Explore the Deep Oceans

This six-day unit provides an in-depth look at deep sea vents. Throughout the unit, students collect their findings in a portfolio. The comprehensive curriculum materials contain teacher tools, which include individually downloadable readings, detailed daily breakdowns of tasks with strategies for using the activities, a portfolio grading sheet, a project rubric sheet, and additional readings. In addition, there are three hands-on experiments, which look at how pressure affects water flow, how temperature changes water density, and how submarines are engineered. The site also has five eyewitness accounts of the expedition, called Dispatches from the Deep, which bring the sights, sounds, and research findings to life and a question and answer interview with a marine geologist that provides insight into her research and this exciting area of scientific discovery. Educational levels: High school, Middle school