Ocean Science Learning Activities:
Ocean Currents

“Currents,” from Shoreline topics in Virtual Biomes
Find the word “Currents” on the left-hand menu bar. Click on that word and read a clear, one-page explanation of ocean currents, with animation.

“Current Events,” from Water on the Move
Read about ocean currents. Try a simple experiment to find out how temperature and salinity affect water density.

The Gulf Stream Voyage
This Internet-based multi-disciplinary project has three core activities integrating marine science, earth science, physical science, math, history, and language arts. The activities teach learners how to access and interpret real-time oceanographic and satellite data. Primary source materials also guide learners to discover the science and history of the Gulf Stream.

How Does the Ocean Move? (without audio | with audio)
This tutorial is from the COOLroom of the Coastal Ocean Observatory Laboratory of Rutgers Marine and Coastal Sciences. Find out the why and how the ocean is in motion. The tutorial contains animations and clear explanations.

Ocean Currents
This website contains technical language and lengthy sections of text. However, it also has great visual images and five hands-on science activities.

Ocean Currents Exploration
Find out how Benjamin Franklin used the Gulf Stream current. This website contains satellite images, readings, experiments, graphing tasks, connections to history, prompts for writing activities, and interactive map activities to teach about the ocean. Note: this website has lengthy sections of text which is designed for the middle-school level. There are excellent hands-on activities when you go beyond the text to the four investigations.

Ocean Drifters
from “Track a NOPP Drifter” by Anna C. Switzer (used with permission)
The ocean is constantly in motion. Find out how some scientists use drifter buoys to investigate ocean currents. First, practice using latitude and longitude to find a position on Earth. The make some calculations, and use data to track drifters as they float near the ocean surface. This online activity is adapted for use in adult education programs.

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