Ocean Science Data Based Lesson

1. Ocean ScienceData Based Lesson A Guide to Construction of Materials for Ships, Ocean and Satellites (S.O.S.) Paper version This guide is intended to be used in conjunction with the lesson plan for this lesson

2. This document is not a lesson plan. It is intended to provide instruction for creating the custom paper models the S.O.S. lesson requires. • Introduce students to real time data • Provide students with a visual aid when first teaching about data. • Leave students with skills to interpret real time data and false color images. Once built, the models can be reused. This lesson is intended for use in informal education settings. Lesson Goals

3. Needed Construction MaterialsFor a class of 30 students, make six models • 6 standard letter-size manila file folders (any color) • Scissors or razor knife • Ruler • Glue stick (dries clear) • Clear tape (packing tape is best) • Pencil • Stack of scrap paper, cardstock, or cardboard • 6 copies of the front page maps (land colored in, grid squares blank) – on letter size paper • 6 copies of the false color data maps (land can be blank; grid squares colored to show temperature data) – on letter size paper • 6 copies of the blank cover maps (grid blank, extra squares shaded) on letter size cardstock or paper. • 2-3 extra sheets of the same paper or card stock the blank cover maps are printed on

4. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) Develop a reasonable Sea Surface Temperature (SST) data set to use with the lesson. You can use any region you like; we chose the East Coast of the United States. This example is roughly based off of a composite of mid-September sea surface temperatures from multiple years. There are 33 sections of the grid to potentially sample in this example, which is a coarse resolution of data. Create a second map with the data grid blank, but including the necessary land mass(es) and false color key. Create a third map with everything but the squares that contain data shaded out. The State of New Jersey & location of Liberty Science Center are highlighted on our map to help students orient themselves.

5. Maps needed for the paper model: Data map: Data colored; Land and key can be blank. Front page map: Grid blank, land & key colored Blank cover map: Grid blank, squares that can’t be sampled shaded Size the maps to leave a margin of at least 1.5” of white space on each side. Be sure that all three maps are the same size, and positioned in the same place on the page (if you stack the printouts, the maps should overlap exactly).

6. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) First, print out your maps and make sure they overlap exactly. Next, fold the manila folder exactly in half (you will have to make a new crease). To make the open edge more even, you can either fold over the index tab, or cut it off. Flip over the folder – you want to use the tab or back side for the front of your model. Indent for the index tab, normally the front of a folder – you want this on the BACK of your finished model Here the index tab has been creased.

7. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) Position your front cover map on the folder. You want the map close to the bottom, so that when you drop another map into the pocket of the folder, it will line up with the front cover. Tape one edge of the map down, or lightly mark the correct placement of the edges with pencil. Apply a coat of glue and smooth down your map. The finished piece will better withstand repeated use if you tape down all four sides of the map with clear tape, but it’s not necessary.

8. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) Next you need to cut out the section of your grid that corresponds to your data. If using a razor knife, place a thick stack of scrap paper or a piece of scrap cardboard inside the folder before cutting. Be sure you only cut through the map and one layer of folder; leave the other side of the folder intact. If using scissors, pierce a hole in the center first then cut out to the edge of the grid area so your outside border of folder remains intact. Optional – cover the cut edges with thin strips of clear packing tape to help the cutout withstand repeated use.

9. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) Place the data map inside and line the grid up with the cutout on the front cover. Glue the map in place onto the back flap of the folder. It’s a good idea to tape down the top edge of this map with clear tape, so you can slide other papers into the folder without catching them on the edge of the paper.

10. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) Use clear tape to close the bottom and side of the folder, creating a pocket.

11. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) Slide in the blank cover map and check the fit. The grid should line up with the cutout, and cover the colored data. If desired, you can print this map on thicker paper or cardstock, or glue the paper onto 8.5”x11” cardstock. Create a pull tab to make it easier to insert and remove the blank cover map: Cut a piece of white paper or cardstock 8.5” by 2.5” high. Overlap this by 0.5” with the top of the blank cover map, and glue or tape in place on both sides. Round the top corners if desired.

12. Additional maps needed for lesson: 1) Student worksheet example • Student worksheet (1 per student) • Representation of what this model data would look like if it were “real” SST data (see following slide). Create a matching map worksheet for students to record their data on. Include a key/scale on the student worksheet. As with the blank cover map, it is helpful to shade out the squares that cannot be sampled on the model (the ones that do not have data underneath them).

13. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) 2) Interpolated SST example • Refer to the lesson plan posted at: • http://coseenow.net/blog/ships-ocean-and-satellites-s-o-s/ • In section II. Activity, 9.c., students compare the teacher created map to their own. • Have a complete SST like this available to show students to discuss the various assumptions that were used to create it. In this example: • Water bodies of the same temperature are connected. • When temperature changes are observed between points, the range of temperatures in between is present.

14. Use of Paper S.O.S.: You may follow the posted lesson plan for Ships, Ocean, and Satellites at: http://coseenow.net/blog/ships-ocean-and-satellites-s-o-s/ Where the lesson plan refers to the custom boxes, use these models instead. • To use with students, you will need: • Additional copies of the blank cover map (1 per group of 4-5 students) • Standard “stick” type ball-point pens with the nose and ink assemblies removed (1 per group) • Well sharpened pencils • Student worksheets (1 per student) • Crayons or colored pencils

15. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) • First pass out a blank cover map to each group of students. • Ask them to punch a hole in the center of each of the squares their group has chosen to sample. • Before passing out the pens, show students how to punch holes using the pen and pencil: • Insert the tip of the pencil through the center of a square. • From the back side, cover the pencil tip with the hollow pen. Press the pen and pencil together and twist; remove both. • If desired, you can then place the paper face down on the table and smooth down the ragged extra paper using the flat, closed end of the pen.

16. Ships, Ocean, and Satellites (S.O.S.) Students should slide their punched map into the folder assembly behind the blank cover map. Once the map is in place (tap the bottom of the folder on the table to settle the map inside), students should gently use the pull tab to remove the blank cover. The false color SST data should be showing through the punched holes. Have students record their data on their worksheets, and continue the lesson and discussion as written.