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Grade K to 2 Hands-On Activities

These activities are suitable for grade K to 2 audiences

Beach Buckets
Visitors explore a bucket of sand and beach drift and debris, sort the items using observable characteristics and use a model to show how sand could be composed of items found on a beach. They also infer how the beach drift might have traveled to the beach.
Subject: Ocean Physics, Ocean Geology Grade: K to adult Duration: 30 - 45 min
Ocean Literacy Principle: #1, #2
Exploration Tanks
Learners observe and interact with marine animals in a touch tank. The educator/facilitator helps guide the learners’ observations and encourages them to generate questions and find the answers to their own questions as they continue to explore.
Subject: Ocean Biology, Inquiry Grade: K - 12 Duration: 30 - 45 min
Ocean Literacy Principle: #5
Fish Tales
This activity introduces concepts of habitat, morphology and adaptation. Students are shown photographs of a variety of fish, followed by a discussion that explores fish characteristics and adaptation.
Subject: Ocean Biology Grade: 1 - 6 Duration: 15 - 60 min
Ocean Literacy Principle: #5
Got Seaweed?
Learners explore seaweed samples. They use different criteria to sort the seaweeds, and then are guided to sort the seaweed based on color. Visitors also may observe what happens when powdered seaweed is mixed with water, and predict why we might add such seaweed products to food found in our cupboards. They then find out which foods do contain seaweed by checking the ingredients lists of some common foods.
Subject: Ocean Biology, Ocean Chemistry, Human Impact Grade: K - 12 Duration: 30 - 45 min
Ocean Literacy Principle: #5, #6
Introduction to Ocean Zones
Students will learn to identify and describe different zones of the ocean and the organisms that live in each zone.
Subject: Ocean Physics, Ocean Biology Grade: K - 12 Duration: 55 min
Ocean Literacy Principle: #1, #2, #4, #5, #7
Sand Activity
Learners observe a variety of sand samples with the naked eye and up close (with hand lenses and microscopes). They investigate what their sand is composed of and make inferences about the processes and forces that made it.
Subject: Ocean Geology Grade: K to adult Duration: 30 - 45 min
Ocean Literacy Principle: #2
The Great Plankton Race
Participants are challenged to design a planktonic organism that will neither float like a cork nor sink like a stone. This exercise is designed to give students an opportunity to apply observations and concepts in an engaging way. It is not a biomechanics exercise, and thus Reynolds Number issues are ignored.
Subject: Ocean Physics, Ocean Biology Grade: 1 - 12 Duration: 40 min
Ocean Literacy Principle: #1, #4, #5, #6