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

Curriculum Overview

Knowing the Open Ocean

JellyfishFar from shore, where the ocean horizon touches the sky, is the vast region called open ocean. Equally home to microscopic plankton and titanic whales, this single, global ocean covers almost three quarters of Earth's surface. Never still, winds and ocean currents move food, nutrients, animals, algae, ships, garbage...anything. Movement of ocean water also creates pockets of amazing productivity that can be depleted from overfishing.

Websites

You can now search for Habitat specific web links through the Resource Materials search.

To find general web links about ocean sciences, visit the useful web links page in our News section.

Teaching the Open Ocean

planktonThe 5th grade MARE curriculum includes themes of global interconnectedness of the oceans and the productivity that supports large animals of the seas.

Join MARE's Open Ocean Forum!

Contribute your ideas and ask questions of other people teaching about the Open Ocean. New features of this website and professional development opportunities will also be shared in the Forum.

Visit the Open Ocean Forum now!

Field Trip Tips

squidWhether you visit a real or a virtual open ocean, balance the need to identify what your students see with the need to observe it. Help them get more out of seeing an organism than just its name!

Order Now, Grade 5 Open Ocean

Open Ocean Teacher Guides may be ordered at our online store or directly from MARE.

ORDER NOW →