Teach Science in an Ocean Context
Track LIVE Marine Animals in your Classroom!

The goal of NOAA-sponsored Signals of Spring — "ACES" [Animals in Curriculum-based Ecosystem Studies] is to improve environmental and ocean literacy and to capture the interest of your middle and high school students, grade 7 and higher. Students will learn science within the context of the ocean, with high-quality curriculum-based activities, as they use NOAA remote sensing data to develop authentic inquiry skills.

ACES is an important, necessary expansion of Signals of Spring, an award-winning, classroom-based curriculum-program in its 9th year, where in addition to learning formal science concepts, students use Earth imagery to explain the movement of animals that are tracked by satellites. ACES curriculum also introduces the environmental issues the animals face, and the environments of NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries (NMS).

Additional ACES 1-week modules each focus on a particular marine animal, with specific curricular activities around the animal and issues facing them. Students study aspects of the animal's life history, conservation status, food web, and connections to ocean processes and remote sensing data. Modules include investigations of sea turtles, polar bears, albatrosses, and seals.

How Does My School or District Participate?

Schools adopt Signals of Spring — ACES as a formal part of the science curriculum. Training (for beginners or advanced levels) and comprehensive classroom materials are provided free. Training is onsite (CA, NY) or online (live and interactive). Formal science concepts are taught in the context of oceans, with award-winning classroom lessons. Students perform research and analysis and special animal investigations.

Teachers receive 3 graduate credits, continuing ed hours, or a $300.00 stipend upon implementation. Preference is given to teacher teams of 2-4.

Current ACES collaborators include:

• U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc.
• Oikonos - Ecosystem Knowledge
• Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary
• Stanford University's School of Education
• Teachers College, Columbia University
• WhaleNet
• NOAA's National Marine Sanctuary Program

What do I get?

• Standards-based, comprehensive Signals of Spring ocean science and ACES investigations curriculum with assessments, rubrics, concept maps
  
  
• A way to incorporate technology as a tool to do science

What will students learn?

Selected topic areas in the curriculum include:

Life Science: Cell Structures • Photosynthesis • Needs of Living Things o Food Webs • Biodiversity & Classification • Human Impacts on Environments • Conservation and Stewardship Earth Science: Water on Earth • Seasons • Landforms/Bathymetry • Density • Ocean Currents • Tides • Isolines • Air-Sea Interaction/Climate • Watersheds • Coriolis Effect • Climate Change Science Process Skills: Forming Research Questions & Hypotheses • Collecting & Organizing Data • Analyzing & Interpreting Data & Imagery • How to Research • Using Tools & Models • Measurement