Oceanography Curriculum Mapping and Pacing Guide 203-4 Grade/Course Oceanography (information for this map/pacing guide copied and adapted from Ocean Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts); labs referred to in this document are from the Project Earth Science (PES) series. Grading Period Quarter Unit/ 20 blocks Earth has one big ocean with many features a- e TED- Ballard TED- Earle Chesapeake Bay Foundation VA DEQ USGS NOAA National Geographic (NGM) PES- Readings; Oceanography- The Ocean Identify oceans and label on a map Lab: Create giant wall map (NGM Podcast for Chesapeake Bay geology and harvest Lab: PES- Geology Volcanoes and Plates Test plate tectonics Identify currents on map Ocean is dominant physical feature on earth. An ocean basin s size, shape and features vary due to movement of Earth s lithospheric plates. There is one interconnected circulation system powered by wind, tides, force of Earth s rotation (Coriolis Effect), the Sun and water density differences. Sea level is the average height of the ocean relative to the land. Most of Earth s water (97%) is in the ocean- unique properties of seawater The ocean is an integral part of the water cycle and is connected to all of the earth s water reservoirs The ocean is connected to major lakes, watersheds and waterways. The ocean is finite and resources are limited
Grading Period- Quarter 2 8 blocks Unit/ The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the earth BIO.5 BIO.9 a e a- d TED- Nicklen PES- Meteorology; Reading Global Warming the Greenhouse Effect Lab:PEO- Oceanography- Water the Sticky Molecule ecosystems in the ocean Many earth materials and geochemical cycles originate in the ocean Sea level changes over time have expanded and contracted continental shelves, created and destroyed inland seas, and shaped the surface of land. Erosion occurs in coastal areas as wind, waves, and currents in rivers and the ocean move sediments. PES; Meteorology- Reading (ENSO) TED- Penguins Meteorology; Why it is hotter at the equator than at the poles Sand consists tiny bits of rock, soil and other biotic and abiotic earth materials occurs in coastal areas as winds, waves, and currents in rivers and the ocean move sediments. Tectonic activity, sea level changes, and force of waves influence the physical structure and landforms on the coast. The ocean controls weather and climate by dominating the Earth s energy, water and carbon systems 2 blocks The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate 2 3 a - e a - d Meteorology- It s in the Air interaction of oceans and global climate The ocean absorbs much of the solar radiation reaching Earth. The El Nino Southern Oscillation causes important changes in global weather patterns because it changes the way heat is released in the atmosphere in the Pacific Most rain that falls on land originally evaporated from a tropical ocean. Ocean has historical and modern influence on climate change.
Changes in the ocean s circulation have produced large, abrupt changes in climate during the last 50,000 years. Grading Period Quarter 3 8 blocks 2 blocks Unit/ The ocean makes Earth habitable The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems. 0 a- e a- d Readings PES; The Facts about Ozone Reading PES; Oceanography- The Tides: A Balance of Forces Meteorology- The percentage oxygen in the air Oceans as a heat conveyor to keep Earth habitable Podcast for Ecosystems in the Oceans Lab for Tides Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere originally came from the activities of photosynthetic organisms in the ocean. The first life is thought to have started in the ocean. The earliest evidence f life is found in the ocean. Ocean life ranges in size form the smallest virus to the larges animal blue whale Most life in the ocean exists as microbes. Microbes are the most important primary producers in the ocean. Some major groups are found exclusively in the ocean. Diversity of major groups is much greater in the ocean than on land. Oceanography; Estuaries where the Rivers Meet the Sea Ocean biology provides many unique examples of life cycles, adaptations and important relationships among organisms that do not occur on land. There are deep ocean systems that are independent of energy from the sun.
Tides, waves and predation cause vertical zonation patterns along the shore, influencing the distribution and diversity of organisms. Estuaries provide important and productive nurseries areas (Chesapeake Bay) Curriculum Mapping and Pacing Guide Grade/Course Oceanography (information for this map/pacing guide copied and adapted from Ocean Literacy: Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts) Grading Period Quarter 4 Unit/ 5 blocks The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected. ES.9 BIO.9 a- m a- e Treatise- Tragedy of the Commons (in our environmental science text) Readings PES; The Ocean: A Global View Oily Spills Forever Trash Podcast t to show how each can protect the ocean (affective component) The ocean affects every human life. Humans get foods, medicines, and mineral and energy resources from the ocean. Ocean source of inspiration and recreation. Also important culturally around the world. Much of the world s population lives in coastal areas. Humans affect the oceanmanagement of what is put in and taken out of the ocean, development,
5 blocks The ocean is largely unexplored ES.9 2 Research project for natural resources and that are found in the ocean and removal of large vertebrates from the ocean. Coastal regions are susceptible to natural hazards. Affective components will be addressed here. Research project to find out what exploration is currently happening. The ocean is the last and least explored place on Earth. Exploration is necessary to attain better understanding of ocean systems and processes. Sustainability of ocean resources depends on our understanding of those resources and their potential and limitations. New technologies are expanding our ability to explore the ocean. Mathematical models help us understand the complexity of the oceans and its interaction with Earth s climate. Ocean exploration is interdisciplinary.