1. Establish student background on the ocean.
Show students a physical world map, and have volunteers point to an ocean. Ask: Has anyone been to an ocean? Can you point to it on the map? As a group, find the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans.
2. Students explore ocean boundaries on the World Physical MapMaker Kit.
Distribute the tabletop version of the World Physical MapMaker Kit to students in small groups, or use the MegaMap with the whole class. Ask students to draw the boundaries of each ocean on the map with markers. Have students work in groups to try to draw these lines. They may struggle, because there are no true lines separating oceans. In effect, there is really only one ocean. Discuss this finding with students. Ask: How can we say there are "four oceans" and also there is "one ocean"? Isn't that a contradiction? Why do you think maps typically name four oceans?"
3. Discuss issues of ocean stewardship.
Discuss implications of Earth’s one ocean and how this creates challenges for ocean stewardship. Water, animals, plants, pollution, and people travel throughout the world on this constantly moving body of water. Ask: What do you think this means for marine life, and for the use and care of the ocean? Talk about environmental and human implications, such as overfishing and water pollution, and potential impacts on ecosystems and people's food sources. Brainstorm ways the ocean's resources can be protected and conserved.
Extending the Learning
- Have students look at five to ten other bodies of water such as the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Phillippine Sea. Have students try to draw boundaries for them. Ask: What challenges do you think countries that need to share these bodies of water face? What challenges might there be in protecting all of these interconnected bodies of water?
Subjects & Disciplines
- Earth Science
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- explain how the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic Oceans are interconnected on Earth's surface
- explain that the Earth has one connected ocean
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Brainstorming
- Cooperative learning
- Discovery learning
- Discussions
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
-
Critical Thinking Skills
- Applying
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Geography Standards
- Standard 3: How to analyze the spatial organization of people, places, and environments on Earth's surface
- Standard 4: The physical and human characteristics of places
Ocean Literacy Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts
- Principle 1a: The ocean is the dominant physical feature on our planet Earth—covering approximately 70% of the planet’s surface. There is one ocean with many ocean basins, such as the North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian and Arctic.
- Principle 1h: Although the ocean is large, it is finite and resources are limited.
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Markers
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector
- Plug-Ins: Flash
Physical Space
- Classroom
Setup
Wall or floor space large enough to hang a giant map
Grouping
- Large-group instruction
- Small-group instruction
Other Notes
Print and assemble the map as a class or on your own before class. Use the assembly video provided to help with this process. If you do not have room for the large map, print several table top maps for the students to use in small groups.
Background Information
All of the oceans and seas on Earth are interconnected making one world ocean. Many boundaries that seemingly separate these bodies into separate entities are manmade for navigational or political reasons.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
Vocabulary
one of Earth's four oceans, bordered by Asia, Europe, and North America.
one of Earth's four oceans, separating Europe and Africa from North and South America.
management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect.
meaning or effect.
one of Earth's four oceans, bordered by Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica.
one of Earth's four oceans, bordered by North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Antarctica.
available supply of materials, goods, or services. Resources can be natural or human.
responsible management to ensure benefits are passed on to future generations.
flowing movement of water within a larger body of water.
introduction of harmful materials into a body of water.
Websites
Tips & Modifications
Tip
Laminate the individual sheets of the MapMaker Kit map so you can re-use it for several years.
Modification
You can adapt the activity for different MapMaker Kit sizes as needed for different settings.
Funder
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Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind (Coriolis Effect), and water density. Ocean water moves in two directions: horizontally and vertically. Horizontal movements are referred to as currents, while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings. This abiotic system is responsible for the transfer of heat, variations in biodiversity, and Earth’s climate system. Explore how ocean currents are interconnected with other systems with these resources.
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Hydrosphere
One of the main components of Earth’s interdependent physical systems is the hydrosphere. The hydrosphere is the sum of Earth’s water, in the ocean, the ground, on the surface, and in the air. Approximately 71 percent of Earth’s surface is covered in water. Of all of that water, only about three percent is freshwater. An even smaller amount can be used as drinking water. Water cycles throughout the system continuously as the sun’s radiation causes it to evaporate, rise into the atmosphere, condense, then fall as precipitation to be used or recycled. Teach your students about the Earth’s hydrosphere with the resources in this collection.
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Your Ocean
Students discuss a quote about the ocean and freewrite about the importance of the ocean and their daily connection to the ocean. Students map their location in relation to the ocean. Then they watch and discuss a video.
-
Our Interconnected Ocean
Students discuss the geography of the ocean and explore how the ocean has been categorized in the past and today.
-
The World Ocean
Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala reviews general facts about each ocean within the one world ocean.
-
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are the continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind (Coriolis Effect), and water density. Ocean water moves in two directions: horizontally and vertically. Horizontal movements are referred to as currents, while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings. This abiotic system is responsible for the transfer of heat, variations in biodiversity, and Earth’s climate system. Explore how ocean currents are interconnected with other systems with these resources.
-
Hydrosphere
One of the main components of Earth’s interdependent physical systems is the hydrosphere. The hydrosphere is the sum of Earth’s water, in the ocean, the ground, on the surface, and in the air. Approximately 71 percent of Earth’s surface is covered in water. Of all of that water, only about three percent is freshwater. An even smaller amount can be used as drinking water. Water cycles throughout the system continuously as the sun’s radiation causes it to evaporate, rise into the atmosphere, condense, then fall as precipitation to be used or recycled. Teach your students about the Earth’s hydrosphere with the resources in this collection.
-
Your Ocean
Students discuss a quote about the ocean and freewrite about the importance of the ocean and their daily connection to the ocean. Students map their location in relation to the ocean. Then they watch and discuss a video.
-
Our Interconnected Ocean
Students discuss the geography of the ocean and explore how the ocean has been categorized in the past and today.
-
The World Ocean
Explorer-in-Residence Enric Sala reviews general facts about each ocean within the one world ocean.