Ocean :: essays research papers

Oceans Disciplines: Science (Earth’s physical characteristics), Social Studies (Physical environments), English (Research), Math (Add or subtract using decimals and percents) Grade Level: 4th Grade Duration: Three weeks Description: An urban school setting consisting of mostly minority students in a general education classroom. Brainstorming Cognitive Map: (See attached paper) Content Overview:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The Ocean is the great body of water that covers 71 per cent of the earth’s surface. It is also referred to as the sea. The world is really one huge ocean, broken here and there by islands that we call continents. The ocean is so large that you can sail across it for days without seeing any land. It is also very deep with the bottom lying more than six miles below the surface. It is important to have an understanding of the ocean because it directly or indirectly affects all life on earth. Although we in the United States only get a small proportion of our food from the ocean, there are many nations that border the sea and depend highly on it. There are also many nations who are struggling for fresh water supplies. Although only a small amount of freshwater can be obtained from saltwater, scientists are working on new methods that will enable them to do so more efficiently. Other products like seaweed can be used to make many food products such as ice cream, candy, jellies, and salad dressing. More importantly, it is a vital ingredient in many medicinal products. The Sea is also a source of energy. And we someday will be able to use it to light our homes and run factories. There are five oceans in the world. The three great ones are the Pacific, Atlantic, and the Indian Ocean. The Pacific is the largest and deepest covering about a third of the earth’s surface. The word Pacific means peaceful yet some of the most disastrous storms on earth blow out of it. The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest body of water in the world. The main industrial nations lie on the coasts of it making it the most important ocean for trade. The Indian Ocean borders Australia, Africa, and the East Indies. The other two oceans the Arctic and Antarctic are at opposite ends of the world. The Arctic lies on top of the world north of Asia, Europe, and North America. The Antarctic Ocean surrounds Antarctica. The Ocean is home for all sorts of plants and animals.