The Open Ocean
A Hands-on Guide to Hawaii’s Open Ocean Ecosytem
Click on the lessons to the left to download curriculum in individual sections or download the whole unit at the bottom. Also see some more examples of student work. Some of the files are large. Read on for a description of the open ocean unit or download the unit introduction for a complete description of the lesson format, assessment, and content.
Grade Level: 5th Grade
Purpose: This curiculum is designed to communicate:
- How the open ocean around Hawaii and the Pacific is physically and biologically structured.
- What the major natural and human induced impacts to the open ocean ecosystem in Hawaii are.
- How science helps us to study open ocean environment and manage the people and resources in that environement.
A student's superfish with its adaptations. A 3D portrayal of the bigisland bathymetry
Rationale: The open ocean accounts for approximately seventy percent of the Earth’s surface. In Hawaii, forty one percent of the state is ocean. The ocean creates Hawaii’s weather, provides Hawaii’s residents with food, and surrounds our islands to make us the most isolated island chain in the world. Therefore, understanding how the ocean functions, how we use and study the ocean, and how that use impacts the ocean is critical for Hawaii youths to understand. This curriculum uses hands-on activities to promote interactive learning about the open ocean ecosystem.
Hawaii Content and Performance Standards Addressed (HCPS III): 5.1 Scientific Investigation, 5.2 Nature of Science, 5.3 Organisms and the Environment, 5.4 Structure and Function in Organisms
OPEN OCEAN CONCEPT MAP
Lesson Plans
This unit is structured to last nine weeks or a full quarter. The lessons plans are structured to last two 50 minute classes per week. This means the unit takes at least 18 class periods to complete. This structuring is a result of most 5th grade classes having at least two science classes per week. If there a teacher has more than two science classes per week then there are several optional activities which supplement the unit and are included in this curriculum. Taught as an entire unit the lessons flows together, however many of the lessons may be taken out of context to deliver a particular concept.
Materials need for this curriculum are minimal, however there are some expendable materials that may have to be purchased. Prior to teaching this unit, the instructor should browse the lesson plans and catalog which materials may have to be obtained. Some of the final project research requires the use of a computer with internet access and therefore access to computers should be requested at the appropriate time.
Each lesson plan includes a summary of the lesson and primary objectives as well as a vocabulary list which may be used in vocabulary lessons or spelling lessons. The lesson plans also include background information for the instructor as well as additional internet links that provide background information on each lesson.
A student and their squid and A Waikoloa class doing their computer research
The open ocean unit was created and piloted by Blake McNaughton and Robert Lozano.