Density

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.

Waves in the Water

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.

Weather and Circulation Systems

Weather and Circulation Systems

In this 5-day investigation, students develop an understanding that the large ocean circulations affecting Alaska mimic major weather patterns. They begin by creating and observing wave and riffle patterns and motions of objects in a tub. They plot possible current patterns on their map and organize meteorological data to determine how well wind patterns match their predictions.

Where Did the Rubber Bath Toys Go?

Where Did the Rubber Bath Toys Go?

This is an introductory investigation to be done in one class period. Students read a true story about bath toys that fell off a container ship and washed up on beaches around the world. Using a world map, they identify, locate, and record the dates and places where the toys were found. Finally, they write a hypothesis about how the rubber toys made their way to the various locations identified.