Rocky Shore Marine Science Curriculum

This project was made possible thanks to the Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical.  The creation of this curriculum has been a tremendous, collaborative effort –

• Mark Wiley, UNH Professor and Assistant Director of Marine Education, assisted with the formation and revision of the curriculum
• Sarah Toupin, School and Group Program Coordinator of the Seacoast Science Center, and Kate Leavitt, Director of Mission Initiatives of the Seacoast Science Center assisted with the formation and revision of the curriculum
• Hobblebush Design designed and formatted the curriculum into a teacher-friendly document that is available as a free download
• Adam Kelley is a very talented and accomplished illustrator (Georgia Aquarium, Connecticut Science Center, Smithsonian Institution, the Franklin Institute, etc.) who brilliantly designed the cover page and four interior illustrations for the curriculum
• Corrine Steever, Teacher Services Supervisor of the New England Aquarium, is supporting this project and has agreed to “allow Thom access to our resources, set up consultations with our staff, and any new information that our research and conservation team may obtain.”
• Suzanne Tate, author of a children’s book nature series, has agreed to allow me to cite her magnificent works as literacy resources for this curriculum.
• AND MANY MORE (check the curriculum “Acknowledgments” page to see who helped design this elementary science unit)!

Science and elementary school teachers throughout New Hampshire educate their students on ecosystems, the unique interactions between organisms and their physical environments, as well as the importance of maintaining the health of these ecosystems.

Our state has the advantageous opportunity of having an invaluable ecosystem where our land meets the Atlantic Ocean coastline: the rocky shore.  Because our state’s innovative educators are constantly looking for new ways to enhance their science instruction and integrate current educational standards into their classrooms at the same time, my intent is to create a quality science curriculum on our state’s rocky shore ecosystem.

This curriculum is an attractive, user-friendly professional document that incorporates the Next Generation Science Standards and the Ocean Literacy Principles, and extensively covers the many characteristics of our local rocky shore.  It provides educators and students with a variety of educational activities.  It is available in a free and easily accessible format.

UNH Marine Education New Hampshire Sea Grant

Seacoast Science Center

Hobblebush Design

Adam Kelley, Illustrator

New England Aquarium

Suzanne Tate, Children’s Book Author