Teaching Ocean Geography

Oceans are a fun topic to study in your homeschool any time of the year. When it comes to the geography of oceans, there are plenty of things to explore. And you can go as deep as you want to go, depending on the ages of your children.

Ocean Exploration

These items are in the category of general knowledge regarding oceans. Some of them we often hit in our other geography studies, some of them probably not.

• Identify the world’s oceans– When is the last time you looked at a modern map? Do you know how many oceans are named separately these days? My guess is you’ll find a new one you didn’t learn about as a kid.
• Map the oceans– Place them on a world map. Find out their size. Which one is the largest? The deepest?
• Study Navigation– How did people find their way around a long time ago? What equipment was required then and now?

Physical Geography of the Ocean

There is a wide range of physical geography related to the ocean and its behavior. It’s fascinating to study how the ocean behaves and how it affects the weather and the land. Try these out:

• Topography of the Ocean Floor– One of my favorite map images is a physical map which shows a satellite view of the bottom of the ocean. Have fun learning about ocean trenches and mountain ranges.
• Currents– Can you map the major world currents? How have people relied on them? Why are they so consistent?
• Waves & Tides– How do they form? How do they affect the land?
• Beaches– Where the ocean meets the land. Learn about erosion and barrier islands.
• Large Scale Phenomena– Study the Coriolis Effect & trade winds. The Coriolis Effect is responsible for an urban myth having to do with which way water goes down the drain. What can you find out?

Related Posts on Oceans

If you’d like to read about more ways to incorporate ocean geography into your study plans, read these fun posts!

• Teaching Geography with Earth Science– A look at how we studied earth science and geography together using North Star Geography.
• Geography Quest Shark Edition– You don’t want to miss this adventure for your shark loving kids.
• Weather Stations & Forecasting– Weather is changeable on the oceans. Learn a few things about watching the weather and how to forecast it.
• Adventures in Sailing, Exploring, & Navigation– Learn about the tools of navigation and how to use them.
• Exploring Oceanography in Your Homeschool– A complete list of topics for a study of oceanography.