Ocean Explorer
Marine Science Lesson Enhancements based on Grade 11 & 12 curriculum in Physics, Chemistry & Biology

This education cursus provides teachers and educators with a free to use material dedicated to science classes for high school grades 11 and 12. It offers insights into our wonderful ocean and coast biodiversity but also geology and climatology, guiding students through adapted lessons. These lessons have been designed with the help of talented educators, in order to achieve a compact and easy to use package. During development, one of the most important requirements was for the lessons to be adapted to the children's level with the aim to ease their understanding of difficult concepts.

The Ocean Explorer cursus also aims to encourage ecologically friendly comportments within younger generations, in the hope that their concern for nature will help to protect our marine wildlife in South Africa. We hope that you and your students will enjoy these lessons as much as we enjoyed designing them !

Disclaimer : Although the contents of this cursus have been obtained from reliable sources, as part of the study programme, students are urged to verify all data they wish to use. The developers will not be held responsible for any incorrect or misuse of information.

Download the PDF of the lessons by clicking on the pictures below :

		Module 1 - Lessons explained The cursus explained The authors How to use this manual Recommended ressources				Module 10 - Ecosystems Interactions in the environment Predation and competition Specialization and parasitism Mutualism and commensalism Community change over time Stratification and gradation
		Module 2 - Water The chemistry of water Intermolecular Forces Geometrical Optics Reflection and refraction in water Diffraction				Module 11 - Evolution in action The Evolution Theory What is Natural Selection Evolution in ecosystems and Theory of the red queen Phylogenetic trees and classification Homologies and Analogies The position of Humans within the tree of life
		Module 3 - Waves and currents Waves, Sounds and Light Parts of a wave Types of waves Two-dimensional & three- dimensional wave fronts Waves and Currents Currents around South Africa				Module 12 - Biodiversity - Algae Algae classification Photosynthesis and chlorophyll Light-dependent Reactions - First stage of Photosynthesis Calvin Cycle - Second stage of Photosynthesis Harmful algal blooms Anaerobic respiration
		Module 4 - Coastal areas Shaping the Coast Coastal Zone Coastal landforms Types of Coasts The colour of water Coasts of South Africa				Module 13 - Biodiversity - Invertebrates Phyla and body plans Tissue layers in the body Invertebrate classification Importance of Invertebrates
		Module 5 - Climate part 1 What is "energy" ? The transfer of energy and energy balance Air masses Global air circulation Secrets of weather forecast				Module 14 - Biodiversity - Fish & Amphibians What is a fish/amphibian ? Fish classification How can fish breathe under water ? From fish to amphibian Amphibian classification
		Module 6 - Climate part 2 Previous Eras Africa's current climate The role of Oceans in climate control El Niño and La Niña				Module 15 - Biodiversity - Birds & Mammals Marine birds Mammal classification Marine mammals
		Module 7 - Climate shift The greenhouse effect Human impact and the enhanced greenhouse effect Carbon footprint Ozone depletion Models of Earth's future climates				Module 16 - What is Marine Research ? Understanding fieldwork What does it mean to be a scientist ? Working together
		Module 8 - Human Impact on the environment The relationship between resources and economic development Exploitation & depletion of resources Availability and quality of water Poaching and Indigenous knowledge systems Sustainable use of the environment				Module 17 - Applied research in Oceanography Coastal field exploration Use oceanographic features to explore maps e.g. bathymetry contours Application of GIS in oceanography Remote monitoring of wild populations
		Module 9 - Ecology Population Ecology Estimating population size Social organisation of populations Ex. 1 : Herds and Flocks Ex. 2 : Co-operative hunting in Packs Risks factors for wild populations

The Authors
This array of lessons have been designed by BCRE in conjunction with PAAZA.
BCRE is focused on education and research predominantly related to the marine environment through operational oceanography.
PAAZA stands for Pan-African Association for Zoos and Aquaria, and aims to protect and care for captive and wild animal populations. Its primary missions are conservation, education and research. As a result, this association takes part in managing captive breeding programs, releasing of captive animals, managing wild populations, developing animal welfare within captive facilities and more generally protecting the environment via any accessible mean.