NOAA Data in the Classroom: Understanding Ocean and Coastal Acidification

Data in the Classroom, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Through the five lessons in this module, students will explore relationships between carbon dioxide, ocean pH, and aragonite saturation state. By examining these parameters using interactive graphs and models, students can predict whether ocean conditions support the growth and survival of shell-building marine life, both now and in the future.

Click to View

Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

At the end of Level 1, students predict pH, additing a pH scale on the right side of the graph. Teachers may want to tell students to limit their range way down from 1-14, to a range of approximately 8 - 8.5, such that they are able to interpret the change over time. During Level 4, teachers may need to review how to interpret whiskers plots. It may be helpful to introduce students to solution pathways after they understand the issue because the lesson focuses heavily on describing problems. While climate is mentioned multiple times in the lessons, it is not the focus of this unit. Teachers may want to spend time working through climate connections. This module can be taught entirely through an online format and is best used with share-screen and breakout room features. To extend the activity, teachers may want to encourage students to think about other marine organisms that may be affected by ocean acidification and investigate how other regions in the world have adjusted to these changing conditions. This resource could be paired with hands-on investigations of pH in local water sources or in commonly known liquids. It may be difficult for students to understand the exponential nature of the pH scale, so teachers should confirm an understanding of this concept so that students appreciate that small differences in ocean pH can have a very significant impact. This lesson is data-focused, so teachers may want to bring in additional stories and/or experts to discuss the human and cultural impacts of what ocean acidification changing marine life could mean.
This cumulative resource from NOAA uses a series of 5 lessons in the module about Ocean Acidification to explore and build on concepts in the pH, the carbon cycle, anthropogenic contributions to climate change, and ocean acidification. Students will also learn about the impacts of ocean acidification on oysters in the Pacific Northwest. Students will practice scientific skills by creating predictions and then using graph interpretations to evaluate their hypothesis with a case study on ocean acidification along two different coasts using real data from NOAA monitoring programs. Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.
This resource uses a variety of videos, text, quiz questions, worksheets, data simulations, and independent investigation to teach concepts in ocean acidification. This variety may appeal to different learning styles. Data simulations provide an appropriate amount of information for the target audience and lesson scope. There are no specific prerequisites, however students will benefit from having a basic understanding of chemistry concepts like the pH scale. A teacher and student guide are available in addition to an answer key.
All embedded links are in working order when accessed through Google Chrome. The amount of data presented in simulations is appropriate for the audience. This lesson is technically sound. Depending on internet speed, teachers may want to consider pre-loading data or using handouts instead of online resources.