Teacher Overview: Deep Sea Discovery
Deep Sea Discovery is an engaging, standards-based educational adventure that introduces elementary students to the science of oceans. In this interactive online escape room, students explore underwater environments, follow clues from the Curator, and apply their understanding of key ocean concepts to complete their mission. Along the way, they learn about topics such as marine life, pressure, salinity, currents, and more.
This lesson requires no prep and includes a full suite of resources to support teaching and student engagement:
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An interactive online educational adventure
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Standards-based vocabulary trading cards for student reference
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A short instructional video that aligns with the content of the escape room
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A comprehensive lesson plan to guide instruction
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Teaching dialogue for classroom facilitation
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A complete answer key for quick reference
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And more tools to ensure a smooth and enriching science experience
Deep Sea Discovery is ideal for classrooms looking to bring science to life through storytelling, exploration, and critical thinking.
Student Link:
https://excavatingadventures.com/blogs/adventures/3-deep-sea-discovery
Lesson Plan: Deep Sea Discovery – Oceans
Grade Level: Elementary
Subject: Earth Science
Topic: Oceans
Duration: 1 hour or less
Lesson Type: Interactive, standards-based science lesson
Lesson Overview:
This lesson introduces students to the topic of oceans through an engaging, interactive experience. Students will begin by watching a short instructional video to build background knowledge about ocean science. They will then participate in the Deep Sea Discovery online escape room, applying what they’ve learned to complete challenges and unlock a final code word. Standards-based vocabulary trading cards will be used as a reference tool throughout the activity to support learning and reinforce key terms.
Three Subtopics Covered:
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Ocean Features and Ecosystems – Includes ocean coverage, coral reefs, tide pools, and marine life
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Ocean Conditions and Forces – Covers salinity, pressure, and currents
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Scientific Exploration of the Ocean – Includes tools and methods used to study the ocean floor
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
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Identify and describe major ocean features and ecosystems
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Explain key ocean concepts such as salinity, pressure, and currents
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Recognize the diversity of marine life and their adaptations to ocean environments
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Understand the role oceans play in Earth’s climate and ecosystems
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Apply vocabulary knowledge to complete challenges in an online adventure
Relevant Vocabulary:
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Oceans
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Coral Reefs
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Tide Pools
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Salinity
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Plankton
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Marine Animals
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Ocean Floor
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Pressure
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Currents
Materials Needed:
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Computers or tablets with internet access (1 per student or pair)
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Printed Vocabulary Trading Cards (1 set per student or group)
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Headphones (optional, for clear audio during the video)
Instructional Plan:
1. Introduction (5–10 minutes)
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Introduce the topic of oceans and explain that students will explore ocean science concepts during the lesson.
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Distribute vocabulary trading cards for students to use as a reference tool throughout the activity.
2. Direct Instruction (5–8 minutes)
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Play the Deep Sea Discovery instructional video to provide background knowledge and introduce vocabulary.
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Allow time for students to ask questions and clarify key concepts.
3. Interactive Exploration (30–35 minutes)
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Direct students to begin the Deep Sea Discovery online escape room.
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Encourage them to use their vocabulary cards to answer questions and navigate the digital challenges.
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Support students as needed, ensuring they use the resources provided.
4. Wrap-Up and Discussion (5–10 minutes)
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Facilitate a class discussion to review what students learned.
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Ask students to share interesting facts or favorite parts of the adventure.
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Reinforce key vocabulary and concepts using the trading cards as review tools.
Assessment:
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Formative assessment through completion and accuracy within the online escape room
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Observation of student engagement and use of vocabulary during the activity and wrap-up discussion
Resources Provided:
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Instructional Video (approx. 5 minutes)
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Online Educational Escape Room: Deep Sea Discovery
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Downloadable Vocabulary Trading Cards (1 set per student)
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Lesson Plan and Teacher Reference Guide
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Optional Teaching Dialogue
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Full Answer Key
Teacher Reference Guide: Deep Sea Discovery – Oceans
This guide provides the key content and talking points you’ll need to teach the Deep Sea Discovery lesson. In this lesson, students will explore the vast world of oceans by watching a short instructional video and then participating in an interactive online escape room adventure. Throughout the lesson, students will use their vocabulary trading cards as a reference tool to help them solve challenges and reinforce their understanding of ocean science.
Begin by explaining to students that oceans cover over 70% of Earth’s surface and are essential to life on our planet. Oceans help regulate climate, support countless ecosystems, and are home to a wide range of marine organisms. Earth has five major oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern. Coral reefs, formed by living coral polyps, are important ecosystems that provide shelter for marine life but are very sensitive to pollution and temperature changes. Tide pools form when ocean water gets trapped in rocky crevices during low tide, creating temporary homes for creatures like crabs, sea stars, and sea anemones that must adapt to shifting conditions.
As students dive deeper into the adventure, they’ll learn that salinity is the amount of salt dissolved in ocean water, and it affects how dense the water is. Along with temperature, salinity helps drive deep ocean circulation. Tiny organisms called plankton drift through the ocean and play a crucial role in the marine food chain. Phytoplankton, a type of plankton, make food using sunlight through photosynthesis and provide energy for many marine animals. Marine animals—such as whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and fish—are specially adapted to live in saltwater environments.
The lesson also explores the ocean floor, which includes mountains, valleys, plains, and trenches. The deepest known part of the ocean is the Mariana Trench. Scientists use sonar to map the ocean floor, since much of it is too deep and dark to explore by sight alone. As you go deeper underwater, pressure increases. Humans need special equipment to handle the intense pressure at these depths, while deep sea creatures have unique adaptations to survive in extreme conditions. Finally, students will learn about ocean currents, which move water around the globe. These currents affect weather, climate, and the movement of marine life. Some currents flow on the surface, while others move deep below, driven by changes in temperature and salinity.
Distribute the vocabulary trading cards at the beginning of the lesson, and encourage students to keep them nearby as they watch the video and complete the online adventure. After the video, explain that they will use what they’ve learned—along with the information on their trading cards—to complete the Deep Sea Discovery escape room challenge. Each correct answer will reveal a new letter of a secret code word. Once they solve all the challenges, they’ll unlock the final question and complete the mission.
After the adventure, bring the class back together to reflect on what they learned. Ask students to share their favorite parts of the exploration, review vocabulary terms using the cards, and reinforce the importance of the ocean to life on Earth. With the instructional video, online escape room, trading cards, and this guide, you have everything you need to lead an exciting, standards-aligned lesson on oceans—no prep required.
Deep Sea Discovery – Teacher Answer Key
Use this quick-reference sheet to check student responses during the Deep Sea Discovery interactive escape room. Each question aligns with a vocabulary word and key concept from the lesson.
Question: What covers most of Earth’s surface?
Answer: Oceans
Question: What forms coral reefs?
Answer: Coral polyps
Question: What is a tide pool?
Answer: A rock pool filled with ocean water
Question: What is salinity?
Answer: The amount of salt in water
Question: What tiny organisms make food using sunlight?
Answer: Phytoplankton
Question: What type of animal lives in saltwater?
Answer: Marine animals
Question: What do scientists use to map the ocean floor?
Answer: Sonar
Question: What happens to pressure as you dive deeper?
Answer: It increases
Question: What moves ocean water and impacts climate?
Answer: Currents