Midtown Community School's

"FLOW WITH THE GULF STREAM"

"Flow with the Gulf Stream" Activities

• History of the Gulf Stream - Lesson 1

  This lesson is a history of how the Gulf Stream was discovered. During this lesson an activity may be demonstrated in which students determine how water can move within water.

• North Atlantic Map - Lesson 1

• Warm Up to the Gulf Stream - Lesson 2

  The students will analyze an archived infrared image of the Gulf Stream and surrounding waters. They will answer related questions. As a follow-up activity, students can compare this map with a current infrared image in lesson 3.

• Drifter Buoys Map - Lesson 3

  Students will observe the direction and flow of the Gulf Stream using drifter buoy maps.

• Infrared Image - Lesson 3

  Students will use the infrared image to graph the changes in temperature along the same longitude line. They will graph this data using a computer graphing program.

  Click here to see and example graph.

• Phytoplankton Map - Lesson 4

• Phytoplankton Colorscale - Lesson 4

• Phytoplankton Concentrations Questions - Lesson 4

• Schools in Iceland - Lesson 5

  This site may be used to e-mail students to find out how the Gulf Stream affects their climate.

• Locations in Greenland - Lesson 5

  Compare the effects of the Gulf Stream on Greenland and Iceland. Here is another possible e-mail site in Greenland. GOOD LUCK!

• Concluding Activities

  1. Students will construct their own drifter bottle. They will enclose their e-mail or school address. Hopefully, these bottles can be set adrift in the Gulf Stream.

  2. Writing Activity - Pretend that you are a drop of water in the Gulf Stream. Tell about your journey.

  Created by:

  Midtown Science Department (Grades 5 thru 8)

  Elyse Deutsch edeutsch@bayonne.net
  Rosalie Moran rmoran@bayonne.net
  Suzanne Rabiner slra@research.att.com