In this lesson, students will play the role of a member of an International Team of Marine Biologists tasked with predicting and monitoring possible harmful algae blooms. They will evaluate changes in the ocean's chlorophyll counts from 1997-2007 using data sets from MyNASAData website, draw conclusions about how the chlorophyll-a levels in the ocean may effect its ecological characteristics and infer ... Full description.

This community education initiative supports the efforts of Native American tribal leaders, educators, and students to develop contemporary, scientifically accurate, and culturally sensitive water education resources, programs, and networking opportunities. A traveling exhibit provides a Native American point of view on protection and conservation of water resources. A teachers' guide is provided ... Full description.

The purpose of this activity is to observe the type and cover of clouds including contrails. Students observe which of ten types of clouds and how many of three types of contrails are visible and how much of the sky is covered by clouds (other than contrails) and how much is covered by contrails. Intended outcomes are that students learn how to make estimates from observations and how to categorize ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to become familiar with the hydrology of your locale. Students will study and visit the Hydrology Study Site, conduct a visual survey to discover information about local land cover, water quality, and document their findings. They will use this initial investigation to raise questions about local land cover and/or water chemistry issues that may require further investigation. ... Full description.

The Stream Study provides a method to determine the water quality of a stream based on the collection and identification of stream-bottom macroinvertebrates. This is a multi-chapter activity designed for teachers, parents, and students. Specific sections of this site include the following: why it is important to study stream-bottom macroinvertebrates, identification of stream-bottom macroinvertebrates, ... Full description.

This is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) sponsored website that includes a variety of resources for educators and students. Oil spills are defined by scientists and further explained using photographs and questions previously submitted by students and teachers. Experiments for students and teachers are categorized by grade level and information on how to obtain instructional kits ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to measure soil water content by mass. Students collect soil samples with a trowel or auger and weigh them, dry them, and then weigh them again. The soil water content is determined by calculating the difference between the wet sample mass and the dry sample mass. Full description.

This program is designed to allow students opportunities for classroom and field study, to gather real world scientific data and draw conclusions based on the data. There is also provision to enter data online and to retrieve and graph longitudinal trends. There are links to basic and advanced protocols, classroom activities, and k-12 curriculum ties. One link leads to an image index with photographs ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to measure near-surface soil temperatures. Students measure soil temperatures at 5 cm and 10 cm depths using a soil thermometer. Students will be able to perform a soil thermometer calibration, carry out soil temperature measurements accurately and precisely and record and report soil temperature data. Students will be able to relate soil temperature measurements to ... Full description.

The purpose of this resource is to measure the pH of a soil horizon. Students mix dried and sieved soil samples with distilled water. The mixture is allowed to settle until a relatively clear layer is formed. Students use a pH pen, pH meter, or pH paper to determine the pH of the sample. The procedure is done three times for each horizon. Full description.