Climate Change Lesson Plan: The Ocean
Lesson Plan
1 hour 30 minutesGrades9, 10, 11, 12Science
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Written by Greta Stacy
About this lesson
Students learn about the importance of the ocean as a carbon and heat sink. Students explore various impacts of climate change on the ocean and solutions that can protect our ocean.
Inquire: Students reflect on their feelings about the ocean and the impacts humans have had on it.
Investigate: Students explore different challenges faced by the ocean due to climate change.
Inspire: Students share ocean-focused climate change solutions with their communities.
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Suggestions
- This lesson could be taught along with the following lessons on carbon sequestration and ocean acidification to round out students’ understanding of these topics:
- This lesson allows space for students to reflect on and share the feelings that arise when they think about the ocean and the damage climate change has done to it.
- This lesson emphasizes the need for diverse voices in marine science professions.
- Depending on the length of class periods, the Inquire and Investigate sections could be done in one class period, and the Inspire section in the next class period.
- The infographic could be assigned for homework.
Prerequisites
- This is lesson 1 of 2 in our 9-12 grade Science Unit: Green Careers & the Ocean.
- Students should be familiar with the carbon cycle and have general knowledge of the greenhouse effect.
- Students should have some familiarity with infographics.
- Teacher may wish to show examples of infographics to students before they work on the project.
- Students may already be familiar with software they can use to make infographics from other classes. Canva, Piktochart, Google Slides, or PowerPoint are all good options for students who need a place to start. Teacher should check which software licenses are available to students in their school in advance.
Differentiation
- For the Jigsaw in the Investigate section, different levels of resources are offered.
- Sea level rise/coastal flooding, and ocean acidification use resources that are more difficult to access.
- Plastic pollution and overfishing use resources that are easier to access.
- The resources students can use to start their research on ocean-focused solutions are a mix of articles and videos, so that students can choose to read or listen.
- While this lesson is more appropriate for a Life Science or Environmental Science class, upperclassmen who have taken chemistry or physics could be encouraged to explain the mechanisms behind the ocean challenges they research. For example:
- A student who has taken chemistry could discuss equilibrium and buffers in an explanation of ocean acidification.
- A student who has taken physics could discuss thermal expansion in an explanation of sea level rise and coastal flooding.
From the scientist review
Students study how the ocean is affected by climate change, the implications of the ocean becoming more carbonized and impacting marine resources, the negative effects of human activities such as plastic pollution and overfishing on the ocean, and methods to prevent the ocean from degradation. After reviewing the lesson, it passed our review process for science.
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About the teacher writer
Greta Stacy
Education Specialist
Greta Stacy holds a Bachelor of Chemistry from Smith College, a Master of Teaching from Hamline University, and a Graduate Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the University of Limerick. She has nine years of experience teaching chemistry, science, and mathematics for grades 9–12. Greta holds a Minnesota 9–12 Chemistry teaching license, UK Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), Irish Teaching Council registration, and certifications in International Baccalaureate Chemistry and Advanced Placement Biology.
