omd21 Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Hello! DD12 and DD7 are very interested in focusing on Marine Biology this year. We live near the water and already spend a lot of time in the ocean. My DD12 has plans to get certified for diving. I would love to hear your ideas / suggestions on texts, living books, documentaries, museums, trips, etc. We want to cover this subject from an environmental science aspect as well, and would love to tie it into history if possible. A trip to the Bahamas is very doable for us as well. Just brainstorming, hoping for some guidance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomatHWTK Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 http://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/deals-of-the-week/?a=ocean-classrooms&c=1 This is basically an online textbook. I read the text to my kids and then add supplemental video. For instance, when we read about newly discovered species, I did a search and found video of those animals for us to watch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakpak Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Thornton Burgess's book would be a good start for the 7 year old http://www.amazon.com/Burgess-Seashore-Children-Childrens-Classics/dp/0486442535 I just went to St. John with some friends this summer, including 5 kids (ages 5-12). Ahead of time, the kids studied and learned coral reef systems, learned ~100 species of fish, how to conduct surveys, etc. By snorkeling, we did some easy site comparison studies, based on habitat complexity (eel grass bed versus coral/hard substrate and/or mangroves). It was fairly straight-forward to compare # species and biodiversity indices. The older kids did the more complex analyses, and the younger ones made graphs. Each wrote up a lab report, with my scribing for the younger ones. They did a surprisingly good job! You could easily do this anywhere the water is clear enough. You could pick a few habitats along the edges of the ocean and compare abundance/diversity. Invertebrates and fish are going to be the easiest to work with, compared to birds/mammals, but it depends on if you can get out to the gulf stream in a boat or are just kayaking around the shoreline. Not sure if your 12 year old would be interested in Rachel Carson's The Edge of the Sea, or I see she also co-wrote The Sea Around Us, which I haven't read. It would be a great way to tie in air/water quality and determine which species are great indicators of healthy waters. Also a good time to learn about watersheds, and where the water comes up (take a trip inland to the headwaters of a river...so different!!) Looks like here's a neat resource: http://theoceanproject.org/action/book/2008april.php Sounds like an awesome year ahead! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 Are you near a rocky intertidal zone, or just a sandy beach? There are heaps of good experiments you could do if it is a rocky intertidal. My ds did an oceanography project at age 11 that might interest you. I wrote it up week by week as we did it. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/361740-scientific-inquiry/ Ruth in NZ 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted August 12, 2015 Share Posted August 12, 2015 The Marine Biology coloring book is great, and very detailed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omd21 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 These are great suggestions, thank you! I'm going to investigate them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omd21 Posted August 13, 2015 Author Share Posted August 13, 2015 Are you near a rocky intertidal zone, or just a sandy beach? There are heaps of good experiments you could do if it is a rocky intertidal. My ds did an oceanography project at age 11 that might interest you. I wrote it up week by week as we did it. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/361740-scientific-inquiry/ Ruth in NZ We are in South FL, so we have both, but predominantly sandy beaches, although I believe there are some rocky intertidal areas close to us in the FL keys. We often go to a natural beach that has a fair amount of rocky areas, lots of crab and tiny fish and shrimp. I'm going to go read your report now, thank you so much! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted August 13, 2015 Share Posted August 13, 2015 David Attenborough's Blue Planet was a firm favourite with my boys. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waa510 Posted August 14, 2015 Share Posted August 14, 2015 I saw oceanclassrooms.com on homeschoolbuyerscoop recently. 50% discount on classes and the Ocean Literacy course is free. I was considering using it for my marine biology-obsessed oldest. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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