FOR SEA Institute of Marine Science K-12 marine science curriculum and teacher training

MARE

The MARE Program is…
a whole-school, interdisiplanary, marine science program for elementary and middle schools which includes a series of eight curriculum guides covering grades K-8. Each grade focuses on a different marine environment and integrates language arts, language development, social studies and art with science and mathematics. Crossing disiplines and linking subject areas, the curriculum helps students understand the overarching themes of science.

Select guide title to view its Table of Contents
Rocky Seashore – Grade 1

A tour of the rocky seashore habitiat including what lives there, the factors that influence those plants and animals, how the animals and plants meet the challenges they face to survival, and how humans interact with the habitat.
Sandy Beach – Grade 2

From a look at sand to shell sorting and the water cycle boogie, students investigate the sandy beach habitat.
Wetlands – Grade 3

Birds, bivalves and beds (oyster, that is) serve as springboards for study of estuarine wetlands.
Kelp Forest – Grade 4

Life and changes in the kelp forest habitat are investigated through activities which involve students in building a classroom kelp forest.
Open Ocean – Grade 5

The vast open ocean habitat from its inhabitants to its circulation are introduced through a variety of hands-on activities.
Islands – Grade 6

The unique characterisics of island habitats are examined as complete activities as diverse as sand studies, shark dissection, and lyric writing.
Coral Reefs – Grade 7

Students map the movement of Hurricane Iniki across the Pacific to Hawaii as part of a study of the diverse asd specially adapted life that exists in the fragile and rare coral reef habitats.
Polar Seas – Grade 8

Using models and simulations, students examine the unique polar sea habitat.


About the Curriculum Guides

Within each curriculum guide, you will find in-depth teacher reference information, hands-on activities, teaching strategies, children’s literature connections, planning materials for developing a comprehensive whole-school science program based on the study of the ocean, and instructions for assembling student portfolios and conducting performance tasks to assess student achievement. Each activity in the MARE curriculum identifies and develops students’ related prior knowledge through a rich variety of language experiences, before introducing new topics.