The ocean regulates our weather and climate.
It supplies food, medicine, minerals, and energy resources.
Our environment, economy, and society all depend on the processes of the ocean.
Understanding the ocean is therefore essential to comprehending and protecting the planet on which we live.
Hundreds of ocean scientists, science educators (K–12 and informal) and learning researchers have developed a set of over-arching concepts that guide the K–12 teaching and learning of ocean sciences. An ocean literate person understands of the ocean’s influence on them—and their influence on the ocean. The seven Ocean Literacy Principles describe what we should all know and understand about the ocean and aquatic environments (Table 1).
The wide range of scientific endeavors and concepts related to coastal and ocean science fits well into general science courses across scientific disciplines and grade levels. The Sea-Earth-Atmosphere Grade 3–5 curriculum is guided by the Ocean Literacy Principles, associated fundamental concepts, and scope and sequence.
An ocean literate person: