Today’s students will be making tomorrow’s decisions with respect to management of natural resources, the appropriate uses of technology, and funding for science. They will need to be equipped to understand the ever-changing, complex issues surrounding the uses of biotechnology in the marine environment. In order to assist teachers with imparting critical information about this emerging field, the Oregon and Hawaii Sea Grant programs developed the curriculum found here for grades 9-12. The curriculum, Marine Biotechnology: Marine Biotech Gets Wet, is the result of a successful collaboration among high school teachers, research scientists, and university administrators. This curriculum can be used with a wide range of high school students from those in general biology, chemistry, marine biology, or environmental science classes to advanced students. Teachers may choose as many or as few lessons as appropriate for their classroom plans.

Each activity includes the following elements:

• Focus question: asks a question that will be explored by the activity
• Learning objective: lists the skills and concepts the student will gain from the activity
• Teaching time: gives an estimated asmount of time for the activity (one class period is considered to be 50 minutes)
• Materials: lists equipment and other materials needed to conduct the activity
• Procedure: step-by-step directions to conduct the activity
that can be printed and handed out to students, with complete answer keys.
• Student Questions and Teacher Answer Key: comprehension questions for each activity
• References and further reading: helpful sources that should be researched by the teacher before the unit is taught, or that can be used by the students

State (Oregon and Hawaii) and national education standards addressed by each activity are included in a separate section.

Please explore the many activities outlined here, and let us know if you have questions or suggestions.