Volume 2: How Do We Explore?
NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer: Education Materials Collection

Okeanos control room; Deep Discoverer ROV; multibeam; CTD

Jump to section:

Full Book  |  Book Preface  |  Introduction  |  Telepresence  |  Multibeam Sonar  |  Water Column Investigations  |  Underwater Robots  |  Resources & Standards

 


 

Volume 2 of the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection – How Do We Explore? begins with an introductory section that sets the stage for the exploration strategy of the Okeanos Explorer. The book is divided into sections based on the modern exploration tools used aboard the ship: telepresence, multibeam sonar, water column investigations, and underwater robots.

Some of these lessons have been adapted from lessons previously developed for other expeditions supported by the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, while others have been created specifically for the Okeanos Explorer education initiative. Whenever possible, hands-on activities are included that involve manipulations other than paper-and-pencil exercises or web-based research. The reason for doing this is that field science, and exploration in particular, depend heavily upon technology and problem-solving skills needed to create, use, and advance new technology.

Each lesson in this volume supports the Next Generation Science Standards and the Ocean Literacy Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts . This does not necessarily mean that a particular lesson fully develops the noted standards, principles, or concepts, but rather indicates that an educator may use the information in the lesson as a context or point of departure for addressing those standards.

Lessons also include links to other relevant lesson plans from the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, as well as the OceanExplorer.NOAA.gov website. Educators who use the Okeanos Explorer Education Materials Collection should regularly check the website for the latest information about new education offerings and professional development opportunities.

 


 

Book Version

Access the entire How Do We Explore? book (pdf, 8.5 Mb)

 

PDF files of Individual Lessons

**Individual lessons flagged below were recently updated. The updated versions are not reflected in the full Book Version (above). For the most recent versions, download the individual lesson PDFs below.

Please note that while each of the following lessons is targeted toward a specific grade level, most can be adapted for use in other grades as well.

 

Introduction

  • How Do We Explore? Introduction

    This section includes: Table of Contents, An Introduction from the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research Director of Education, and an Overview of the Collection by the How Do We Explore? Lesson Developer.

Section 1: Introduction to Volume 2: How Do We Explore?

Section 2: Telepresence

Section 3: Multibeam Sonar

  • Introduction to Sonar and Multibeam Mapping**  |  Introducción al sonar multihaz

    Video Introduction to Multibeam Sonar

  • Lesson 3: Wet Maps**

    (Grades 5-6)

    Focus: Bathymetric mapping

    Students analyze and interpret data to explain how multibeam sonar is used to identify patterns of ocean floor structures, contruct three-dimensional maps, and understand how multibeam sonar technology extends the measurement and exploration capacity of modern ocean exploration. Addendum: Blank Wet Maps Graph, pg 62

    En español: Mapas múmedos

  • Lesson 4: Mapping the Deep-ocean Floor

    (Grades 7-8)

    Focus: Bathymetric mapping

    Students analyze and interpret data from the Okeanos Explorer to explain how multibeam sonar is used to identify patterns of ocean floor structures and how multibeam sonar technology extends the measurement and exploration capacity of modern ocean exploration.

  • Watching in 3-D Activity Package

    (Grades 9-12)

    Focus: Multibeam sonar/Bathymetric Mapping

    Students will learn how multibeam sonar is used to explore and study the shape and composition of the ocean floor and how to analyze and interpret maps of a variety of seafloor features using multibeam sonar data.

    Hands-on activity: Manipulate and analyze seafloor features using authentic mapping software

    This activity package provides: An overview of multibeam sonar, specific case studies with a variety of multibeam sonar 3D image files, guides for student exploration, and step-by-step usage tool guides for the Ocean Exploration Digital Atlas (a searchable, interactive expedition data map) and a free version of Fledermaus, a powerful 3D interactive mapping data visualization software used by ocean explorers.

  • Additional Mapping Technology Activities

    This activity gives students first-hand experience with using sound waves to measure distance, as well as an opportunity to learn problem-solving approaches and apply processes of engineering design.

Section 4: Water Column Investigations

Section 5: Underwater Robots

Resources and Standards

 


 

How Do We Explore? Online Professional Development

For more information and video introductions on Telepresence, Multibeam Mapping, Water Column Exploration and Underwater Robots, visit the online professional development offerings for How Do We Explore?, archived here.

 

For More Information

For more information, please contact the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research Education Team at: oceanexeducation@noaa.gov.