Why are the properties of the water important when exploring the ocean? Young scientists discover the tools and technology used in deep sea exploration in the fourth installment in a five-part series. Groups work together to...

The arctic seas contain currents that are both warm (with high salinity) and cold (relatively fresh water) that circulate throughout the year. Through discussion, a lab, and a web quest, participants explore the impacts of melting and...

This particular lesson was written by the National Earth Science Teachers Association, but density is a concept that you can teach at the beginning of the school year in your life, physical, or earth science classes. It would be fun to...

Lesson 4 is part of a 22 lesson plan unit on boat safety and water sports. This lesson plan is about dangerous sea creatures, mainly in the ocean. There is a link to find pictures of the creatures discussed. It is suggested to click...

Students examine relationships and interactions between different types of water. They experiment with colored water of different temperature and salinity and discuss how the results relate to real ocean currents.

Pupils watch videos about unusual fish behavior and write to marine scientists about the proper care of fish. In this fish lesson plan, students watch the videos on how to properly transfer fish to saltwater, and they do so in an aquarium.

Students discover how salt water makes a pencil float better than freshwater by measuring and comparing the lengths of the portion of the pencil that floats above the water surface. They then determine if an unknown water sample is...

Learners experiment to discover that salt water is denser than fresh water by creating color coded solutions. They examine how heavy rainstorms and high tides develop layers of different degrees of density.

Students participate in an experiment to determine which objects float or sink. They use different amounts of salt for the objects and discover as the salt content increases, objects will float. They record their predictions and what...

Students conduct a hands-on activity to investigate salt concentrations in water and how salt remain after water evaporates. They can also do a Saltwater Painting to once again observe the evaporation. process.

An experiment to test what happens when ocean water hits a freshwater estuary. Each step is demonstrated with photographs and the difference between salinity and density is explained.

This U.S. Geological Survey website explains the desalinization method used by some communities to change sea water into drinking water. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.

This U.S. Geological Survey website offers one explanation of why the ocean is salty. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.

This U.S. Geological Survey website explains a variety of uses for saline water. Pie graphs and bar graphs are used to illustrate the various uses. Click Home to access the site in Spanish.