About This Lesson
Modern climate change is causing our ocean to warm and changing the ocean’s chemistry. Students directly experience the ability of cold and warm water to uptake carbon dioxide and learn about ocean acidification. They explore the role of the ocean in the climate and one tool scientists use to understand ocean warming. Then, they are challenged to communicate one of the Ocean Literacy Principles to a chosen audience.
SWBAT
- Understand that cold water can absorb more carbon dioxide.
- Explain some of the impacts of ocean acidification.
- Explain the role of ocean currents in shaping global climate.
- Understand how scientists use Argo floats to explore the ocean.
- Describe and educate on the Ocean Literacy Principles.
Skills
- Basic lab safety
- Modeling & communicating complex scientific ideas
- Map-reading
- Asking scientific questions
Standards Alignment:
- HS-PS1-5: Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs.
- HS-ESS2-2: Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
- RST.11-12.9: Synthesize information from a range of sources into a coherent understanding of a process, phenomenon, or concept.
Disciplinary Core Ideas:
- PS1B: Chemical Reactions
- ESS2.A Earth Materials and Systems
- ESS2.D Weather and Climate
- ESS3.C Human Impacts on Earth Systems
- ESS3.D Global Climate Change
