Using simple objects including a paper cup and pitcher, students can observe the relationship of water pressure and depth. Students should punch two holes in a paper cup, one above the other, and pour water from the pitcher into the cup. By observing that water squirts farther from the bottom hole, students discover that water pressure increases with depth as more weight is applied from above.
Students can work in groups to research one aspect of a larger topic, such as, "What do oceanographers do?" Each group should gather information on its part of the topic and "teach" it to the other groups through oral and multimedia presentations. Once all groups have contributed their pieces to the topic puzzle, all students should write a summary of the information the class has gathered.
Research projects on oceanography and well-known oceanographers develop writing and research skills in addition to teaching content about oceanography and marine life. In groups or individually, students can learn about important discoveries in oceanography or research the biographies of oceanographers and present their findings to the class through oral presentations or posters.
Creativity and facts come together in role-playing activities which provide practice in critical thinking, synthesis and language skills. Incorporating facts from research on marine life and oceanography, students create scenarios in which they role-play marine animals. More complex versions of this activity can include making costumes and sets, developing scripts or creating videos of the presentation to share online.