Tracking Ocean Animals-Animals in Curriculum Based Ecosystem Studies (ACES)

Signals of Spring — ACES will capture the interest of your middle and high school students as they learn science in the context of the ocean, with high-quality curriculum-based activities and NOAA remote sensing data. Track animals through NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries, including Cordell Bank.

Track ocean animals while learning about issues that may affect them.

Explore here:

http://signalsofspring.net/aces/

Find out about upcoming workshops here: http://signalsofspring.net/aces/about.cfm

Activity: Investigating an Underwater Habitat by Submersible

Background info:
Students learn about habitat characterization and monitoring a deep habitat inaccessible by SCUBA. Students watch video footage taken on a submersible cruise at Cordell Bank NMS and count species abundance.

Download activity files here:

Activity
ID Guide
Intro Slide show as PDF

This activity requires a supplemental DVD/ or VHS tape of video transects, email jennifer.stock@noaa.gov to receive a copy.

Sanctuary Marine Life Encyclopedia

Learn about Cordell Bank and the other National Marine Sanctuaries, through the online encyclopedia, by clicking the image above.

Albatross Activity (uses Geography, Biology, Investigation and Experimentation, Data Analysis skills)

Background info:

Black-footed Albatross consider Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary and its surrounding waters a fine destination for the abundant food resources. This migration activity uses data from a tagging study to demonstrate the incredible migratory paths these species makes during breeding season. Activity includes; glossary of terms, background information, maps, data, and questions/answers for teachers. Click here (1.4MB) to download an Albatross Migration activity aligned to CA State Standards.

Albatross Natural History Slideshow with Script
This Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow gives an overview of natural history facts about black-foot and Laysan Albatrosses. Accompanied by a script, this slideshow is in PowerPoint and HTML formats, and is available on CD. To request a CD, email jennifer.stock@noaa.gov to receive a copy in the mail.

Slideshow available as s pdf file, To download click here. (1.5MB PDF)
Download the slideshow script here. (92KB PDF)

Every Square Inch Counts is an activity that compares the rocky intertidal habitats of Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary to the subtidal benthic habitat in Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Download the Activity and supporting materials below:

Downloads:
Activity: Every Square Inch Counts (28KB PDF)
Intertidal ID Cards (480KB PDF)
Rocky Intertidal Data Sheet and Answers (36KB PDF)

Intertidal Photo Quadrat 1 (216KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 2 (380KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 3 (368KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 4 (316KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 5 (368KB JPG)
Intertidal Photo Quadrat 6 (332KB JPG)

Subtidal ID Cards (3.5MB PDF)
Subtidal photo data sheet/answer guide (68KB PDF)
Subtidal photo A 8.5x14in (1.5MB PDF)
Subtidal photo B 8.5x14in (1.1MB PDF)
Subtidal photo C 8.5x14in (1.1MB PDF)
Subtidal photo D 8.5x14in (676KB PDF)

There is an introductory Powerpoint Presentation to go (with this activity), for a copy contact jennifer.stock@noaa.gov

Teachers practicing the "Each One Teach One" activity Credit: JStock/CBNMS	Students counting invertebrates from a lifesize picture Credit: JStock/CBNMS

"Each One Teach One" is a simple technique for imparting small pieces of understanding to a group-one student at a time. Each student confronts new information, learns it and then is empowered to teach it to each other student. It allows the teacher rare one-on-one instructional time and lets you select "lessons" appropriate to particular student learning styles, energy levels and personalities. Click here for full activity and downloads of activity cards.