A program of the Lawrence Hall of Science that seeks to increase ocean literacy through informal and formal education initiatives
Marine Activities, Resources & Education

In the Swim

"There are uglier fish than a blenny-- But not many..." That's just the start of one of 21 creative and imaginative poems focusing on a variety of ocean creatures. A fantastic literature and poetry connection accompanied with whimsical water-colored illustrations makes this a good read out-loud or student reader.

Resource Type:

A Swim Through the Sea

An A to Z exploration of ocean life both familiar and unexpected. Can be used as an early elementary ABC book or as a inviting reference for fifth grade. Beautiful watercolor illustrations have a "near-batik" quality.

Resource Type:

Sea Otter Rescue: The Aftermath of an Oil Spill

When the Exxon Valdez struck the rocks in Prince William Sound, Alaska, nearly 11 million gallons of crude oil spilled into the water. The result was an oil slick which threatened all of the area wildlife, especially the sea otters. This is the story of the animal rescue experts who went to Alaska to lend a hand. Illustrated with the author's own photographs, Sea Otter Rescue is a fascinating first-hand account of the heroic measures taken to save the lives of hundreds of sea otters.

Resource Type:

A Drop of Water

Beginning with a child exploring the water in a creek, Morrison imagines how a drop on his finger made its journey through the water cycle. Detailed, multicolored illustrations take readers high in the sky as the red-tailed hawk flies and the raindrops fall, providing a view of the marsh and the mountain stream from above. Finally, the pictures zoom back to a close-up of the boy to complete the circle. Readers can appreciate this narration on two levels: first, as a simple story of the hydrologic cycle; and second, as a search to find various types of plants and animals.

Resource Type:

Beyond the Moon: A Conversational, Common Sense Guide to Understanding the Tides

Finally, someone has written a comprehensive, easily readable explanation of the tides on earth that is both simple enough for students and solid enough for their professors. Step by step, by analogy and illustration, Beyond the Moon describes how the cyclical motion of the near solar system is impressed upon the earth’s oceans, and how the hydraulics over the continental shelf and the geography of the coastline orchestrate this rhythm into the bewildering variety of tide patterns seen around the globe.

Resource Type:

Marine Mammals, Coastal and River Issues

Resource Type:

Marine and Estuarine Ecology

This book is written at a high school level, but can be used as a reference by teachers in a number of habitats.

A high school textbook and workbook introducing marine and estuarine ecology, marine habitats, and the diversity of marine animals and plants.

Resource Type:

The Tale of Humphrey the Humpback Whale

Resource Type:

Earth: The Water Planet

Designed for middle-level Earth science teachers, Earth: The Water Planet explains how to use readily available materials and a variety of instructional methods to investigate how water shapes our planet and daily lives. Included are hands-on experiments challenging you to purify swamp-water, conservation-oriented activities showing how much water is wasted by a dripping faucet, and a role-playing activity in which students present opposing arguments at a town meeting.

Resource Type:

Animals of the Seas and Wetlands

Resource Type:

Pages