ecology of three important sessile organisms that inhabit the coral reef: corals, sponges and seaweeds. Game cards(1.16 mb) for each organism are also available. NOAA
Filter Feeding in Reef Sponges Feeding strategies Students will observe and describe filter-feeding in sponges and explore the ecological role of sponges on coral reefs. Lesson plan includes handouts. NOAA
In My Opinion Political participation Students will learn how to write such influential letters to their legislators in support of ocean conservation. NOAA
Lesson Plans : Grades 5th to 6th
Lesson Topic Summary of Objectives Group/Org.
A Piece of Cake Spatial heterogeneity in deep-water coral Students will be able to explain what a habitat is, describe at least three functions of a habitat, and give examples of habitats that are typical of deep-water, hard bottom communities. NOAA
Architects of Coral Reefs Reproduction in Cnidaria Students will be able to identify and describe at least five characteristics of Cnidaria coral, and describe typical reproductive strategies of Cnidaria. NOAA
Architects of the Deep Reef Reproduction in deep sea corals Students will be able to infer which reproductive strategies are likely to be used by the deep-sea coral Lophelia pertusa, and will be able to describe the advantages of these strategies. NOAA
Deep Gardens Comparison of deep and shallow tropical corals Students will compare and contrast deep-sea coral communities with their shallow-water counterparts and describe three types of coral associated with deep-sea coral communities. NOAA
Easy as Pi Exploring Corals Structural complexity in benthic habitats Students will be able to describe the importance of structural features that increase surface area in benthic habitats and quantify the impact of structural modifications. NOAA
Forest of the Deep Deep-sea coral associated with seamounts Students will be able to explain ways in which seamounts are important to biological communities, infer ways in which deep-sea corals are important to seamount ecosystems. NOAA
Friend or Foe? Symbiotic relationships Students will be able to describe symbiotic, mutualistic, commensal, parasitic, facultative and obligatory relationships between organisms. NOAA
Keep Away Pollution and benthic habitat Students will be able to make inferences about possible effects of drilling operations on benthic communities. NOAA
Save a Reef Coral reef conservation Students will design a public information program to improve understanding of the coral reef crisis, and what individuals can do to help. NOAA
Lesson Plans : Grades 6th to 8th
Lesson Topic Summary of Objectives Group/Org.
Architects of Seamount Ecosystems Morphology and ecological function in deep sea corals Students will be able to describe ways in which habitat-forming deep sea corals benefit other species in deep sea ecosystems, and explain how habitat-forming deep sea corals and their associated ecosystems may be important to humans. NOAA
Big Fleas Have Little Fleas Physical structure in benthic habitats Students will learn about the importance of structural complexity to species diversity and abundance in benthic habitats, and discuss ways that octocorals may modify seamount habitats. NOAA
Biodiversity of Marine Sanctuaries Biodiversity in the oceans In this lesson, students will explore the biodiversity of two NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries. Supplemental materials include a video (See 'Biodiversity' in Videos, Slideshows, and More). NOAA
Climate, Corals & Change Paleo-climatology Students will be able to explain the concept of "paleoclimatological proxies," describe how oxygen isotope ratios are related to water temperature, and interpret data to make inferences about growth rates. NOAA
Deep Sea Coral Biodiversity Biodiversity of deep sea coral Students will research life forms found on tropical and deep sea reefs to gain an understanding of the biodiversity of those ecosystems. NOAA
Design a Reef! Niches in coral reef ecosystems Students will 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. NOAA
Exploring Sanctuaries Marine ecosystems and their protection Students will identify major groups of organisms living in and protected by national marine sanctuaries. NOAA
Hawaiian Hot Spots Plate tectonics Students will explore the ways in which the unique hot spot environment has contributed to the richness of the environment at NWHI monument. Supplemental material includes a video (See 'Hawaiian Hot Spots' in Videos, Slideshows, and More). NOAA
How am I Supposed to Eat That? Feeding adaptations among benthic organisms Students will be able to describe at least three nutritional strategies used by benthic organisms typical of deep water coral communities and describe physical adaptations associated with at least three nutritional strategies used by benthic organisms. NOAA
Predators Among Us Overfishing of sharks Students will learn about the balance in the reef ecosystem among sharks and other carnivorous fish, their prey, and algae. Students will see that predators are an important part of a balanced ecosystem. Supplemental material includes a video (See 'Predators Among Us' in Videos, Slideshows, and More). NOAA
Saved by a Shark Humans as predators of coral reef ecosystems This lesson focuses on human beings as predators, specifically in coral reef ecosystems. Issues examined include over-fishing, pollution, global warming, coastal development, and passive "predatory behavior." Supplemental material includes a video (See 'Saved by a Shark' in Videos, Slideshows, and More). NOAA
Treasures in Jeopardy Conservation of deep-sea coral communities Students will compare and contrast deep sea coral communities with their shallow water counterparts and explain at least three benefits associated with deep sea coral communities. NOAA
Lesson Plans : Grades 9th to 12th
Lesson Topic Summary of Objectives Group/Org.
A Reef of Your Own Coral reef biology Students will be able to describe and explain the importance of asexual and sexual reproductive strategies to reef-building corals. NOAA
Bad Algae! Harmful algal blooms Students will be able to compare and contrasts ways in which algal blooms may be harmful. NOAA
Cool Corals Biology, ecology of Lophelia corals Students will describe the basic morphology of Lophelia corals, explain their significance and interpret observations on the behavior of Lophelia polyps. NOAA
Current: Bad for Divers Good for Corals Currents & precious coral communities Students will be able to describe major forces driving ocean currents and discuss the general effects of topography on current velocity. NOAA
Do Not Bleach! Coral bleaching Students will be able to investigate possible causes for coral bleaching. NOAA
Feeding in the Flow Currents & feeding in corals Students will be able to describe ways in which current flow may affect the feeding efficiency of particle-feeding organisms. NOAA
Fix It! Repairing damaged resources Students will be able to give examples of natural events and human activities that damage coastal resources. NOAA
History's Thermometers Deep-water corals and climate change Students will be able to explain the concept of paleoclimatological proxies, learn how oxygen isotope ratios are related to water temperature and interpret data to make inferences about climate change. NOAA
How Does Your (Coral) Garden Grow? Growth rate estimates based on isotope ratios Students will identify and briefly explain two methods for estimating the age of hard corals and learn how oxygen isotope ratios are related to water temperature and interpret data. NOAA
Is It Getting Hot in Here? Climate change Students will identify ways in which climate change could affect human communities and find evidence of impeding climate change. NOAA
Keeping Watch on Coral Reefs Coral reef monitoring Students will be able to identify and explains major threats to coral reefs. NOAA
Let's Go to the Video Tape Communities on deep water coral habitats Students will identify some of the fauna groups found in deep sea coral communities, infer possible reasons for observed distribution of groups of animals in these communities, and discuss the biological diversity. NOAA
No Escape Larvae dispersal in sea mounts Students will learn to use field data to evaluate a hypothesis about the influence of a water circulation cell on larvae. NOAA
No Fishing? Protecting natural & cultural resources Students will be able to describe a process for evaluating the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs). NOAA
Protect This! Designing MPAs Students will describe how networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) can protect biodiversity. NOAA
Seals, Corals & Dollars Monk seals, coral and economy Students will be able to describe the ecological relationship between Hawaiian monk seals and deep-water precious corals. NOAA
Water Parks U.S. MPAs Students will be able to identify reasons for establishing marine protected areas (MPAs). NOAA
What's Down There? Mapping coral reef habitats Students will be able to access data on selected coral reefs, manipulate these data to characterize these reefs, and explain the need for baseline data in coral reef monitoring programs. NOAA
Who Has the Data? Coral reef monitoring Students will be able to access data on selected coral reefs and manipulate these data to characterize these reefs. NOAA
Who's Your Neighbor? Groups in deep sea coral reefs Students will be able to describe common feeding strategies used by benthic animals. NOAA