In this unit, students engage in investigations, model-making, and texts to make sense of the causes and effects of increased acidity in the ocean. Students consider the implications of chemical reactions for animals that need calcium in the salt water of the ocean to form shells to protect themselves and survive. Students generate and review ideas for mitigating carbon dioxide in the oceans. 

• Calcium cycle, carbon dioxide, ecosystems, microorganisms, acids and bases 

This unit has a creativity and critical thinking focus:

• Question assumptions, use evidence, and synthesize information to make sense of the problem of ocean acidification and create models.

• Generate and evaluate solutions to mitigate acidification of the ocean.

Web and Print

• Animals have trouble building shells -https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Flive.staticflickr.com%2F2758%2F4147577833_5d55dd7ff5_c.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fusoceangov%2F4147577833&tbnid=NuJR0Sgu0-Gd_M&vet=12ahUKEwir4tDGyN71AhXfgWoFHVLWDBQQMygOegUIARCbAQ..i&docid=wc9hexGB2s9q-M&w=700&h=768&q=ocean%20acidification&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwir4tDGyN71AhXfgWoFHVLWDBQQMygOegUIARCbAQ(Original source: New Study Leads to Better Understanding of Ocean Acidification)

• Geoengineering -https://medium.com/illumination-curated/3-promising-geoengineering-solutions-for-climate-change-6fea3c14a245 

• NOAA Research News in the United States- https://research.noaa.gov/News/ArtMID/451/ArticleID/2705/Acidification-impedes-shell-development-of-plankton-off-the-US-West-Coast 

• Oceans 101 | National Geographic-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaECB23smAs 

• An “out there” solution to saving coral reefs

• World Oceans Day - Ocean Acidification 

• See the Beautiful and Endangered Red Coral of the Mediterranean | National Geographic Other 

      Other Resources

•  Litmus strips (Can use Red Cabbage) 

• baking soda, soap, vinegar, lemon juice

• Cola, flat cola, water from the tap, purified water, orange juice, lemon juice, milk, vinegar, soapy water (non toxic), baking soda mixed with water, and vegetable oil. 

• Toothpick to taste 

• Containers with a seal 

•  Mixing containers 

      Opportunities to adapt, extend, and enrich

• Students could investigate the effects of (weak) acids on other materials over time, such as salt water and vinegar on pennies 

• Oral microbiome (author: Steve Gschmeissnert)

• Alternative to step 4: Include one closed system model that includes added heat

English Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l04hFbSIOQoJr3mIRPqyszpPSPWUtsxkYFxAU39sg-E/edit?usp=sharing

Hindi Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jxfrMkyZXTBhefz20C-wHkIEHOUayktAt5EOknJ-trU/edit?usp=sharing

Gujarati Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1QDD0pTgELSyhsrhHnGyj_det3M8C4uVbG9rkMk8l_a8/edit?usp=sharing

Kannada Version

• https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GXa4IQoWEesQB3Fh2s5XDq_JEa6glKNBEVrKtw5vRsM/edit?usp=drive_link