This curriculum developed by the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN) brings coastal and ocean acidification into the classroom in clear, practical ways. It provides complete lesson plans, hands-on activities, and data-driven investigations that support student inquiry while aligning with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Designed for high school classrooms, the lessons can be taught as a full unit or selected individually to fit existing course needs.
| Lesson 1: This section introduces the curriculum and key concepts in ocean acidification through background reading and short videos. It includes NGSS-aligned questions and transcripts that can be used in class or for flipped learning. |
| Lesson 2: Students learn how carbon moves through Earth’s systems and how emissions affect atmospheric CO₂. An interactive game helps reinforce sources and sinks through hands-on participation. |
| Lesson 3: Students explore how increased atmospheric CO₂ changes ocean pH and water chemistry. Demonstrations and guided activities help introduce the foundational processes behind ocean acidification. |
| Lesson 4: Through hands-on lab activities, students investigate the chemical reactions that drive ocean acidification. These labs also introduce how changes in chemistry affect shell formation in marine organisms. |
| Lesson 5: Students compare ocean and coastal acidification using data and infographics. The lesson emphasizes how estuaries and coastal waters experience different conditions than the open ocean. |
| Lesson 6: Students examine data on Mid-Atlantic species to understand how decreasing pH affects growth, reproduction, and survival. They connect changes in chemistry to impacts on living organisms. |
| Lesson 7: Students work individually and in groups to analyze data related to bivalve health. The lesson focuses on interpreting evidence and drawing conclusions about the effects of dissolved CO₂. |
| Lesson 8 Part 1: This lesson engages students in investigating declining bay scallop populations while exploring the scientific method and experimental design. Students analyze data, build critical thinking skills, and examine coastal acidification’s impacts on biological species. Lesson 8 Part 2: In Part 2, students apply the scientific method to investigate the bay scallop mystery by reviewing key steps, conducting research, developing hypotheses, and designing experiments to guide their inquiry. |
Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN), July 2026. More information.
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