Animated Lessons
Floating/Bouyancy
Follow the Fleet - Follow the Fleet was set up to encourage and develop children's interest in the maritime world. It is designed to be used as a teaching aid and is targeted at 7 to 10 year olds learning geography, history, science and environmental studies. A unique aspect of Follow The Fleet is that it has a satellite tracking system where the children can see where the ships are and follow their movements. The children also receive e-mail bulletins from the sea captains on the vessels. From the Irish Maritime Development Office (Y, M, O, T)
All Hands On Deck - The USS Constitution Museum has made their award-winning K-12 curriculum, All Hands on Deck: Learning Adventures Aboard "Old Ironsides", available for download from the Web at no cost. A vehicle to explore a wide range of disciplines including language arts, reading, math, science, art, and social studies. The content scope of the curriculum is wide and varied. Skills covered in the unit include critical thinking, making tables and diagrams, solving math problems and writing essays and poems. Life skills that stress the value of cooperation, persistence, creativity and ingenuity are also included. (Y, M, O, T)
Archimedes' Principle - From Infoplease.com, an encyclopedia entry explaining the theory behind buoyancy (M,O)
Archimedes of Syracuse: The Father of Buoyancy - Includes a history of Archimedes' study of buoyancy, a hands on activity, and a group of links on the subject (O)
Pontoons - From Infoplease.com, an explanation of how pontoons are used to raise sunken ships and support bridges (Y, M, O, T)
It Floats - We don't usually stop to wonder why a big cruise ship can float as well as a feather; this activity helps to explain. (Y, M, O, T)
PBS Buoyancy Basics - An experiment from NOVA with a link to other buoyancy brainteasers (M)
Moby Dick - Literature lesson plan from DiscoverySchool.com Grades 9-12 (O)
Glaciers and Icebergs - From DiscoverySchool.com, this lesson plans explores the movement of icebergs and glaciers as well as the principle that explains why they float (M,O)
Naval Historical Center - Comprehensive government site with extensive information on naval history (Y, M, O, T)
Interactive Titanic - Click on one of the silhouettes and follow the path of an actual passenger who traveled on the Titanic. You won't know who you are or if you survive until the fateful night. (Y, M, O, T)