SCI020: Life Science - Oceanography (Elective)

This list is representative of the materials provided or used in this course. Keep in mind that the actual materials used may vary, depending on the school in which you are enrolled, and whether you are taking the course as Independent Study.

For a complete list of the materials to be used in this course by your enrolled student, please visit MyInfo. All lists are subject to change at any time.

Scope & Sequence : Scope & Sequence documents describe what is covered in a course (the scope) and also the order in which topics are covered (the sequence). These documents list instructional objectives and skills to be mastered. K12 Scope & Sequence documents for each course include:

Course Overview

In this introductory course, students construct an applied knowledge of the characteristics of aquatic systems. Students study ocean structure and marine ecology through hands-on exploration of coastal waters, open ocean waters, deep ocean waters, coral reefs, kelp forests, deep ocean vents, and tide pools. Through guided practice of the scientific model, using common household materials, students conduct field studies of local aquatic structures for the final project.

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Course Length

One Semester

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Prerequisites

SCI202 or SCI203: Biology and SCI102: Physical Science, or equivalents

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Course Outline

UNIT 1: SYSTEMS - ABIOTIC AND BIOTIC FACTORS

Topic 1: Exploring Earth's Systems

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Your List of Underwater Observations

Topic 2: The Graphic Organizer

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Initial Graphic Organizer of Your Underwater Observations

Topic 3: The Experimental Plan

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Revised/Updated Graphic Organizer of Your Underwater Observations

Unit Assignments and Assessments:

  • Notebook: Final Graphic Organizer of Your Underwater Observations

UNIT 2: OCEAN STRUCTURE - ABIOTIC FACTORS

Topic 1: Currents

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Laboratory Safety
  • Lab: Water Currents
  • Notebook: Water Currents Lab Report
  • 1 Topic Self-Check

Topic 2: Waves

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Lab: Bathtub Waves
  • Notebook: Bathtub Waves Lab Report
  • Lab: Slinky Waves
  • Notebook: Slinky Waves Lab Report

Topic 3: Light

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Lab: Light-Secchi Disk
  • Notebook: Light-Secchi Disk Lab Report

Topic 4: Temperature

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Lab: Temperature
  • Notebook: Temperature Lab Report

Topic 5: Salinity

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Lab: Salinity
  • Notebook: Salinity Lab Report
  • 1 Topic Self-Check

Topic 6: Pressure

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Lab: Pressure
  • Notebook: Pressure Lab Report

Topic 7: Oxygen

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Lab: Oxygen
  • Notebook: Oxygen Lab Report

Unit Assignments and Assessments:

  • Unit 2 Notebook Essay Exam

UNIT 3: MARINE ECOLOGY

Topic 1: Coastal Waters

Topic Assignments and Assessments:

  • Notebook: Coastal Water Inhabitants
  • Topic 1 Quiz

Topic 2: Coral Reefs

Topic Assignments and Assessments:

  • Notebook: Coral Reef Inhabitants
  • Topic 2 Quiz

Topic 3: Open Ocean

Topic Assignments and Assessments:

  • Notebook: Open Ocean Inhabitants
  • Topic 3 Quiz

Topic 4: Deep Ocean

Topic Assignments and Assessments:

  • Notebook: Deep Ocean Inhabitants
  • Topic 4 Quiz

UNIT 4: ECOSYSTEMS

Topic 1: Tidepools

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Ecosystem Notes
  • Notebook: Create a Tidepool Creature

Topic 2: Antarctic Seas

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Create a Antarctic Sea Creature

Topic 3: Research Center

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Compare Your Created Tidepool Creature to a Real Tidepool Organism
  • Notebook: Compare Your Created Antarctic Sea Creature to a Real Antarctic Organism

Unit Assignments and Assessments:

  • Notebook: Summarize Your Findings About Tidepool and Antarctic Creatures

UNIT 5: FINAL PROJECT/FIELD STUDY

Topic 1: Aquatic Resource Library

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Aquatic Environment Observations

Topic 2: The Scientific Method

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Activity: Interactive Scientific Method Flow Chart

Topic 3: Designing Your Research

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Experimental Design: Defining the Problem and Formulating a Hypothesis

Topic 4: Conducting, Analyzing and Reporting Your Research

Topic Activities and Assignments:

  • Notebook: Data Report: Controlling Variables, Conducting Observations and Collecting Data

Unit Assignments and Assessments

  • Notebook: Outline of Field Study Report: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion/Conclusion
  • Notebook: Final Draft of Field Study Report
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Lesson Scheduling

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K12 Scope & Sequence documents for each course include:

  • Course Overview (as seen above)
  • Course Outline
  • Lesson Time and Scheduling