Objectives
Students will be able to:

Materials
Concept Map (appropriate level) for each student working group
Level 1, Level 2, Level 3

Background
Concept Maps
A Concept Map (aka; webbing) is a type of graphic organizer that harnesses the power of our vision to understand complex information "at-a-glance." A concept map consists of cells that contain a concept (items) and links. The links (arrows) are labeled and explain the relationship between the cells, and the direction of the arrow represents the direction of the relationship.

Concept Maps can:

For assessment of this unit, three variations of a concept map have been created to best suit student ability levels. Students should work in small cooperative working groups to complete the assessment exercise. A Sample Response can be found below. The Sample is meant to be used only as a guide for evaluation as this exercise encourages creativity and student responses may vary dramatically, although each may be correct.

Level One - For this level of assessment, students are provided with major topic headings including the various terms that belong within the respective topics. The student working groups will be responsible for properly linking the topics.

Print one of the following documents to obtain the necessary materials. Create a full set for every student group. Cut the papers so that the students may move the headings around to best convey their ideas. Have the students glue their final arrangement of headings to a larger piece of paper, then draw in and label the links.

Level Two - For this level of assessment, students are provided with major topic headings. The students will also receive various terms that they must organize under the respective topic headings. Then the students will be responsible for properly linking the topics.

Print one of the following documents to obtain the necessary materials. Create a full set for every student group. Cut the papers so that the students may move the headings and the terms around to best convey their ideas. Have the students glue their final arrangement of headings and terms to a larger piece of paper, then draw in and label the links.

Level Three - For this level of assessment, the students are provided with major topic headings. As a working group, they must brainstorm appropriate terms to place under the topic headings. Then the students will be responsible for properly linking the topics.

Print one of the following documents to obtain the necessary materials. Create a full set for every student group. Cut the papers so that the students may move the headings around to best convey their ideas. Have the students glue their final arrangement of headings to a larger piece of paper, then draw in and label the links.

Some brief tutorials may be helpful for your students:

Air Pressure Systems Density of Water Coriolis Force Vectors How does the Ocean Move?  COOLClassroom (without audio, script) How does the Ocean Move?  COOLClassroom (with audio)

Procedure

1.  Obtain a concept map set.

2.  Arrange the pieces appropriately on the sheet of paper and draw directional arrows to represent how the topics interconnect.  Provide a written explanation for the linkages.


Assessment
Completed concept maps.


Implementation Tips
Use the concept map exercise as a pre/post activity to evaluate the understanding of currents gained by the students through participation in the unit.