Methacton High School

Dear Educator:

Welcome to the classroom activities for Secrets of the Ocean Realm Web site!

These science activities were developed for use with students in grades 5-7 (with extensions for lower and higher grades), and will investigate such topics as oceanography, marine biology, ecology, physics, conservation, and scuba diving.

Each activity contains a set of objectives, background information, target teaching level, a list of materials, procedures, follow-up evaluation, and some additional Web references.

The oceans represent the last true frontier on this planet. The fact is, we know more about the moon than we do about the seafloor. Certainly, the ocean will represent a great challenge to future generations. Considering the role the oceans play in determining global climate and environmental change, the very fate of our species may dependent to a degree upon our understanding of the marine environment. For this reason, it is important for the students of today to prepare for a future in which knowledge of the ocean realm will prove invaluable.

Sincerely,
Joe Hlebica
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego