Gulf of Mexico Curriculum

Deep Sea to Coast Connectivity: Utilizing scientific research to help students make connections between the theoretical nature of science and real world applications

The Gulf of Mexico multidisciplinary curriculum was developed around the five main research areas of the Deep-C Consortium: geomorphology, geochemistry, ecology, physical oceanography, and modeling. Each module includes five cumulative lessons, background information on the topic, relevant supplementary reading materials, a glossary, and an assessment. The purpose of this curriculum is to:

Provide teachers with a user-friendly curriculum that will introduce students to real-world applications of science as well as specific examples of environmental disasters – their impacts on ocean ecosystems as well as nature’s ability to and mechanisms for recovering from such events.
Synthesize some of the Deep-C Consortium’s research efforts, to date.
Increase Gulf of Mexico literacy.

It is our hope that this curriculum can serve as a model for future curricula developed based off of scientific research endeavors.

Contributing experts are listed throughout curriculum. Many thanks to these Deep-C researchers and students who edited, authored content, or assisted with development of the lesson plans.

Aligned with Ocean Literacy Principles and the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards

Ocean Literacy: The Essential Principles of Ocean Sciences for Learners of All Ages, Version 2 was published in March 2013. http://oceanliteracy.wp2.coexploration.org/

Next Generation Sunshine State Standards: CPALMS is the state of Florida’s official source for standards
information and course descriptions. http://www.cpalms.org/Public/

Click here to download a PDF of the entire curriculum (~11.5mb)
OR you can download individual modules using the links below.

Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................................................................................................... Pages 1-4

Geomorphology Module...............................................................................................................................Pages 4-39
LESSON PLANS:
Geological Beginnings of the Gulf
Mapping the De Soto Canyon
Seeping through the Seafloor
Calculating Flow Rate
Sifting through Sediments
Remotely Operated Vehicles
Geomorphology Quiz
Geomorphology Glossary

Geochemistry Module................................................................................................................................. Pages 40-63
LESSON PLANS:
Chemical Components of the Gulf
Methane Mania
Oiled Marine Snow
What Can We Learn from Sediment Profiling?
Oil Weathering and Fingerprinting
Geochemistry Quiz
Geochemistry Glossary

Ecology Module..............................................................................................................................................Pages 64-88
LESSON PLANS:
Setting the Baseline
Breaking It Down
Go With the Flow: The Life of Plankton
Research Cruises in the Gulf
Toxicity: Exposure to PAHs
Ecology Quiz
Ecology Glossary

Physical Oceanography Module Module............................................................................................... Pages 89-116
LESSON PLANS:
Oceanography Demonstrations
Gravity Currents in the Gulf of Mexico
Tracking the Loop Current
Go With the Flow: Designing Ocean Drifters
The SailBuoy’s Journey in the Gulf of Mexico
Physical Oceanography Quiz/p>
Physical Oceanography Glossary

Computer Modeling................................................................................................................................... Pages 117-138
LESSON PLANS:
Modeling 101
Oil Spill Models
Making Predictions
Interpreting the Ocean through Color
Deep-C Map Viewer
Computer Modeling Quiz
Computer Modeling Glossary

Deep-C Scientific Publications by Module Topic..................................................................................Pages 139-144

The Deep-C Consortium conducted an interdisciplinary study
of deep sea to coast connectivity in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.

This research was made possible by a grant from
BP/The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative to the Deep-C Consortium

For questions or feedback, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deep-C was a four-year, interdisciplinary study of deep sea to coast connectivity in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico.Deep-C is no longer an active research project. The information on this website is for historical reference purposes only.