Topics, by principle

Introduction | Topics by Grade Band | Topics by Principle

Topics and Subtopics by Principle

The following seven charts list the major topics and subtopics in all 28 conceptual flow diagrams of the Scope and Sequence. There is one chart for each principle. For each chart, the major branches of topics on the conceptual flow diagrams for that principle run horizontally across the top; the grade bands run vertically along the left column.

Click on the grade band link in the left column to go to the appropriate conceptual flow diagram.

Ocean Literacy Principle #1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features.
Grade Band	Properties of Ocean Water	Geographic and Geologic Features	Ocean Circulation	Sea Level
K-2	The ocean is salty	Ocean basins Ocean floor features Only one ocean	Tides Transportation of living things Watersheds Wind-driven currents

3-5	Density-driven currents Salinity Temperature Where freshwater is Where salt water is	Highest mountain on earth Lowest point on earth Ocean basins Ocean floor features	Currents Only one ocean Tides Transportation of living things Water cycle Watersheds Waves

6-8	Density Density-driven currents Freezing point How ocean became salty pH Salinity Temperature	Change over geologic time Convection Generation of Earth’s crust Motion of lithospheric plates Ocean basins Ocean floor features Supercontinent	Density-driven currents Only one ocean Sea level rising Tides Transportation of living things Watersheds Wind-driven currents Upwelling

9-12	Density Effect on life processes pH Salinity Temperature	Generation of Earth’s crust Motion of lithospheric plates Ocean basins Ocean floor features Tectonic activities	Coriolis effect Currents Density-driven currents Eckman forces Effect on climate Gyres Prevailing winds Tides Transportation of living things Upwelling Water cycle Waves Wind-driven currents	Atmospheric pressure Change over time Effect on currents Global temperature change Movement of lithospheric plates Prevailing winds Regional differences

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Click on the grade band link in the left column to go to the appropriate conceptual flow diagram.

Ocean Literacy Principle #2: The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth.
Grade Band	Coastal Erosion	Plate Tectonics	Rock Cycle	Biogeochemical Cycles
K-2	Deposition of Earth materials Erosion of Earth materials

3-5	Beach composition Currents as agents of sedimentation Erosion of biotic materials Erosion of Earth materials Formation of sand Rivers as agents of sedimentation Sedimentation Water as an agent of erosion Waves as agents of sedimentation		Marine fossils Marine organisms contribute to rock formation Ocean sediments Sedimentary rock composition Volcanic rock formation

6-8	Biological weathering Chemical weathering Changing coastlines Changing sea level Erosion Deposition Landforms uncovered by sea level change Physical weathering	Earthquakes Mountain formation Subduction Sea level change Tectonic activities Volcanoes Uplift	Coral reef formation Igneous rock formation Marine organisms contribute to rock formation Metamorphic rock formation Stromatolites Sedimentary rock formation

9-12		Continental plates Erosion Geologic features from subduction Oceanic plates Residence Times Subduction Tectonic activity Weathering	Accretion Igneous processes Sedimentation Volcanism	Carbon cycle Elements in ocean water Nitrogen cycle Phosphorus cycle Silica cycle

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Click on the grade band link in the left column to go to the appropriate conceptual flow diagram.

Ocean Literacy Principle #3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
Grade Band	Weather and Climate	Water Cycle	Global Climate Change	Consequences of Global Climate Change
K-2		Condensation Evaporation Precipitation Runoff Watersheds

3-5	Convection currents Creation of wind Energy absorption Ocean currents Temperature fluctuation Wind energy	Condensation Energy absorption Evaporation Precipitation Runoff Where freshwater comes from

6-8	Atmospheric convection El Niño Energy absorption Heat exchange Weather and climate patterns	Condensation Evaporation Energy absorption Ocean currents move heat Precipitation	Atmospheric carbon dioxide Human effects Ocean absorption of CO2 pH Photosynthetic organisms

9-12	Atmospheric convection Differential heating El Niño and La Niña Energy absorption Energy transfer Evaporation Heat capacity Ocean currents move heat Precipitation Weather and climate patterns Wind energy		Atmospheric warming Carbon cycle Carbon dioxide balance Greenhouse gases Greenhouse effect Human effects Ocean absorption of CO2 Ocean circulation pattern pH Photosynthesis	Change in ocean circulation Change in ocean temperature Decreased solar reflection El Niño and La Niña Frequency and intensity of weather events Melting of glaciers and ice caps Ocean acidification Rising sea level

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Click on the grade band link in the left column to go to the appropriate conceptual flow diagram.

Ocean Literacy Principle #4: The ocean makes Earth habitable.
Grade Band	Origins of Life	Oxygen Production
K-2	Water is necessary for life Where water is on Earth

3-5	Bacteria Fossil evidence Life started in the ocean	Earth’s atmosphere Photosynthesis

6-8	Chloroplast Cyanobacteria Fossil evidence Life started in the ocean Ocean sediments Theory of evolution	Cyanobacteria Earth’s atmosphere Oxygen consumption Ozone Photosynthesis Respiration and decay

9-12	Fossil evidence Life started in the ocean Hydrothermal vents Prokaryotes and eukaryotes Theory of evolution	Aerobic respiration Balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide Cyanobacteria Decay Dissolved oxygen Earth’s atmosphere Photosynthesis Oxidation Ozone

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Click on the grade band link in the left column to go to the appropriate conceptual flow diagram.

Ocean Literacy Principle #5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
Grade Band	Primary Productivity	Diversity of Ecosystems	Diversity of Life
K-2		Adaptations Habitats	Adaptations Organism diversity Size and scale of life

3-5		Coastal ecosystems Conditions for photosynthesis Coral reefs Deep water ecosystems Estuaries Open ocean Physical properties of the ocean Phytoplankton	Adaptations Adaptations for living in the ocean Life cycles Metamorphosis Migration Organism diversity Physical properties of the ocean Size and scale of life

6-8	Abundance of life Chemosynthesis Chemosynthetic ecosystems Conditions for photosynthesis Coral reefs Coriolis effect Estuaries Food webs Kelp forests Mangroves Photosynthetic organisms Polar seas Symbiosis Upwelling	Abiotic factors Adaptations for living in the ocean Climate change effect on environments Ecosystems Food webs Habitats Habitat zonation Human effect on environments Physical properties of the ocean	Adaptations for living in the ocean Biomass Conditions for diversity Life cycles Life histories Migration Organism diversity Physics of sound Reproduction Size and scale of life

9-12	Autotrophs Chlorophyll Carbon fixation Heterotrophs Microbes Nutrient cycling Nutrients in photosynthesis Organic molecules Primary production definition Upwelling	Abiotic factors Abundance of life Adaptations to environmental conditions Chemosynthetic organisms Coral reefs Diversity of life Estuaries Food webs Habitat zonation Hydrothermal vent communities Intertidal habitats Niches Kelp forests Niches Open Ocean Physical properties of the ocean Productivity Upwelling	Diversity of adaptations to environmental factors Diversity of feeding behaviors Diversity of life cycles and reproductive strategies Phyletic diversity

Ocean Literacy Principle #5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
Grade Band	Diversity of Life: Adaptations to Environmental Factors (9-12 only)	Diversity of Life: Life Cycles & Reproductiv Strategies (9-12 only)	Diversity of Life: Feeding Behaviors (9-12only)	Diversity of Life: Phyletic Diversity (9-12 only)
9-12	Adaptations for diving Adaptations to varying light levels Bioluminescence Camouflage Coral bleaching Features of sound Light filtration Human effects on organisms Ocean acidification and its effects Osmoregulation Physical characteristics of the ocean Plankton adaptations Sound as communication	Alternation of generations Asexual reproduction Broadcast spawning Hermaphroditism Parasitism as a reproductive strategy Parental care strategies Population density effects on reproductive strategies Sexual reproduction Strategies for maximizing dispersal Strategies for maximizing fertilization Transitions between lifestyles	Buoyancy Filter feeding Mutualisms Physical characteristics of the ocean Strategies for capturing food Strategies for exploiting patchy distribution of food Symbiosis	Bioluminescence Biomass Chemosynthetic organisms Cyanobacteria Diatoms Dinoflagellates Eukaryotes Fish diversity Fungi Heterotrophs Invertebrate diversity Land to ocean transition Phyla found in the ocean Physical characteristics of the ocean Phytoplankton Productivity Prokaryotes Ocean to land transition Origins of life Seaweed diversity Size and scale of life Symbiosis Vertebrate evolution

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Click on the grade band link in the left column to go to the appropriate conceptual flow diagram.

Ocean Literacy Principle #6: The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
Grade Band	Uses of the Ocean	Where People Live	Human Impact on the Ocean and Atmosphere	The Ocean Affects Weather & Climate which Impacts People	Responsibility and Advocacy for the Ocean
K-2	Commerce Food resources Human benefits from the ocean Recreation Source of fresh water Transportation Water cycle	Human population distribution Weather impacts on humans	Human impacts on changing shorelines Pollution Human efforts to protect the ocean Recycling Resource availability

3-5	Food resources Natural resources Source of fresh water Source of oxygen Recreation Water cycle	Commerce Human population distribution Recreation Resources Transportation Weather impacts on humans	Chemical pollution Human efforts to protect the ocean Human impacts on global climate change Legal efforts to protect the ocean Making informed decisions Marine debris Marine Protected Areas Marine reserves Marine sanctuaries Ocean resources are finite Overfishing

6-8	Biotic resources Food resources Process of photosynthesis Photosynthetic organisms Marine fisheries Sources of energy Source of fresh water Source of medicines Source of oxygen Source of salt	Commerce Exploration Human cultures Human history Human population centers Human population distribution Recreation Transportation Weather impacts on humans	Acid rain Acid deposition Aquaculture Bycatch Changing coastlines Changing ocean temperature Fisheries Greenhouse gases Human-made structures Introduced species Ocean acidification Overfishing Pollution Watersheds	Distribution of energy (heat) Energy (heat) absorption	Climate change Introduced species Influencing policy decisions Making informed decisions Marine Protected Areas Marine Protected Areas Modifications to the landscape Pollution Reducing overfishing Reducing habitat destruction Sustainability

9-12	Aquaculture Fisheries Food resources Human impacts on the ocean Non-renewable resources Renewable resources Sources of energy Source of fresh water Source of medicines Source of mineral ores Source of natural gas Source of oil Source of oxygen Source of salt	Careers Climate Commerce Exploration Global economy Human cultures Recreation Transportation	Algal blooms Biomagnification Burning fossil fuels Changing ocean temperature Effect of technological advances Eutrophication Greenhouse gases Human effect on global climate change Impact on humans of natural hazards Human impact on ocean ecosystems Human impact on topography Human population growth Hydrofluorocarbon emissions Introduced species Ocean acidification Rising sea level	Effect of changing weather and climate Effect of natural disasters Effective natural disaster warnings	Education Legal efforts to protect the ocean Making informed decisions Marine Protected Areas Marine Reserves Protecting marine resources Reducing biological and biogeochemical changes Reducing overfishing Reducing pollution Sustainability The ocean is finite

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Click on the grade band link in the left column to go to the appropriate conceptual flow diagram.

Ocean Literacy Principle #7: The ocean is largely unexplored.
Grade Band	Life on Earth Depends on the Ocean	People Explore the Ocean	Ocean Exploration Requires Collaboration	Ocean Exploration Requires Technological Innovations
K-2	Requirements for life Scientific investigation	Asking questions Ecosystem health Hobbies and careers Making observations Natural resources Tools and technology

3-5		Atmosphere Biosphere Ecosystem health Ecosystem interactions Lithosphere Natural resources Reasons for exploring Spirit of exploration	Communication of information Engineering careers Making informed decisions Ocean hobbies Science careers Sustainability Technology	Human immersion SCUBA Tools for exploration Tools for seeing underwater Tools for exploring ocean depths Tools for remotely collecting information Tools for surviving cold temperatures

6-8		Advances in research and technology Climate research Collecting long-term data Discovering natural resources Discovering new habitats Discovering new species Human benefits from discovery Human impacts on the ocean Ocean geography	Communication of information Community groups Environmental groups Governmental roles in ocean exploration Making informed decisions Role of youth in ocean exploration Science careers Sustainability	Internet as a tool Ocean-observing systems Physical properties of the ocean Remote exploration Sonar Tools for exploration Tools for exploring under the water Tools for prolonged exploration

9-12		Advances in research and technology Collecting long-term data Discovering new habitats Discovering new species Human benefits from discovery Human impacts on the ocean Sustainability of resources Use of resource	Careers in ocean exploration Communication of information Global participation in ocean exploration Higher education in ocean exploration Making informed decisions Political engagement Science careers Sustainability Technology	Computer technology Continuous data collection technology: sensors and transmitters Molecular analysis Ocean-observing systems Physical properties of the ocean Satellites Satellite image technology Scientific models Simulations Submersibles: HOV, ROV, AUV

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Topics, by principle

Topics and Subtopics by Principle

Ocean Literacy Principle #1: The Earth has one big ocean with many features.

Ocean Literacy Principle #2: The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of the Earth.

Ocean Literacy Principle #3: The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

Ocean Literacy Principle #4: The ocean makes Earth habitable.

Ocean Literacy Principle #5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

Ocean Literacy Principle #5: The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

Ocean Literacy Principle #6: The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

Ocean Literacy Principle #7: The ocean is largely unexplored.

Ocean Literacy Guide

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