This 3-part interactive and virtual lab activity examines the life cycle of the sea urchin, and how the increasing acidity of the ocean affects their larval development.
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Educator should work through the interactive thoroughly before students start.
There are two options on the interactive lab bench section that asks if students want to use the signals that indicate is a correct lab technique choice has been made. It is strongly suggested that students use this.
Based on length of classroom time, educator may need to break up the virtual lab experience into two class periods, completing part one in the first class and part two in the second class.
Students should share their data on the board and create a class data table and graph, which could also include data from other classes doing the same activity.
VirtualUrchin website has several interactives that students can explore prior to doing the ocean acidification lab.
In exploring the effects of ocean acidification on larval development of sea urchins in a virtual lab, students consider ocean carbonate chemistry, pH, predator - prey relationships, marine calcifiers.
Comments from expert scientist: This is an exceptional activity. The activity explores the science of ocean acidification and how that acidification can affect the calcification of marine organisms. The activity is accurate and in depth. Understanding ocean acidification requires tackling some difficult chemistry. This activity illustrates the chemistry with interactive diagrams that are intuitive and scientifically accurate. What makes this activity outstanding in my opinion is the acidification lab, where a student conducts an experiment investigating the response of sea urchin calcification to different environmental pH levels.
VirtualUrchin website includes 8 interactive tutorials, plus teacher resources and links. Our Acidifying Ocean is the 8th tutorial in the series.
Interactives teach students about the concepts of pH and ocean carbonate chemistry in easy pop-up menus.
Interactives and virtual lab are well constructed and easy to follow.
The slide describing the carbon cycle in the ocean is fairly complex and difficult to understand for grade 6-10 students.
There is not a lot of background science content information provided for educator in the teacher resource section. However, the content material in the interactives is clear, simple and concise.
The video that shows the life cycle of a sea biscuit (very similar to sea urchin) in Part 1 is excellent.
