Lesson Plan #3

Ocean Currents

Duration:        2 days

Objectives:     The student will demonstrate a knowledge of ocean currents.
                        The student will understand the movement of oceans in currents, 
                        tides, and waves.

Materials:      two 1 pint milk bottles, 6 or more 5" x 7" index cards, salt, 1/2 teaspoon measuring   spoon, red food coloring, spoon for mixing, access to a sink or a large plastic container, student worksheet

Key Vocabulary:  current, tide, tsunami, tidal waves

Procedures:  Share the following information with your students:

Benjamin Franklin helped ships sail the Atlantic Ocean more quickly.  How?  Franklin observed that vessels crossing the Atlantic at the far north were slower than those following another route.  He learned that a powerful current flowed toward Europe along this northern route.  A ship sailing against this current would have a longer journey than one sailing with it.  Franklin mapped the current which we now know as the Gulf Stream.  

Discuss with students ocean facts in the Background Information Section.

Students will learn how ocean currents move by conducting the following experiment:

1.  Fill both bottles to the top with water.

2.  Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt and one drop of food coloring to one bottle of water; mix it thoroughly with the spoon.

3.  Put the plain bottle of water in the sink or pan.

4.  Stand over the sink or pan as you do this next step.  Place an index card on top of the bottle of colored water and quickly turn it over.  Air pressure should be holding the card in place.  If not, try again.

5.  Place this bottle on top of the bottle of water in the sink.  Remove the index card and observe what happens.

6.  Repeat the experiment.  This time place the bottle of colored salt water in the sink and the other bottle on top of it.  Remove the card and observe.

7.  Record your observations on the student worksheet.

Ask:  

What did you see?  Why do you think this happened? 

This experiment illustrates the movement of water with low salt content to high salt content.  The red salt water will sink, because it is heavier than the tap water. The tap water will move up over the saltier water.

Activity #2

Students will visit the Office of Naval Research Site.  Here they will read about the Characteristics of Ocean Currents and Coastal Currents.  After reading the information they will take an Online Quiz.

Activity #3 Students will visit Victor the Vector website.  Here they will read the story of Victor the Vector, who flows with the ocean currents.  He learns about currents, temperature, waves, fronts, and upwelling.  He gets into trouble as he travels and makes many animal and plant friends.  He and his mother Vera go in different directions but eventually meet again.

After reading, students will complete questionnaire.

Assessment:  The "Current Events" worksheet will be used for evaluation and answers to questionnaire.  Answers

Home Learning:  In their ocean journals, students will write a story about them being lost at sea.  They should include some of the vocabulary and conditions that they encountered in the story of Victor the Vector.