Oceans are a paradox in our world. On the one hand, they can be perceived as great barriers of distance on a planet where three-quarters of the surface area is covered by water. Deep and dark, oceans have been thought of as the home of cruel creatures and amphibious civilizations. On the other hand, oceans can be perceived as great bridges to cross in moving from one land mass to another. The oceans can be viewed as a wealth of resources to explore and harvest. As man's perception of the oceans has changed over the centuries, so has our use and treatment of them.

The original 1999 I.T. issue on oceans can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/innovative-teaching/message/186. Today's issue identifies new resources to add to your treasure chest of instructional possibilities. Thanks to Jerry B for sending in his recommendations. Enjoy!

• Friends of the Ocean - http://www.friendsoftheocean.org/
  Healthy Planet sponsors this program to adopt endangered dolphins, whales and sea turtles so that their species can be protected and allowed to thrive. For $20.00 you can sponsor one of four kinds of dolphins, twenty different whales, and five different types of turtles. For your donation, your class will receive an 18" x 24" full color poster, a display envelope, an informational brochure, a bumper sticker an official sponsorship certificate and a one-year newsletter subscription. beneficiaries of your donation are the International Wildlife Coalition, the Earth Island Institute an the Caribbean Conservation Corporation.
• Ocean Ambassadors - http://www.oneocean.org/ambassadors/track_a_turtle/
  Track turtles on this page by analyzing the data collected. "Using satellite telemetry, this site tracks the green turtles of the Turtle Islands the border of Sabah, Malaysia and Tawi-Tawi, Philippines. The tracking results tell some very interesting stories about these endangered species' time around the islands and their migration." As of August 29th they've lost track of the turtles, but the site remains updated and ready to receive additional data as it becomes available.
• Ocean Oasis Field Guide - http://www.oceanoasis.org/fieldguide/index.html
  This website celebrates the new IMAX film "The Ocean Oasis" with a field guide of all kinds of aquatic animals that live in the Pacific near the Baja peninsula. There are some 50 different animals and twenty kinds of flora showcased here with detailed information from the San Diego Natural History Museum. You'll also want to examine the Teacher's Guide, which is full of activities with correlations to the National Science Education Content Standards and a helpful bibliography of books for the classroom.
• Ocean of Know - http://artcontext.com/~ocean/home.html
  Touting itself as an "on-line biology lab and lesson plan, where tele-students can read about a topic and then participate in scientific experiments," Oceans of Know strives to redefine how marine biology is taught in the schools. While the interactive component appears to be down, the section on sharks is quite well-developed with lesson plans and information ready to use in the classroom. High interest topics like how sharks are tagged are text-heavy but worthwhile in the hands of a skilled teacher.
• Oceans and Law of the Sea - http://www.un.org/Depts/los/index.htm
  The United Nations presents this site on the 1982 convention and the resulting international support for its enforcement. It includes subsequent actions taken since its implementation in 1994 and related environmental issues before the U.N. If your middle or secondary students are studying the oceans, this site can help bring home the ramifications for international agreement on human conduct with regard to their upkeep.
• Pacific Ocean - http://library.thinkquest.org/15931/
  This ThinkQuest entry strives to be the most comprehensive stop on the Internet for information on the Pacific. Wim Wisselink of the Netherlands and Willem Avé of Pennsylvania worked together to complete this impressive site, including a close-up look at the Hawaiian islands and the ring of fire. Topics are rich with data and include plants, animals, biomes, weather, currents and shipping routes. There's a tour that provides a historical and scientific context for the Pacific, although it is pretty text heavy. The images are great and the navigation is easy - a dream resource for student research!
• Planet Ocean - http://school.discovery.com/schooladventures/planetocean/index.html
  Discovery School presents this nicely formatted look at the ocean with specific treatment of the blue whale, the barracuda and the tubeworm. Quick and concise, this site offers children a "big picture" view of the role the oceans play in life on Earth and the unique participation of some of its inhabitants. Students can listen to the song of the blue whale, click on pop-up amazing facts and vote for their favorite marine megastars as they explore this elementary appropriate site. There are correlations to the National Science Education Standards and tips on how to make the best use of this site in the classroom.
• Secrets @ Sea - http://www.secretsatsea.org/
  Part of the Engaging Science project, Secrets @ Sea is a Shockwave based four chapter adventure in which students must collect creature cards to successfully complete the simulation. Students are drawn into an examination of unusual behaviors being exhibited by a whale population and challenged to figure out the cause of the problem. There's a notebook and field guide to help them in their work and the simulation is full of humor and personalities. Ideal for upper elementary and middle schoolers.
• Underwater Flyby - http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/oceanography_flyby.html
  "NASA scientists have created a two-minute animated tour under the Pacific Ocean, based on real data about the sea floor's peaks and valleys. Submerge near Hawaii, run like a submarine to Japan, and finally dive to the ocean's deepest point, between Japan and New Guinea." There are eight mpeg video clips here no larger than 1.4 megs each, including Hawaiian Overflight, Splashdown, Swimming with the Dolphins and A Journey through the Trench.
• Underwater World - http://www.brainpop.com/science/plantsandanimals/underwater/
  Brain Pop presents Cassie and Rita's animated expedition below the surface of the ocean. There's a discussion of the different zones of the ocean using accurate terminology and images. Students can experiment with Bob the ex-lab rat, ask Tim and Moby, and check out the How to with Gary and Gary. There's a printable activity page kids can send in to Brain Pop, and students can earn points (each part of a section is 20 points and a whole section is 100 points) and be registered for prize raffles and the chance to have your name mentioned in an upcoming brain Pop movie!
• Virtual Ocean - http://www.euronet.nl/users/janpar/virtual/ocean.html
  Part of the larger "Introduction to Microscopy" site, this page offers brilliant images of microscopic marine life for students to study. Click on one of the front-page animals and begin a gallery exhibition of different images and information on the creature. From bristle worms to sea squirts, we can all learn more about ocean life from this intriguing page!
• What's it Like Where You Live? - http://mbgnet.mobot.org/salt/index.htm
  This site nicely covers coastal marine life, temperate and tropical oceans with all kinds of hard science data, close-ups on marine animals, underwater geography and the interaction between humanity and ocean life. The recommended links are also very helpful in extending your class's ocean studies. Ideal for upper elementary and middle schoolers, this site is sure to please both visually and in terms of substance.
  
  

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