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Where does an one ocean begin and another begin?
Geography is a human construct to define nature and boundaries. When it comes to the ocean(s), this gets tough. Water moves and there is no defined place where one stops and another begins. Are there 4 or 5? Is it only 1? How is a harbor different from a bay? What's the difference between a point and a cape? Students will build knowledge on recognizing oceans and seas on maps to better understand topics of discussion throughout the semester.
Warm Ups, etc:
Oceanography K/W/T/F - students reveal prior knowledge and curiosity about oceans. They are also asked a few basic "interest grabber" true/false questions to spur discussion about the semester ahead.
Just the Facts - students guess about some major basic features of oceans.
The Other Four Continents - students draw and annotate maps about the oceans/seas surrounding the continents not dealt with in the mapping activity
Instruction, Presentations, Assignments, Activities, etc:
Atlantic, G. Brian Karas - New York - Puffin - 2004 - ISBN: 0-14-240027-0 - teacher link Atlantic (presentation)
Opening discussion of general themes, oceanography in the news, questions the students might have.
Blank Maps , Presentation of Maps (world, North America, Europe/N. Africa, SE Asia) and world maps. Students identify the appropriate bodies of water listed in the key sections on their blank maps by moving to the various map stations around the room. Extensions for the following maps can be written on the board- NA: Labrador Sea, Bering Sea, James Bay, Baffin Bay // EUR: Norwegian Sea, Sea of Marmara, Sea of Azov, Bay of Biscay // ASIA: Yellow Sea, Sea of Okhotsk, Java Sea... (*Note, this requires a good collection of diverse paper maps, but it could be done with an online map or map app.)
Assignment - Features of Oceans and Seas - students answer and compose questions using the maps in the room or Google Earth
Vocabulary - Ocean Geography - terms associated with bodies of water and the land that borders them
Map- Chesapeake Bay- identify major rivers, states and major metropolitan areas within the watershed
Writing Assignment- Going On a Cruise (I’m on A Boat)- prompt: Imagine you could take a cruise anywhere, on any ocean/sea. Where would you go? What would you hope to see? What activities on/off the cruise ship would you participate in?
Closure: Google Earth tour of the Earth
Quiz- map-based and questions on oceans and other major bodies of water
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