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Alaska Waters Education Resources

High-quality, place-based lessons and activities that engage and inspire Alaskan youth and support informal and formal educators.

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A Salmon’s Life Journey

Students investigate salmon life cycle stages and their relationship to parts of the watershed. They use cards to generate questions and ideas, and work cooperatively to research the salmon’s life journey through a watershed, answer the questions and gather evidence for their claims. They share and discuss their findings with the class, and demonstrate their knowledge by making posters.

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Grade 3
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On, Project

Activity 1A: Around Our School

Children take a walk around or near the schoolyard and begin to observe, wonder, and ask questions about aquatic life.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Outside
Activity Type: Field Trip, Hands-On

Activity 1A: Globe Toss

In this activity, students begin their discovery of aquatic environments, and start to notice that water is all around them, in their neighborhoods, backyards, oceans, rivers, ponds, and creeks. They take a first look at “Our Big Blue Planet” with a globe game.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Activity 1B: One Small Square

Children create a mural of an aquatic environment, using art supplies to represent living and nonliving things, while practicing descriptive language and explaining their choices. They collaborate in teams, explore textures, colors, and shapes, and share their learning with others.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Outside
Activity Type: Field Trip, Hands-On

Activity 1B: What’s in the Jars?

This activity requires a jar of water collected from a local outdoor source (ocean, pond, river) and a jar of land (soil and rocks), and allows children to begin the scientific questioning process.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 1C: Biologist and Subsistence Backpacks

Children learn about the roles of biologists and subsistence users by exploring themed backpacks filled with tools like magnifying glasses, tide books, and maps. Through dramatic play, hands-on activities, and discussions, they compare the tools and knowledge used in science and traditional practices, deepening their understanding of how people interact with aquatic plants and animals.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 1C: Water Detectives

In this activity, students begin their discovery of aquatic environments, and start to notice that water is all around them, in their neighborhoods, backyards, oceans, rivers, ponds, and creeks. They act as outdoor “Water Detectives” to explore and map water on a walk near their school.

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Kindergarten
Location: Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 1D: Alaska Seas and Watersheds Discovery Centers

Children explore discovery centers focused on seas and rivers, using tools, games, and hands-on activities like a sand table, water table, and bingo games to learn about aquatic animals and environments. They engage in open-ended exploration, share observations, and practice scientific thinking while building curiosity and understanding through play.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 1D: Let’s Make a Map

This activity requires a jar of water collected from a local outdoor source (ocean, pond, river) and a jar of land (soil and rocks), and allows children to begin the scientific questioning process.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 1E: Take a Close Look

This activity requires a jar of water collected from a local outdoor source (ocean, pond, river) and a jar of land (soil and rocks), and allows children to begin the scientific questioning process.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 2A: Sea Soup

This activity requires a jar of water collected from a local outdoor source (ocean, pond, river) and a jar of land (soil and rocks), and allows children to begin the scientific questioning process.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 2A: Shells: Take a Closer Look

Children explore and describe the characteristics of shells through observation, drawing, and writing. They compare different shells, record details in their science notebooks, and use descriptions to identify each other’s chosen shells. The activity encourages careful observation, collaborative learning, and improvement in using descriptive language.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 2B: Sorting Shells

Students explore and sort shells by properties like color, shape, texture, size, and weight. Starting with simple groupings, they progress to complex sorting using Venn diagrams, sharing their ideas through drawings and discussions.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 2C: Let’s Meet the Invertebrates

Students explore 3-5 invertebrate groups (e.g., crustaceans, mollusks) over several days, focusing on unique features. A class chart titled “Meet the Invertebrates” organizes details like traits, examples, and habitats. Students draw and label invertebrates to add to the chart and their science notebooks.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 2D: Creature Features Class Book

Students create a class “Creature Features” book by selecting local aquatic animals, writing descriptions using a guided framework, and drawing detailed illustrations. They share their work with peers and an external audience, encouraging discussion.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 2E: “What Do You Know” Game

Students play a “What Do You Know” game to learn about local plants and animals while practicing addition, discussing questions with multiple answers. Through gameplay and math story problems, they explore aquatic ecosystems, share ideas, and build knowledge collaboratively.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Activity 3A: ABC Sea/River Book

Students create an ABC Sea/River Book by illustrating and describing local aquatic plants or animals, emphasizing letter sounds and detailed observations, then share their work to enhance understanding and communication skills.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Activity 3A: Aquatic Puzzles

Children will assemble simple puzzles to learn more about aquatic animals and their life cycles. How do we know living and nonliving things are in the water around us? What do they look like when they are growing?

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Kindergarten
Location: Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 3B: Drawing from Description

Changing Landscape asks students to analyze “repeat photographs” (taken from the same vantage point at different times) of Alaska glaciers to observe the effects of retreating glaciers on the landscape.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 3B: Plant or Animal Research

Students research a local aquatic animal, document their findings, create a detailed paper sculpture based on their research, and present their work to classmates and guests, showcasing their understanding of the creature’s characteristics and habitat.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Activity 3C: Aquatic Puzzles

Children will assemble simple puzzles to learn more about aquatic animals and their life cycles. How do we know living and nonliving things are in the water around us? What do they look like when they are growing?

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Kindergarten
Location: Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 3C: Life Cycle Wheels

Children begin by continuing to learn about the wide variety of aquatic plants and animals in their region. Each child then chooses a special plant or animal to research, depict, and share with the class.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Activity 3D: High-Tide, Low-Tide Game

Children learn more about their special species and others as they explore life cycles and tide-related behaviors.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Activity 3D: Our Book about Things in the Water

Children will assemble simple puzzles to learn more about aquatic animals and their life cycles. How do we know living and nonliving things are in the water around us? What do they look like when they are growing?

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Kindergarten
Location: Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 3E: Making a Mural

Children will assemble simple puzzles to learn more about aquatic animals and their life cycles. How do we know living and nonliving things are in the water around us? What do they look like when they are growing?

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Kindergarten
Location: Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Activity 3E: Marine/Freshwater Animal or Plant Riddle

Students create riddles based on marine or freshwater animals, using research to craft clues, and present their work in a display or celebration to engage others in guessing and learning about aquatic life.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Activity 4: Field Trip Session

This 3-day investigation includes a 1-3 hour field trip. Students make predictions about where they will find plants and animals, and go to a field site to explore and test their predictions. Students conduct a detailed investigation of “one small square” at the field site. They share their findings and then make a detailed representation of their research “square” using drawings, notes, and labels.

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Grade 1
Location: Classroom, Large Space
Activity Type: Field Trip, Hands-On

Activity 4: Field Trip to a Local Habitat

Children go outdoors to explore a local habitat. They see, feel, and think about the living and nonliving things in the water. Science notebooks are used to gather information about what they find. Students use their background knowledge from prior classroom experiences, the initial field trip, classroom investigations, and other observations to notice and observe the living and nonliving things in their environment. Students have plenty of time to explore and discover before being asked to write and draw in their science notebooks.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Field Trip, Hands-On

Activity 5: Sharing What We Know

Children go outdoors to explore a local habitat. They see, feel, and think about the living and nonliving things in the water. Science notebooks are used to gather information about what they find. Students use their background knowledge from prior classroom experiences, the initial field trip, classroom investigations, and other observations to notice and observe the living and nonliving things in their environment. Students have plenty of time to explore and discover before being asked to write and draw in their science notebooks.

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Kindergarten
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Aquatic Habitats

Students identify specific traits of a habitat. They start with a familiar local habitat and then focus on aquatic habitats.

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Grade 2
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On, Project

Arctic Sea Ice Data

This 5-6 day investigation challenges students to think about how sea ice is changing and the effects of a warming climate on sea level in Alaska.

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Grade 8
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On

Bathymetric Mapping

This activity will help students understand the lines and colors found on a bathymetric map or chart. It introduces them to contour maps–both bathymetric and topographic–and it introduces them to the geologic features that many explorers study. Bathymetric mapping is a major part of many of the Ocean Explorer expeditions since our understanding of the ocean floor starts with knowing what it looks like.

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Grade 6
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On, Project

Canyons in the Sea

In this 5-7 day investigation, students learn about vehicles used to explore the sea. They then learn about two deep sea canyons in the Bering Sea and the variety of life found in these canyons. Finally, students create a mural of one of the canyons, and participate in a sampling simulation to determine life in the canyon.

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Grade 6
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Multimedia, Project

Changing Landscape

Changing Landscape asks students to analyze “repeat photographs” (taken from the same vantage point at different times) of Alaska glaciers to observe the effects of retreating glaciers on the landscape.

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Grade 8
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On, Multimedia

Density

Students engage in a variety of hands-on demonstrations and experiments that will help them to understand thermohaline circulation in the ocean. Introductory activity helps define density, then demonstrates the effects of temperature and salinity on density. Students design their own experiment to simulate ocean mixing.

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Grade 7
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On, Multimedia

Field Session

Using skills and background information they have developed through classroom experiences and the initial nature walk, students will go into the field to observe and measure local habitats. Students will begin by exploring the area, then do “timed counts” to get an idea of the observable organisms in the local environment. They will then focus individually on one small area to study.

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Grade 2
Location: Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On

Fish Finders

In this investigation, students explore the needs of salmon at each stage of their life cycle, and then go into the field to investigate a local aquatic habitat and its potential as salmon habitat. They observe the physical characteristics of a local area and determine whether they think it is sufficient to sustain salmon. NEW! Fish Finders investigation aligned with the NGSS.” and link to the NGSS-aligned Fish Finders.

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Grade 3
Location: Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On, Worksheet

Fishing for the Future

In this activity, students discuss how methods of fishing have changed, then play a game to explore the idea of sustainable fishing practice. They simulate fishery activity using increasingly sophisticated technology, in different ocean areas. As students progress through the fishing seasons, they will likely overfish their part of the ocean and will have to migrate to other places in the ocean to meet their basic needs.

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Grade 5
Location: Classroom, Large Space, Outside
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Glacier Game

Review the effects of retreating glaciers and increasing stream flows and erosion on river, coastal, and ocean ecosystems.

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Grade 8
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On

Habitats

In this activity, students begin their discovery of aquatic environments, and start to notice that water is all around them, in their neighborhoods, backyards, oceans, rivers, ponds, and creeks. They take a first look at “Our Big Blue Planet” with a globe game.

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Grade 2
Location:
Activity Type:

How Do Scientists Learn about Ecosystems?

In this 3-4 day investigation, students revisit the sea otter mystery story and discuss what scientists did to study sea otters in the Aleutians. They simulate the observation, identification, sampling, and counting methods used by scientists in two different activities, then reflect, discuss, and pose questions about scientific data collection.

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Grade 4
Location: Classroom, Outside
Activity Type: Hands-On, Project

Interconnections

In this 4-5 day investigation, students examine hypotheses and evidence related to the causes of the sea otter decline. They narrow down the hypotheses to one, then play a food web game to help them better understand relationships in the kelp bed ecosystem, and predict the outcome of an experiment to test the killer whale predation hypothesis. They put together some of the big ideas about interactions in ecosystems to come up with plausible explanations for the sea otter mystery. Finally, they evaluate whether the hypothesis has been proven. They reflect on their learning by diagramming the sea otter’s food web and predicting what might happen if parts of the ecosystem changed.

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Grade 4
Location: Large Space
Activity Type: Game, Project

Mapping the Sea Floor

This activity leads students through a process of creating a model of the ocean floor, taking depth “soundings,” entering data into an Excel spreadsheet, and then creating a 3-D map of their ocean floor in Excel.

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Grade 6
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On, Project

Ocean Impacts

In this investigation, students will work in small groups to research a current issue related to human interaction with the ocean, using Internet and library resources. They will communicate the facts about their issue on a poster, participate in a poster viewing session, and ask questions about the information presented on the other posters created by members of their class.

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Grade 5
Location: Classroom, Outside
Activity Type: Project

Searching for Sounds in the Sea

This 3-day investigation begins with students listening to a variety of underwater sounds, and deciding if the sound was made by an animal or something else. They learn about sound and how sound works in water, and about a researcher in the Bering Sea who is using sound to study the North Pacific right whale. Students learn about hydrophones and participate in an activity that simulates the use of hydrophones. Finally, they learn about spectrograms and try to identify animals by looking at the spectrograms and listening to the associated sounds.

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Grade 6
Location:
Activity Type: Game, Hands-On, Project

The Excitement of Exploration

Students begin this 3-4 day investigation with a discussion and activity centered around seven traditional reasons that people explore. Then they go on an imaginary journey to the unknown. Once the journey is over, the students are given clues to discover that their trip was in a manned submersible in the Bering Sea. They learn about a researcher who is actually studying the Bering Sea in a submarine, then watch and discuss a video featuring underwater explorer Robert Ballard. As a final activity in this investigation, students research past and present ocean explorers and share their discoveries, inventions, or research.

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Grade 6
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Multimedia, Project

The Legend of the Bidarki

Students develop an understanding of interconnections among the ocean, humans, and other living things through a case study of harvesting bidarki (katy chitons) in the Alaska Native villages of Port Graham and Nanwalek. They reflect on their own connections to the ocean.

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Grade 5
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Project

The Missing Sea Otters

In this 4-5 day investigation, students begin by reading a mystery story about sea otters in the Aleutian Islands, and examining an accompanying population graph. They identify information that they will need to help them solve the missing sea otter mystery, and explore ecological relationships in the sea otter environment using Web sites, video clips, and readings. Information is shared with the class and/or summarized on clue cards, and students then create murals showing the sea otter/kelp bed ecosystem.

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Grade 4
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On, Multimedia, Project

Transparency/Turbidity

Students construct a mini Secchi disk to investigate transparency and the effects of increased turbidity from the increased flows as glaciers melt on aquatic and marine ecosystems.

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Grade 8
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On

Waves in the Water

In this 7-10 day investigation, students develop an understanding of waves and tides and their motion through discussion, demonstration, and hands-on investigation. They demonstrate wave motion in containers, and create marigrams to show local tide data and to compare tide patterns from different parts of the world. They use their knowledge to consider whether waves or tides could account for the movement of the bath toys to their final locations.

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Grade 7
Location: Classroom
Activity Type: Hands-On, Project, Worksheet