This ERIC Digest is designed for teachers in grades K-12 to share a rationale for teaching about oceans and briefly introduce the kinds of resources available to assist with such efforts. Topics include: (1) Why teach about oceans?; (2) Where can I get resources for teaching about the ocean?; (3) Who is doing marine education in my area?; (4) What…

Assessed knowledge and attitude changes resulting from home viewing of a Cousteau Society documentary on marine mammals and compares these changes with those resulting from a science teacher's presentation on the documentary's script. Results show increased and retainable knowledge and temporary change in attitudes among ninth-grade students.…

Presented in this unit are three activities concerning the causes and effects of oil spills and methods used to clean up these spills in the oceans and Great Lakes. Students construct and interpret a graph showing oil pollution sources. The students create and try to clean up a small-scale oil spill in a pan, and they compare the water quality of…

The Survey of Oceanic Attitudes and Knowledge (SOAK) was conducted to determine levels of marine awareness and participation in marine-related activities among 10th graders in Virginia. Major finding was a fairly low level of knowledge, varying with area of interest and respondent's sex, race, and place of residence. (BW)

Students investigate the effects of global climate change on life in the Great Lakes region in this activity. Teams working together construct as many links as possible for such factors as rainfall, lake water, evaporation, skiing, zebra mussels, wetlands, shipping, walleye, toxic chemicals, coastal homes, and population. (PVD)

Sea Grant is a major contributor to marine and aquatic education in K-12 classrooms through curriculum development, teacher education, school programs at field sites, and educational research. Describes Sea Grant's efforts in these areas. Specific programs outlined include Operation Pathfinder, Ohio Sea Grant Partnerships for Great Lakes…

Presents results of a program to evaluate effectiveness of the dissemination of curriculum enrichment materials developed as part of Ohio Sea Grant in 1977. This 1980 Evaluation measured attitudes and knowledge of randomly selected schools' fifth- to ninth-grade students. A similar survey begun in September 1983 continues the evaluation process.…