Kim Mongoven

The following is four weeks (approximately 120 hours) worth of thematically integrated lesson plans centered around the ocean. Each individual week contains a sub-theme dealing with a general interest area concerning the ocean.

Week 1

The first week deals with planet Earth. In order to learn about the oceans, which comprise approximately 71% of the Earth's surface area, it is necessary to "put things in perspective." The week begins with an examination of the solar system. By examining Earth's neighbors, the students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the unique planet Earth. Next, the focus shifts from the entire solar system to earth, in particular, the oceans with an examination of the water with water activities. Then, the focus shifts to how water affects the environment of planet Earth. By learning how the oceans formed and the importance of water, students will be able to look at the earth's environment from a new point of view.

The second week focuses on the importance of the ship. This week of study will introduce students to various types of ships used today and ships that have been used throughout history. Students will travel to a ship building company to talk to engineers and to see the process of ship building in action. After seeing a real ship under construction, students will have the opportunity to create their own model of a ship and test its buoyancy. The students will be responsible for designing a floor plan which spans the inside of a ship. Other aspects of life on a ship, like careers and the importance of physical fitness, will also be introduced. This week will encourage students to expand their current ideas of transportation to include the important role that shipping plays in everyday life.

The third week will focus on the Age of Exploration. To learn more about the various Spanish and Portuguese explorers and to strengthen research skills, the students will develop a research project to be presented at the end of the week. Through this, students will learn more about the reasons behind each country's exploration. Literature circles will meet during the week to read a book dealing with exploration. A final weekly project will be the creation of a class newspaper. This week will also provide activities for mapping and tracing the explorers' voyages. Lessons about the formation of gold, health and nutrition on a ship, and navigation using the stars will be included. The week will conclude with a discussion of present day exploration of space and the ocean floor.

The fourth week is about pirates and how pirates have affected shipping, exploration, and law development. It includes lessons on Treasure Island, the morality of piracy, and how pirates affected life on the ocean and laws that govern ocean travel. Through exploring aspects of piracy we can also discern a bit about the time period and what life was like in the Caribbean and other port cities.

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