The Pelican's Nest, located near Mobile Bay in the Gulf of Mexico, is a science center supported by a local educational foundation. Programs are geared toward marine wildlife and the coastal habitat with an emphasis on hands-on learning for students in grades K-6. The director of the science center conducts daily classroom labs and discovery trips…

This article describes a two-day lesson in which fifth-grade students took on the role of marine biology scientists, using their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to explore human impact on the blue crab ecosystem. The purpose of "Crabby Interactions" was to help students understand the impact of human activities on the local…

Describes the formation and development of hurricanes and discusses the disasters associated with them. Reviews the warning signals used for tropical storms and provides an overview of the hurricane naming process. (ML)

Described is a method for bringing the sea into the classroom by setting up a saltwater aquarium. Included is selection of an aquarium, filtering systems, water (whether natural salt or synthetic sea salts), bottom materials, setting up an aquarium, system stabilization, stocking an aquarium, and maintenance of the aquarium. (DS)

Described is a method of photographically recording the seasonal movements of the beach, and the equipment and details used in this method. Included is a method for determining current speed and instruction for construction of a tin can viewing box to be used in underwater sea form observations. (Author/DS)

Describes an activity that introduces children to the diversity of life in a pond. Lists four resources. (JRH)

Focuses on Sea Partners, by the United States Coast Guard, that enables students to understand how pollution affects the marine environment. Correlates the activities with the National Science Education Standards. (DDR)

Presented is a cooperative learning activity in which students assume different roles in an effort to produce a relief map of the ocean floor. Materials, procedures, definitions, student roles, and questions are discussed. A reproducible map for the activity is provided. (CW)

Explains how a shoreline is formed and how it changes, and why its changes do not always coincide with human plans. Subjects discussed include beaches, beach processes, inlets and beaches, and a marine glossary. (Author/DS)

Recommends using authentic science conferences as a way of teaching about critical issues in science, how scientists work, and the role of conferences. Includes classroom activities of inquiry-based investigations in which students present their collected data at a conference. (YDS)

President Carter has designated 1980 as the "Year of the Coast" through the efforts of a coalition known as the Coast Alliance. The Coast Alliance will alert people to changes along the coastline, and the need for public participation in the decisions which govern the use and abuse of the coastline. (DS)

Discussed is the value of marine education and its place in the enhancement of the curriculum. Marine education is characterized by an interdisciplinary activity-oriented program in which the students are encouraged to read, write, do acts and crafts, sing, cook, and think about marine education issues. (Author/DS)

Provided are suggestions for 23 different activities which can be used to discuss and investigate ocean currents and how they affect human activity. Several maps and charts accompany the activities. A list of 15 resources is included. (CW)

Described is a marine education materials clearinghouse, the Marine Education Materials System (MEMS). MEMS classifies marine education documents and reproduces them on microfiche for distribution. There are 25 distribution centers, each of which has a collection of documents and provides assistance on a request basis to teachers. (Author/DS)

Described is the National Sea Grant College Program which supports education and training, research, and advisory extension services through the National Office of Sea Grant and the Sea Grant Network of 30 programs in coastal and Great Lake states. Water-related topics include water's relationship to nature, society, and human expression.…