COSEE NOW

This lesson introduces students to sea surface temperature data, as well as the concept of spatial resolution. Students work in groups to collect a limited number of “sea surface temperatures” from a simulated ocean. They discover patterns of sea surface temperature, along with challenges related to spatial resolution. Throughout the lesson, students are asked to collect and interpret data from their activity boards and from real time sources.

From single snapshots of the ocean, scientists can gain valuable insight into what is going on. However, from these single points they must attempt to interpret events and processes that occur based on the data available to them. Obviously, the more data that can be collected to fill in the unknown gaps, the more accurately scientists can interpret the hidden world of the ocean. In this interactive activity, students learn about the different types of data collection and explore the difference between discrete (snapshots) and continuous/real-time data.

COSEE NOW is pleased to present: Antarctica melting, a 4-part audio slideshow series on the fastest winter warming place on Earth, as seen through the eyes of three scientists. The slideshows, and accompanying lesson plans, provide a first hand look into the role that global climate change has had in transforming the Antarctic environment.

This series of PowerPoints and hands-on activities is designed for teachers to use in their classrooms to help discuss the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Each lesson can be adapted based on class level and the time available.

Some of the planet’s most beautiful and diverse ecosystems are at risk. With temperatures on the rise, coral reefs are at greater risk for coral bleaching. Using ocean observing system data from NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center, this classroom activity examines ocean temperatures off Puerto Rico to see how coral reefs are being impacted and [...]

Does a can of soda float? Does salt water really make that much difference? What’s a Plimsoll mark? Buoyancy can be a difficult concept for students. It’s all about density! With this hands-on introduction to teaching buoyancy from the Bridge website and COSEE-NOW, students work through activities and demonstrations that use online resources and ocean [...]

With the expected change in average ocean temperatures due to global climate change, many commercially and recreationally important fish populations will move in response. As a result, the distributions of some species’ populations will shift, either expanding or contracting due to physiological stressors. In this activity a human-sized board game will generally demonstrate how changes in water temperature may affect fish distributions and, ultimately fisheries.

Jellies are drifters, meaning that their movement is largely at the mercy of the tides and currents in the water. Students can analyze real-time currents to see where jellyfish might travel.

Many marine critters choose their habitat based on the temperature of the ocean. Students make the same choices when they decide whether to swim in the ocean. They can use sea surface temperature maps from satellites to determine where in the ocean they would swim today.

In this activity, students use real-time data from WhaleNet to track the movements of marine animals.