Unit
9 Lesson 1 Marine Biology – Oceans and Sea Water
Date
Objective: students will gain an understanding that nearly 71 percent of Earth’s surface is covered by
ocean, in five main basins. Topography of ocean floor is as diverse as that of continents, reflecting the
process of plate tectonic. Students will understand that technology allows scientists to study the ocean
floor.
State standards: Earth Science:
5. Heating of Earth’s surface and atmosphere by the sun drives convection within the atmosphere and
oceans, producing winds and ocean currents. As a basis for understanding this concept:
d. Students know properties of ocean water, such as temperature and salinity, can be used to explain
the layered structure of the oceans, the generation of horizontal and vertical ocean currents, and the
geographic distribution of marine organisms.
Warm up activity: List 5 things you know about the Ocean? 5 min writing, then class discussion
Vocabulary: oceanography, bathymetry, SONAR, submersible, salinity, thermocline, density, pycnocline,
mixed zone
Lecture: Unit 9 Lesson 1 Oceans and Sea Water
Guided practice: Students will watch a video on Oceans, “Eyewitness: Ocean,” and complete a video
worksheet.
Independent practice:
HW:
Read Ocean Floor handout, complete assessment 1-7, 8 extra credit