Set of six interdisciplinary lesson plans from the Smithsonian, complementing their online "Ocean Planet" exhibit. Topics include: ocean bottom features and seafloor mapping; marine habitats and biodiversity; consumer goods from the ocean; oil spills impacts and solutions; causes of marine strandings; ocean-inspired vocabulary. Units contain: background; instructions for the teacher; maps, data and ... Full description.

Take this virtual tour of hydrothermal vents to learn the basics about vents, how they are studied, the associated biology and geology, and consider the ethics about vent mining. This highly interactive site also has a forum for discussion, glossary, and classroom learning activities. A certificate of achievement is available for download once students successfully navigate the sight and become vent ... Full description.

FLOW is a comprehensive curriculum about the Great Lakes ecosystem. Lessons are geared toward educators who teach upper elementary and middle school students. Each lesson is aligned with national and state curriculum standards for science and social studies and features a hands-on classroom activity. Lessons cover topics such as: food webs, nonindigenous species, watersheds, water quality, fish identification, ... Full description.