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.

US Antarctic Research Center maintains the Nation's most comprehensive collection of Antarctic maps, charts, atlases, satellite images, photographs, slides, video produced by the United States and other member nations of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Materials can be ordered. Includes links to National Science Foundation, US Geological Survey, and other polar-related websites. Full description.

The lessons at this website were prepared to introduce 5th-8th grade students to the fundamental principles of the earth's atmosphere: history, composition, and structure. Includes three pages of information and features to allow for exploration and expansion of current knowledge. In addition, there are four activities to develop performance skills, not only in science, but in math and language arts ... Full description.

On the Pacific Northwest an oceanic tectonic plate (Juan de Fuca) is being pulled and driven (subducted) beneath the North American continental plate. Earthquakes generated along that fault may produce local tsunamis. Local tsunamis are those generated by earthquakes near the coast. This site provides links to external webpages describing the physics behind a tsunami. Resources featured in the links ... Full description.

Search the 2-minute gridded global relief data and images to get ocean and land areas, 30-second gridded land topography, or archived 5-minute gridded global relief data for your area of choice. Read the geographic selection information for directions on how to select an area. Full description.

Defines geodesy and introduces the National Geodetic Survey. View a tutorial on the history, elements and modern methods of geodesy. Applications of mapping are illustrated: determining land boundaries and shorelines; improving transportation and navigation safety. Lesson plans include tutorials, data for classroom mapping activities, resource links and teacher guides. A NSTA SciLinks selected site. ... Full description.

Students investigate parts of ocean waves and their measurements. An on-line wave simulator allows then to study the effects of wave height, length and period on a boat's movements. Using records of tsunami waves, students compare these heights to familiar landmarks and test a hypothesis about possible relationships between wave height and ocean size and depth. Full description.

The Earth Exploration Toolbook (EET) provides step-by-step instructions for using Earth science datasets and software tools in educational settings. Full description.

Information on the Chesapeake Bay, the critical issues for its management and restoration, recent dissolved oxygen and SAV trends, and the USGS Ecosystem Response Project. Site includes maps, figures, and links that supplement the project explanations. Website also explores the direct effects of the Bay's changing characteristics. Full description.

Multimedia approach promotes ocean exploration and conservation. Underwater expeditions to National Marine Sanctuaries provide case studies and data for lesson plans. Topics include: biological oceanography; ocean regions and habitats; physical ocean process; human links to and impacts on the ocean; applications of oceanography. Virtual expeditions link the classroom experience with the individual ... Full description.