Groups of two to four work together to design, construct, and experiment with a boat. Each boat must include all of the major parts of a real ship, be less than 12 inches long, and be able to carry a load up twice its own weight in calm...

Taconite is a rock that is used as a source of iron. Earth science explorers examine a piece up-close and discuss whether they think it is more cost effective to ship it by boat or by truck. They write letters to their state...

Learners examine a fresnel lens and compare it to simple concave and convex lenses. They measure its focal length and then discuss why this type of lens is useful in a lighthouse system. That is about all there is to this instructional...

In this shipping on the Hudson River worksheet, students record information about types of vessels seen on the Hudson River and respond to the questions that follow about each. Then they identify the Alice Oldendorff which carries road...

An online animation demonstrates how the lock system between Lake Superior and Lake Michigan works. Pupils then construct their own models of the lock system out of shoe boxes that they bring from home. This is an educational activity...

After reading about the Lake Erie water snake and the change in its population after the introduction of the round goby in 1990, young ecologists graph water snake diet data. They analyze the data and answer 10 questions based on their...

Students describe the evolution of the warfare of ships throughout history. They work cooperatively to acquire information on power, maneuverability, weapons and crew responsibilities. Students brainstorm the ways each of the ships...

Students, in groups, collect information from the Internet about historical events surrounding the effects of the Gulf Stream current on ship travel. They compile a chart and answer assessment questions.

Eager ecology learners read about characteristics of the Lake Erie water snake and the round goby fish. They find that the goby is an invasive species, introduced to Lake Erie in 1990, and has since had an impact on the water snake...

Learners explore the age of sailing in the colonies through role-playing. In groups, they play the role of a business owner, shipbuilder and geographer to complete specific tasks. They participate in an old World trade show to...

It's time to boldly go where your class has not gone before! The introductory lesson in a five-part series takes young oceanographers aboard the NOAA Ship Okeanos to begin a study of ocean exploration. The lesson includes a comparison of...

What's life like aboard an ocean exploration vessel? Junior oceanographers examine the important role of communication in ocean research in lesson two of a five-part series from NOAA. The materials introduce the class to life on...

Young scholars work in small groups and design a ship out of balsa wood. They hypothesize what happens when the ship is placed in water then make predictions as to which ship stays afloat the longest with the greatest amount of weight...

Students create a water transportation device powered by wind. In this wind power lesson, students research transportation concepts after reading the poem "Sea Fever" by John Masefield. Students design the fastest sailboat they can...

Wait til your class gets their hands on this! Aspiring engineers design a working robotic arm in the fifth and final installment in a series of ocean exploration lessons. Pupils learn about the use of underwater robots in ocean...

This series of images shows how ancient people figured out that the world was round. Each slide shows a ship moving around the globe and coming closer to the line of the observer's sight. This is a very simple resource that you could use...

Students compare shipping peanuts made from corn and made from Styrofoam. In this corn based peanuts lesson, students understand why to use eco-friendly materials for packing. Students participate in an experiment to compare the...

Students discuss the oil crisis and how it affects the food they eat. In this food production instructional activity, students look at the foods sold in their grocery store and imagine which would leave if there was no oil to ship the...

Three class periods are required to carry out this science lesson on glacial movement, the Great Lakes basin, and the lock system that allows travel on the lakes. It is an ambitious undertaking as your class experiments with a glacier...

Students view a video to understand the set-up of the shuttle aircraft. In this shuttle instructional activity, students recognize the functions of parts of the space ship and why they are important. Students research the shuttle and...

Students research the events that were taking place in the U.S. during the time period when the SS Central America sank, and explore the adventurous, innovative, and individualistic traits that often define the American spirit.

Students visualize the relation between acceleration and velocity in 2 dimensions. They are introduced to Newton's first law,and Newton's second law. Students work on an exploration activity where they condsider an example of a...

Students investigate Great Lakes' navigational charts while practicing topographical map skills. They draw an 'elevation' of the bottom of the lake and graph the depths of the lake.

Students explore the size of one ton. They research the capacity of sialing ships and estimate the volume of rectangular prisms. Students perform activities to discover the capacity of a classroom in tons.