Example Teaching Activities

The Gulf Stream. A sample satellite image used in Dr. Grove's Atmospheric and Oceanic Circulation activity (more info) .

Ocean Circulation

In this activity, students view and analyze buoy, satellite, and temperature versus depth data to learn about ocean circulation and how is related to atmospheric circulation. The activity provides learning goals, teaching tips, supporting references, and all the required teaching materials.
This activity was created by Dr. Karen Grove (kgrove@sfsu.edu) for use in the Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory course at San Francisco State University. This Starting Point page was Created by R.M. MacKay (more info) , Clark College.

Image from Discover Our Earth (more info)

Sea Floor Spreading I

In this introductory level activity, students use Excel to explore the geodynamics model equation for ocean depth around a sea-floor spreading center. The activity is primarily an introductory tutorial for students with no prior Excel experience. The activity uses the model equation to relate ocean floor depth to sea floor spreading rate and distance from spreading center. Activity II (see below) is a follow-up activity. This activity provides learning goals, teaching tips, supporting references, and all the required teaching materials.
Activity and Starting Point page by R.M. MacKay (more info) , Clark College, Physics and Meteorology.

Data-derived image from the Satellite Geodesy group at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Sea Floor Spreading II

In this follow-up activity, students import ocean bathymetry data from either the Topex (more info) web site or text files. Students then graph these observations along with model predictions to assess the model's ability to simulate the observed topographic features of the North Atlantic. The activity provides learning goals, teaching tips, supporting references, and all the required teaching materials.
Activity and Starting Point page by R.M. MacKay (more info) Clark College, Physics and Meteorology.

Ocean Stratigraphy Challenge

In this activity, students are asked to explain the sequence of rock and sediment types found in a section of deep-sea core and to devise an experiment to test their hypotheses. It is intended for students with some prior knowledge of oceanography, sedimentary geology, and plate tectonics and requires them to synthesize all of this knowledge to answer the question. The activity provides learning goals, teaching tips, supporting references, and all the required teaching materials.
Teaching materials by Kim Kastens , Starting Point page by R.E. Teed.

Ocean Waves

This short activity asks students to answer three basic questions about wave morphology and mechanics. The activity was developed by Dr. Bill Prothero as part of his Oceanography course at University of California, Santa Barbara.