From Dissolution to Solution: New approaches to teaching ocean acidification

• Main Authors: Erickson, Brian, Crews, Tracy
• Other Authors: Oregon State University. Sea Grant College Program
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: National Science Teaching Association
• Subjects: Ocean acidification > Study and teaching; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/articles/q811kr24k

The high school module outlined in this article builds on the strengths of existing resources by incorporating many of their approaches. However, lesson designers intentionally avoided the most common ocean acidification lab (placing shells in vinegar and watching them dissolve) because they found evidence that this experiment reinforces misconceptions about pH and the effects of ocean acidification. Instead, they consider solutions to ocean acidification and encourage students to maximize and expand their impact. The lesson developers hope to help teachers demonstrate that ocean acidification is a large environmental issue that we can address if we work together. While these lessons relate to ocean acidification, they could be incorporated into a larger unit on climate change or human environmental impacts. This article provides a brief overview of the Changing Ocean Chemistry module. The complete curriculum will be made available online later in 2019 and provide numerous resources for teachers including a downloadable PDF (with lesson plans, sample scripting, teacher answer keys, educator background information, standards addressed, student handouts, video clips, and PowerPoint presentations).