Oceanography Careers: A MS Earth Science Lesson

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Kelly Galbraith, Tricia Schafebook

Title of Lesson: Career of Interest in Oceanography

Course Name: Earth Science

Grade Level: 8

Author’s Name: Tricia Schafebook

Author’s School District: Northern Lebanon School District

PA Academic Standards for Science and Technology
3.5. Earth Sciences
3.5.7.D.  Explain the behavior and impact of the earth’s water systems.
  • Explain the water cycle using the processes of evaporation and condensation.
  • Describe factors that affect evaporation and condensation.
  • Distinguish salt from fresh water (e.g., density, electrical conduction).
  • Compare the effect of water type (e.g., polluted, fresh, salt water) and the life contained in them.
  • Identify ocean and shoreline features, (e.g., bays, inlets, spit, tidal marshes).
PA Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology
4.1.  Watersheds and Wetlands
4.1.7.A.  Explain the role of the water cycle within a watershed.
  • Explain the water cycle.
  • Explain the water cycle as it relates to a watershed.
4.1.7.B.  Understand the role of the watershed.
  • Identify and explain what determines the boundaries of a watershed.
  • Explain how water enters a watershed.
  • Explain factors that affect water quality and flow through a watershed.
4.1.7.C.  Explain the effects of water on the life of organisms in a watershed.
  • Explain how water is necessary for all life.
  • Explain how the physical components of aquatic systems influence the organisms that live there in terms of size, shape and physical adaptations.
  • Describe the life cycle of organisms that depend on water.
  • Identify organisms that have aquatic stages of life and describe those stages.
4.3.  Environmental Health
4.3.7.B.  Describe how human actions affect the health of the environment.
  • Identify land use practices and their relation to environmental health.
  • Explain how natural disasters affect environmental health.
  • Identify residential and industrial sources of pollution and their effects on environmental health.
  • Explain the difference between point and non-point source pollution.
  • Explain how non-point source pollution can affect the water supply and air quality.
  • Explain how acid deposition can affect water, soil and air quality.
  • Explain the relationship between resource use, reuse, recycling and environmental health.
PA Academic Standards for Career Education and Work
13.1. Career Awareness and Preparation
13.1.8.A.   Relate careers to individual interests, abilities, and aptitudes.
13.1.8.E.   Analyze the economic factors that impact employment opportunities, such as, but not limited to:
  • Competition
  • Geographic location
  • Global influences
  • Job growth
  • Job openings
  • Labor supply
  • Potential advancement
  • Potential earnings
  • Salaries/benefits
  • Unemployment
Learning Objectives
Students will
  • learn about different career opportunities in Oceanography fields.
  • research and form opinions about different careers.
  • compare various characteristics of careers such as: educational requirements, salaries, job requirements and duties, and skills for the job.
Conceptual Background
This lesson is included within a unit focused on Earth’s water systems.  
Instructional Procedure
5 MinutesAssignment Introduction and Requirements  
Teacher will provide and discuss examples of careers (like teaching and medical careers) that would demonstrate the topics the students will be researching.
35 MinutesStudents will research job information and complete attached Oceanography Careers Assignment document outlining key features of the job and personal interests in the job.
2 MinutesWrap Up
If students did not complete assignment, they should do so for homework.  Tomorrow we will discuss the different jobs and the skills that each require.  We will also discuss the importance of each of the jobs.
Formative Assessment
After completing the Oceanography Careers Assignment, students will discuss what they learned about the careers they found in order to compare them, and they will share their opinions about them.
Materials Needed
Laptops
Oceanography Careers Assignment
Website for Research:  https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/edu/oceanage/welcome.html
References
US Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.) Ocean Exploration Careers: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research. 


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