About the Course
In this course, we explore the fascinating world of ocean life with a special focus on the marine environments surrounding Long Island, New York. From the brackish waters of the Great South Bay to the productive fishing grounds off Montauk, our local waters provide endless opportunities for discovery.
Through hands-on activities, digital labs, and field studies, students develop a deep understanding of marine ecosystems, species interactions, and the importance of ocean conservation.
Interactive labs and experiments
Long Island marine ecosystems
From plankton to whales
Protecting our oceans
Interactive Learning
Explore Long Island's marine environments through interactive digital experiences
Collect water samples from 4 Long Island locations—Reynolds Channel, Hempstead Bay, Atlantic Shoreline, and Point Lookout Inlet. Test for salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and nitrates, then analyze your data.
Discover the diverse marine ecosystems around Long Island, from estuaries and salt marshes to the open ocean. Interactive species guides and knowledge checks included.
Study surface ocean currents, thermohaline circulation, and pollution transport. Analyze ESRT maps and track the journey of the famous rubber ducks.
Explore world ocean currents, thermohaline circulation, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Investigate how currents affect climate and pollution transport.
Explore diatoms, dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria, ocean bacteria, and seaweeds—the microscopic foundations of marine food webs. Includes real microscopy photos!
Collect ocean samples, prepare microscope slides, and identify 9 plankton species. Learn about the carbon cycle and test your skills in the Plankton Trawl Challenge!
Explore the external and internal anatomy of the Atlantic Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus). Interactive clickable anatomy with detailed organ information.
Use a dichotomous key to identify 7 shark species: Great White, Mako, Blue, Bull, Whale, Basking, and Sixgill Sharks. Practice mode and quiz included!
Explore the external anatomy of the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias). Interactive hotspot exploration, drag-and-drop labeling, and structure-to-function matching across 4 phases.
Explore how CO₂ absorption changes ocean chemistry. Investigate impacts on marine life, run pH simulations, and analyze real-world case studies on coral and shellfish.
Explore Long Island's "living fossil" - 450 million years of evolution. Learn anatomy, life cycle, blue blood medicine, and spawning behavior on local beaches.
Student Resources
Access study guides, references, and helpful links
Review materials for tests and quizzes
Educational videos on marine topics
Maps of Long Island marine habitats
External resources and databases
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