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dekalb.dc.peachnet.edu/~pgore/students/f95/starmoss/coral.htm There are many different kinds of coral reefs, but all of them support special types of ecosystems. They may be made up of algae, mollusks, or special animals called coral. An atoll is a ring of coral that encloses a circular lagoon. Most often, atolls are formed on the crater of a volcano that has sunk below the surface of the sea. Read more about the world of the coral at this site.
www.eduplace.com/rdg/gen_act/ocean/wave.html Water doesn't make its own waves; wind stirs up those waves and swells! If you have ever sailed, you know that the windier the day, the more waves there are. Through some simple experiments designed with kids in mind, you can use a fan and marbles to create waves and model the movement of energy through water. These activities should help you sailors remember that the wind in your sail also causes the waves beneath your boat!
"1998 is the Year of the Ocean - Get into it!" So begins a site with a sea of information and activities designed to "wet" your imagination. You'll find fun science as well as fun coloring books. Don't miss the "Adopt a Buoy" (or maybe a gull?) section to see photos of marine weather station buoys and learn how you can get real-time wave, temperature, and other readings from around the world. Speaking of reading, enjoy the story "The Whale and the Plover" in English or Hawaiian.
seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/ocean_planet.html How many forests grow in the deep sea? Plenty -- there are forests made of kelp and other seaweed. These kelp forests are home to many sea creatures, just like the trees on land that shelter and provide homes for many birds and animals. Kelp forests also need good-quality water to survive; pollution and over harvesting is a threat to them. Visit the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. This is their Ocean Planet exhibit, where you can read about the kelp forest and much more.
Victor the Vector is searching for his mother. Seems they caught different ocean currents, and he's traveling the seas to find her again. If you hitch a ride with Victor, you'll learn all about the great currents of the world and maybe a little bit about geography, too.
The ocean and the sky are sometimes known as the final frontiers. Now you can explore both at the same Web site. Take the Cousteau submersible to the ocean part of this resource, where you'll find photos and information about all sorts of sea creatures, everything from coral to marine mammals. Then stop in at the games areas to try some word searches, crossword puzzles, and Shockwave fun. There are some carefully chosen links, as well as Java applets with a sea theme, too. If you want, explore the "Sea" side of the house on the Starship Sagan!
If your teacher told your class to go get coats because you're going on a field trip, you'd probably be pretty excited, right? What if s/he led you right onto the deck of a tall ship and said to get comfortable because you are all going on a round-the-world cruise? Still interested? You're then told that your class is going to be the crew and that you'll be gone for months! That's exactly what happened to some high school kids, their teachers, and only a handful of actual, old salt crew members. You can follow some of the progress of their journeys on the Net for free. You can also sign on as a member, for a fee, and get access to more material.
This is a collection of reports to Congress that define the quality of U.S. lake, river, and stream water. The reports reveal findings about the different types of pollutants, such as metals and pesticides. There are sections on the sources of water pollution, ocean waters, wetlands, and ground water. The information is presented in graphics and text and is good material for a school project on water pollution. You can also find out about water quality in your state |
Coral Reefs