Exploring Marine Sanctuaries

Ocean Literacy Educational Materials

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Exploring Ocean Mysteries is a curriculum that makes it easy to teach the seven Ocean Literacy Principles while meeting NGSS, Common Core and Climate Literacy standards. Lessons are targeted to middle grades and adaptable for grades 4-12. They use the National Marine Sanctuary System as an engaging backdrop that helps students understand their importance for exploration, research, Indigenous cultures and more.


Ocean Literacy Essential Principle 1: Earth has one big ocean with many features.

In the Exploring Marine Sanctuaries lesson, students learn about the National Marine Sanctuary System by researching their habitats, species, physical features and cultural importance. They share their discoveries with the class in short presentations with visual aids. Students will understand there is a tremendous diversity of ocean environments and life forms. They will also realize features on the ocean floor are highly varied and discuss the importance of protecting special ocean areas.


Lesson Plan

Students will:

  • Synthesize information from multiple sources to create a presentation on a national marine sanctuary or marine national monument.
  • Describe various habitats and identify organisms living in and protected by the National Marine Sanctuary System.
  • List physical characteristics that define national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments.
  • Match clues about national marine sanctuaries with name/photo cards of them.
  • Describe human interactions with the ocean and explain the importance of protecting marine areas.

Preview of Exploring Marine Sanctuaries Lesson Plan

Where Am I? Cards

Ask students to form pairs or groups of 2–4. Pass out sets of “Where Am I?” cards so that each pair or group has a set. Ask the groups to try to match the clue cards with the sanctuary cards.

Preview of Where Am I? Cards

Exploring Marine Sanctuaries Handout

Pass out the Exploring National Marine Sanctuaries handout, one per student. Tell students they will be creating short presentations and maps about their chosen sanctuary. Explain that they will use online and/or print resources to learn more about their sanctuary and answer the questions on the handout.

Preview of Data Sheet: Sanctuaries of Deep-Sea Corals