Ocean Acidification for Educators

UAF scientist Amanda Kelley discusses factors that influence changes in ocean pH with students on St. Lawrence Island. Photo: Yuri Built-Ito
The following selected curriculum on ocean acidification has been deemed relevant in Alaska. We are working on additional curricula that highlights Alaska’s unique water chemistry and OA drivers. If you have a K-12 educational resource you’d like to share, email dugan@aoos.org. We welcome submissions from teachers and scientists.
NEW: An ocean acidification teaching kit with hands-on experiments for Alaska middle school and high school classrooms. The kits are available for check-out. Learn about the kit.
Topic | Grade Level | Type of Resource | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere | Various | Narrated PPT and video | Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere Ocean Acidification Science Presentation (Dr. Gledhill) |
Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere | Various | Video | OA Introduction and demonstrations (Dr. Jane Lubchenko) |
Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere | Various | Video | Ocean Acidification: The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem / The Acid Test |
Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere | Various | Article with image of chemical equation | “Ocean acidification” |
Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere | Various | Articles | “Ocean Acidification – From Ecological Impacts to Policy Opportunities” |
Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere | Various | Article | “The Dangers of Ocean Acidification” (Scientific American) |
Intro to OA as a problem related to increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere | Various | Article | “Oceans of Acid: How Fossil Fuels Could Destroy Marine Ecosystems” (WGBH Nova) with Teacher Guide/Student Comprehension Questions |
The pH scale and how pH is measured | Grades 9-12 | Lesson Plan | The Power of pH (Monterey Bay Aquarium) |
CO2 increases the acidity of water | Grades 8-12 | Simple demos video intro | Introduction to demos for educators |
CO2 increases the acidity of water | Grades 8-13 | PowerPoint for students to introduce demos | Can be downloaded from Washington Sea Grant website |
CO2 increases the acidity of water | Grades 8-14 | Demo for teachers | A Tale of Two Acids video + demo protocol (WA Sea Grant) |
CO2 increases the acidity of water | Grades 8-15 | Demo for teachers | Hold Your Breath video + demo protocol (WA Sea Grant) |
CO2 increases the acidity of water | Grades 8-16 | Demo for teachers | Crossing Thresholds video + demo protocol (WA Sea Grant) |
The pH of sea water Relationship of pH of sea water to (soluble) CO2 Relationship of alkalinity and pH of sea water to soluble CO2 and tolerance range of most organisms that live in the salt water | High school | Lab | Is sea water more like lemons or bleach? (OCB Lab Kit) |
The pH of sea water Relationship of pH of sea water to (soluble) CO2 Relationship of alkalinity and pH of sea water to soluble CO2 and tolerance range of most organisms that live in the salt water | High school | Lab | OA – Wet Lab (From Mark VanArsdale, Anchorage School District) |
The pH of sea water Relationship of pH of sea water to (soluble) CO2 Relationship of alkalinity and pH of sea water to soluble CO2 and tolerance range of most organisms that live in the salt water | High school | Lab | OA in a Cup (OCB Lab Kit) |
Temperature affects the rate of chemical reactions and the solubility of CO2 in water; colder waters absorb and retain higher concentrations of CO2 | Middle School | Lab + video | Can Gases Dissolve in Water? (American Chemical Society) |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 8-12 | Image (includes chemical equation) | How Will Changes in Ocean Chemistry Affect Marine Life? |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 8-12 | Video demo | OA Intro and demonstrations (Dr. Jane Lubchenko) |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 4-8 | Demo for teachers | Shells on Acid video + demo protocol (WA Sea Grant) |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 4-9 | Lab Experiment | I’m Melting! Seashells in Acid (OCB Lab Kit)Ocean |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 4-10 | Experiment | Acidification Experiment: Impact of Carbonated Water on Mussel and Oyster Shells |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 4-11 | Lab Experiment | Demonstrating the effects of OA on marine organisms (grades 6-9) |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 8-12 | Video | Ocean Acidification: The Other Carbon Dioxide Problem (impacts to pteropods highlighted) |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 8-13 | Video | Acid Oceans (impacts and research on sea urchins highlighted) |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Grades 8-14 | Video animation | Pteropod shell dissolving interactive |
Impacts of OA on calcifying marine species | Middle school | Lab + video | Forming a Precipitate (ACS) (Foundational concept) |
Some shell-building marine animals in Alaska ocean waters are not adapted to grow well in a more acidic ocean. They grow more slowly or may not reproduce as successfully. Fewer young animals may survive to adulthood. Other shell-building animals have adaptations that protect them from the effects of higher levels of ocean acidification. OA can have negative effects on animals that people eat and on the industries that harvest shellfish. | Grades 6 and up | Poster | Impacts of OA on Alaska Fish and Shellfish (Alaska OA Network) |
Some shell-building marine animals in Alaska ocean waters are not adapted to grow well in a more acidic ocean. They grow more slowly or may not reproduce as successfully. Fewer young animals may survive to adulthood. Other shell-building animals have adaptations that protect them from the effects of higher levels of ocean acidification. OA can have negative effects on animals that people eat and on the industries that harvest shellfish. | Grades 6 and up | Interactive tool and virtual lab | Virtual Urchin Part 1. An interactive tool with overview of how CO2 in the air and pH in the ocean are connected and can affect the cycle of marine life. Part 2. Enter a virtual lab bench set up experiments. Students go through all the steps.Part 2. Enter a virtual lab bench set up experiments. Students go through all the steps. |
Some shell-building marine animals in Alaska ocean waters are not adapted to grow well in a more acidic ocean. They grow more slowly or may not reproduce as successfully. Fewer young animals may survive to adulthood. Other shell-building animals have adaptations that protect them from the effects of higher levels of ocean acidification. OA can have negative effects on animals that people eat and on the industries that harvest shellfish. | Grades 6 and up | Article | An Upwelling Crisis: Ocean Acidification (effects on oysters) |
People can use science to monitor changes in ocean acidification | Various | Article | A more acidic Arctic? NOAA deploys first buoy in region to monitor levels of CO2 absorbed by ocean. |
People can use science to monitor changes in ocean acidification | Various | Article + data | Gulf of Alaska OA Mooring – GAKOA |
People can use science to monitor changes in ocean acidification | Various | Article + data | Northern Gulf of Alaska OA Mooring – Kodiak OA |
People can use science to monitor changes in ocean acidification | Various | Article + data | Southeastern Bering Sea OA Mooring – M2 OA |
People can use science to design experiments to observe the effects of increased ocean acidification on different species at different life stages. | Various | Articles | Gulf of Alaska OA Research Projects (NOAA Ocean Acidification Program) |
People can modify their activities to avoid negative impacts of ocean acidification. | Various | Article | How Washington Transformed Its Dying Oyster Industry Into A Climate Success Story |
People can use technology to reduce the effects of OA. | Various | Lab | Oceanic Absorption - Oceanic Sequestration (Keystone Science School) |
Linkage of human activities to OA | Various | Animation | OA Animation (Hawaii) |
Linkage of human activities to OA | Various | Problem-solving Activity | International Student Carbon Footprint Challenge |
Other concepts | Various | Lesson Plan | Parts per Million (serial dilution of food coloring) |
Regulation of ocean pH | Grades 6-8 | Lesson plan | Exploring the complexity of ocean acidification |
Topic | Grade Level | Type of Resource | Description |
Additional Resources
“Ask a Scientist” series
The Alaska OA Network’s video series where scientists answer a question about ocean acidification in 5 minutes or less.
Ocean Acidification Curriculum Collection
A searchable collection of links to existing lesson plans, units, and supplemental materials on ocean acidification. Filter by category, activity type, OA principle, key word, or grade level to see a brief overview and link to comprehensive information.
NOAA’S Ocean Acidification Program webinar series
Sharing Ocean Acidification Resources for Communicators and Educators (SOARCE) is a webinar series that shares education and communication tools to promote an integrated and effective ocean acidification education community. Scroll down this page to find upcoming webinars.
NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program curriculum collection
Educational resources for the high school classroom, including hands-on demos, lab activities, and lesson plans. This site also shares interactive multimedia, videos, powerpoint presentations, and age-appropriate journal articles.