**A REGULATORY AGENCY'S ROLE IN MARINE EDUCATION:**

# CURRENT AND FUTURE RESOURCES

Barbara Wallace

Minerals Management Service

Environmental Sciences Branch

381 Elden Street

Herndon, VA 20170

**Introduction**

Ocean education is getting attention at the highest levels of the
Federal government. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy devotes a
chapter to it in its report to the President and Congress. The
Commission's Chair, Admiral James D. Watkins, Chairman, identifies ocean
education as one of four areas requiring change if we are "to achieve a
national ocean policy which is viable, effective, balanced, based on
credible science, and adaptable to new information and improved
management tools."[^1]

NOPP, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program, a collaborative
effort of 15 Federal agencies established by Congress to provide
leadership and coordination of national oceanographic research and
education programs, recently conducted a survey to better understand
current Federal investment in ocean-related education. Survey results
and other work will assist the National Ocean Research Leadership
Council make sound decisions on continued Federal investment in ocean
education.

The Minerals Management Service (MMS), a bureau of the U.S. Department
of the Interior, is a charter member of NOPP and participated in their
survey on ocean education. MMS manages the nation's oil, natural gas and
other mineral resources such as sand and gravel in the U.S. offshore
Federal waters known as the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).[^2] So why is
MMS, a regulatory agency, interested in ocean education? For two primary
reasons:

1.  We need an informed public to make wise decisions about our offshore
    mineral resources. The OCS provides about 25 percent of the natural
    gas and 30 percent of the oil produced in the United States and thus
    plays a significant role in our nation's energy supply. MMS also
    collects, accounts for, and disburses mineral revenues from Federal
    and American Indian lands. The bureau serves as the trustee of
    America's offshore energy resources, archaeological treasures, and
    marine environment and plays a vital role in the nation's financial
    stability, environmental health, and energy future. To carry out our
    job, we need an ocean-literate public able to make choices and
    influence decision making based on information and knowledge.

2.  We need ocean-literate employees to carry out our mission; not just
    current employees but future ones. We need an ocean-literate labor
    supply. Future employees in particular will need to be well-versed
    in emerging issues such as hydrates, wind, and alternative energy
    uses and issues yet to be identified.

As a result of these needs, MMS has an active and growing marine
education program for the general public, educators, and students to:

-   Ensure wise offshore minerals decision making through an informed
    public.

-   Enhance ocean literacy.

-   Introduce students to the professions that study and protect ocean
    life and resources.

Our marine education program draws largely from research results of our
Environmental Studies Program (ESP). The Studies Program was established
in 1973 to provide scientific and technical information needed to
predict, assess, and manage impacts in the human, marine, and coastal
environments from the offshore oil and gas program. The bureau's three
regions and Headquarters contribute to the ESP.[^3] This paper describes
MMS's current and future education resources and activities.

**Current Components of MMS's Education Program**

MMS's current marine education program has the following components
which are described briefly below:

-   Printed materials and distribution mechanisms.[^4]

-   Partnerships.

-   Internships.

Some of our education materials and activities result from our
participation in workshops and conferences. Some result from user groups
approaching us for written products or suggesting partnering or other
activities. Others are MMS-initiated.

**Printed Materials and Distribution Mechanisms**

**Curriculum Guides and Activities.** MMS has prepared about a dozen
curriculum guides and activities that bring ocean science into the
classroom. These resources focus on one or more of the following topics:
offshore energy production; marine habitats, ecosystems, or specific
species (e.g., whales); marine life living in proximity to offshore oil
and gas platforms; ocean chemistry; earthquakes; scientific methods; and
shipwrecks. Some of these materials are posters with companion lesson
plans, some are activity books with or without an accompanying poster,
and some are lesson plans with activities. The materials are targeted at
specific grade levels ranging from K-12. Depending on the poster,
activity book, or lesson plan, these materials and activities can be
used in conjunction with lessons on geology, geography, environmental
science, math, and even social studies.

**Booklets.** MMS has prepared two booklets for classroom use on ocean
education. One, for grades K-8, reviews ocean energy sources. The other,
for grades 4-12, focuses on the importance of offshore sand and gravel
deposits to coastal communities. MMS also has a booklet that reviews our
role in protecting our oceans.

**MMS websites**[^5]. Each MMS region and headquarters has a website
with its own Kids' Page. Each Kids' Page links to each of the other
Kids' Pages. The Kids' Pages for the regions reflect their unique
characteristics. Each Kids' Page has downloadable materials or ordering
information for materials.

The Alaska Region's Alaska Kids' Corner,[^6] has several sections
devoted to MMS activities in the Alaska region or to subjects related to
Alaska. These include a photo gallery of Alaskan animals, Native People,
oil and gas operations, and Alaskan scenery. The Short Subject section
describes several oil-related topics such as types of drilling units,
oil platforms, and ice islands as well as the annual bowhead whale
aerial survey and Alaskan volcanoes. The People-at-Work section
describes some of the work that MMS staff members perform. The Lab
Experiments section includes an experiment to demonstrate how
semi-submersible drilling units use ballast to minimize wave motion. The
Just for Kids section includes downloadable activity pages.

The Pacific Region's Kids' Playground[^7] includes a photo album showing
students and MMS scientists interacting in various learning settings, a
downloadable activity book, and *Tidepool Math* which teaches basic math
and science principles through the eyes of a tidepool.

The Gulf of Mexico's Kids' Page,[^8] called Educational Resources,
includes sections on the diversity of careers and people working for
MMS, teaching and learning materials, teacher's companions for the
region's posters, classroom activities, articles on Gulf of
Mexico-related topics, and a glossary of terms used in the oil and gas
industry. Descriptions and ordering information are provided for the
teaching and learning materials and the teacher's companions. The
classroom activities are downloadable.

The MMS headquarters Kids' Page[^9] includes links to a variety of
downloadable educational material. These include *Tidepool Math* on the
Pacific website, *Ocean Energy*, which focuses on energy resources in,
over, and under the ocean, and *The* *Ocean's Sand*, which focuses on
sand and gravel and why we need it for our beaches.

The MMS websites are also sources of information on all MMS activities
and sponsored research. This information is available to teachers or
students seeking information on topics related to our mission and
research. The websites include profiles of the environmental studies
underway as well as many of the completed studies. The search mechanism
pulls from the three regions and headquarters.

**Local Resource Centers.** The Alaska and Pacific MMS regions also use
local resource centers to distribute our educational materials. The
Alaska MMS region provides MMS material to the Alaska Resources Library
and Information Services, a partnership of eight Federal and State
agency natural and cultural resource libraries. The Alaska Resource
Library provides a centrally located, comprehensive collection of Arctic
environmental information. The Pacific MMS Region provides MMS
educational material to the University of California Santa Barbara
Educators' Resource Center and the Ventura County Superintendent of
Schools' Resource Center.

**Partnerships that Promote Education**

**NOPP.** MMS co-sponsors a number of NOPP-affiliated research projects.
Some of these sponsored research efforts include an educational
component.

**Local Schools.** The Alaska and Pacific MMS Regions and Herndon, VA
Headquarters office have established a relationship with a specific
school in their communities. The Alaska Region MMS office sponsors and
provides judges for the annual science fair in cooperation with the PTA,
provides biologists to teach wildlife and ecology during Outdoor Week,
and participates in other school activities.

The Pacific Region MMS office provides guest instructors on ecology,
biology, oil and gas, and careers in these disciplines, field trip
assistance in biology and ecology, information support to educators, and
participates in curriculum planning committees.

The Herndon VA Headquarters office provides guest instructors, tutors,
and mentors to its local school. Staff also participate in Science
Fairs, Earth Day, and after school clubs.

**Programs to Promote Science, Engineering, and Mathematics.** The Gulf
of Mexico and Pacific Regions are involved with local programs that
promote science, engineering, and mathematics. A staff member from the
Gulf of Mexico Region serves on the Board of Directors of the Louisiana
Engineering Achievement Program (LEAP), a pre-college project
coordinated by the University of New Orleans designed to attract ethnic
minority students to the field of engineering. MMS staff have also
visited a LEAP school. The Gulf of Mexico Region also helps sponsor a
Saturday Science Academy designed to encourage the interest of
economically disadvantaged elementary and middle school students in
mathematics and science.

The Pacific Region has a seat on the Board of Directors of Mathematics,
Engineering and Science Achievement (MESA), a non-profit organization
devoted to developing academic and leadership skills, raising
educational expectations, and instilling confidence in bright minority
junior and senior high school students. The Board oversees program
development and partnership opportunities between MESA, industry, and
government organizations. The Region's staff also serve as tutors and
mentors to MESA students in math and science.

**Museums.** The Pacific Region maintains a seat on the Santa Barbara
Maritime Museum Oil Resources Committee which oversees development of
permanent exhibits and educational programs on offshore oil and gas. The
Region assisted in the conceptual design of *Skyscrapers on the Sea*, a
16-minute video highlighting life on a California offshore oil platform
and the history of oil resources in the Santa Barbara Channel. The video
is part of the museum's permanent theatre rotation and is available to
local teachers.

The Gulf of Mexico Region is an in-kind sponsor of the Offshore Energy
Center's Ocean Star Museum, a refurbished jack-up rig on Galveston
Island, Texas which chronicles the history and technological
accomplishments of the offshore energy industry. The Region provided an
interactive video and technical assistance with pictures used throughout
the museum. The Region's posters and other educational materials are
included in the Offshore Energy Center's Knowledge Box, a traveling
supply of teachers' resource materials.

**Internships**

The Alaska Region provides internship opportunities to Alaska Native and
American Indian students through INSTEP, Internship Program for Native
Student Training and Education Program. This program is a partnership of
the U.S. Department of the Interior's agencies in Alaska and the
University of Alaska, Anchorage Native Student Services. It is designed
to increase Federal government recruitment and hiring of Alaska Native
and American Indians in Alaska.

The Pacific Region has a cooperative agreement with Oxnard College to
provide internships and work for school credit assignments, and
participate in special projects such as teacher training. Oxnard College
is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.
The Region also provides internships to Oxnard High School students in
the spring semester.

**Bringing Ocean Science to Life: Examples from MMS's Activities**

The following are descriptions of three of our educational efforts to
illustrate how we are using some of the recommendations from the Ocean
Commission to improve knowledge of the ocean.

Incorporate ocean science into the classroom:

-   *Tidepool Math* is a lesson plan (one for grades K-8 and another for
    9-12) that teaches basic math and scientific method through the eyes
    of a tidepool. The lesson plan for K-8 uses a plot of a mussel bed
    to understand the scientific applications of counting and estimating
    and to show that the physical and biological environments are
    constantly changing. It allows students to apply the math skills
    they are learning to work done by field biologists to monitor the
    environment. It includes flashcards and photographs of scientists
    collecting data.

> *Tidepool Math* for grades 9-12 is designed to increase awareness of
> the diversity of animals and plants in rocky intertidal habitats,
> teach random, systematic, and targeted sampling approaches, compare
> estimates, counts, and means, and introduce statistical concepts used
> to design a study and analyze environmental data. This is accomplished
> through a series of classroom exercises.

-   *Chemistry in the Gulf of Mexico* is a poster and teacher's
    companion designed to complement a basic high school chemistry class
    by depicting the natural chemical processes in the Gulf of Mexico.
    It is designed to help get high school students excited about
    chemistry and consider it as a career.

> According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistic's
> Occupational Outlook Handbook 2004-05 edition, "chemists will be
> needed to develop and improve the technologies and processes used to
> produce chemicals for all purposes, and to monitor and measure air and
> water pollutants to ensure compliance with local, State, and Federal
> regulations."[^10] Employment for chemists is expected to increase
> about 10 to 20 percent through 2012.

Use exploration as an inspiration:

-   MMS has partnered with NOPP and NOAA's (National Oceanic and
    Atmospheric Administration) Office of Ocean Exploration to
    investigate the long-term effect of shipwrecks on the deep sea and
    conversely, the effect of the environment on those structures. The
    study will document seven shipwreck sites as historic properties
    significant to American history. It will also seek to determine if
    man-made artificial structures (i.e., shipwrecks) function as
    artificial reefs in deep water. This study has a significant
    outreach and education component. A video documentary on the study
    is being produced by an award winning film maker and there will be a
    website which will follow the project's progress. This project
    demonstrates the interdisciplinary nature of oceanographic research
    \-- part engineering, history, biology, and chemistry -- and the
    cost leveraging opportunities from interagency cooperation and
    coordination through partnering arrangements.

**MMS's Education Program Going Forward**

Going forward, MMS will conduct marine and energy education efforts
within the framework of a four-year plan. The plan will be approved
annually by the MMS Executive Council with appropriate funding and
staffing allocations. Under this plan, we expect to:

-   Promote public awareness and interest in ocean energy issues.

-   Promote integration of ocean energy issues into K-12 math and
    science curricula through preparation of educational materials,
    workshops, the Internet, and teacher and association conferences.

-   Establish a feedback mechanism for MMS education projects and
    products.

-   Continue and enhance our partnerships with science and ocean
    education organizations.

The content for new education products will come primarily from the
environmental studies results. We have completed over 900 studies
related to ocean issues and the offshore oil and gas industry. Our
current education materials only scratch the surface of the research
results we could develop into educational resources. We will continue to
draw from these results in our new products.

Also going forward, an educational component will be built into selected
studies. The criteria for identifying which new studies will include an
educational component are currently under development. This new
requirement for some studies will, of necessity, bring expertise in
education and various medium such as video, to the study from its design
phase. This approach will provide high quality products appropriate to
the subject matter and the message being conveyed. We expect this
requirement will result in a range of products and might include
interactive websites, live webcasts, videos, as well as printed
materials. The educational component will be appropriate to the specific
study.

Our educational resources will continue to focus on our area of
expertise \-- the ocean and ocean energy. Within those broad categories,
there are many topics to highlight. We will continue to respond to
requests from users of our materials for information on specific topics.
We also expect to provide our user groups with materials on emerging
issues or hot topics in ocean science; a current example being methane
hydrates.

MMS's marine education efforts are evolving. They are proactive on our
part and responsive to user needs, depending on the circumstances. In
the end, our efforts seek to improve our constituents' knowledge of the
ocean and inspire young people to make the study of the ocean their
vocation if not their avocation.

+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| *   | * |         | **    | **F    | **Description**                   |
| *Re | * |         | Audie | ocus** |                                   |
| gio | N |         | nce** |        |                                   |
| n** | a |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | m |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | * |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | * |         |       |        |                                   |
+=====+===+=========+=======+========+===================================+
| **P |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ost |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ers |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| and |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| Com |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| pan |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ion |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| Les |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| son |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| s** |   |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | C |         | G     | Ocean  | -   Poster and teacher's          |
| ulf | h |         | rades | and    |     companion designed to         |
|     | e |         | 10-12 | s      |     complement a basic high       |
|     | m |         |       | cience |     school chemistry class by     |
|     | i |         |       | edu    |     depicting the natural         |
|     | s |         |       | cation |     chemical processes occurring  |
|     | t |         |       |        |     in the Gulf of Mexico         |
|     | r |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | y |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | i |         |       |        |     [www                          |
|     | n |         |       |        | .gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lag |
|     | t |         |       |        | niapp.htlm](http://www.gomr.mms.g |
|     | h |         |       |        | ov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.htlm) |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | G |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | u |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | l |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | M |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | x |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | c |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | C |         | G     | Ocean  | -   Poster and teacher's          |
| ulf | h |         | rades | edu    |     companion designed to         |
|     | e |         | 6-12  | cation |     introduce chemosynthetic      |
|     | m |         |       |        |     communities (deep sea animals |
|     | o |         |       |        |     living on dissolved gases)    |
|     | s |         |       |        |     and other ecological concepts |
|     | y |         |       |        |     to middle and high school     |
|     | n |         |       |        |     students                      |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | h |         |       |        | -   Teacher's companion contains  |
|     | e |         |       |        |     a glossary of terms, examples |
|     | t |         |       |        |     of different types of         |
|     | i |         |       |        |     chemosynthetic communities,   |
|     | c |         |       |        |     and a crossword puzzle        |
|     | C |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | m |         |       |        |     [www                          |
|     | m |         |       |        | .gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lag |
|     | u |         |       |        | niapp.htlm](http://www.gomr.mms.g |
|     | n |         |       |        | ov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.htlm) |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | s |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | n |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | h |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | G |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | u |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | l |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | M |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | x |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | c |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | G |         | G     | Ocean  | -   Poster and teacher's          |
| ulf | u |         | rades | and    |     companion designed to         |
|     | l |         | 6-12  | s      |     highlight and describe        |
|     | f |         |       | cience |     various seafloor habitats in  |
|     | o |         |       | edu    |     the Gulf of Mexico, the       |
|     | f |         |       | cation |     geology that drives them, and |
|     | M |         |       |        |     the marine animals associated |
|     | e |         |       |        |     with these ecosystems         |
|     | x |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        | -   Teacher's companion contains  |
|     | c |         |       |        |     an explanation of three       |
|     | o |         |       |        |     topographic features and      |
|     | O |         |       |        |     classroom activities          |
|     | a |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | s |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | e |         |       |        |     [www                          |
|     | s |         |       |        | .gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lag |
|     |   |         |       |        | niapp.htlm](http://www.gomr.mms.g |
|     |   |         |       |        | ov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.htlm) |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | I |         | G     | Ocean  | -   Poster and teacher's          |
| ulf | s |         | rades | edu    |     companion designed to         |
|     | l |         | 6-12  | cation |     demonstrate that marine life  |
|     | a |         |       |        |     and offshore production can   |
|     | n |         |       |        |     coexist and that offshore     |
|     | d |         |       |        |     structures provide an         |
|     | s |         |       |        |     artificial reef system        |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        | -   Teacher's companion includes  |
|     | L |         |       |        |     illustrations, photos, a quiz |
|     | i |         |       |        |     and puzzles                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     |   |         |       |        |     [www                          |
|     |   |         |       |        | .gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lag |
|     |   |         |       |        | niapp.htlm](http://www.gomr.mms.g |
|     |   |         |       |        | ov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.htlm) |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | W |         | G     | Ocean  | -   Poster and teacher's          |
| ulf | h |         | rades | edu    |     companion designed to         |
|     | a |         | K-12  | cation |     introduce students to the 28  |
|     | l |         |       |        |     species of whales and         |
|     | e |         |       |        |     dolphins living in the Gulf   |
|     | s |         |       |        |     of Mexico                     |
|     | a |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | n |         |       |        | -   Teacher's companion includes  |
|     | d |         |       |        |     basic biological information  |
|     | D |         |       |        |     on the species living in the  |
|     | o |         |       |        |     Gulf, describes governmental  |
|     | l |         |       |        |     protection of these animals,  |
|     | p |         |       |        |     and suggested classroom       |
|     | h |         |       |        |     activities                    |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | n |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | s |         |       |        |     [www                          |
|     | o |         |       |        | .gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lag |
|     | f |         |       |        | niapp.htlm](http://www.gomr.mms.g |
|     | t |         |       |        | ov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.htlm) |
|     | h |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | G |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | u |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | l |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | M |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | x |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | c |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| **  |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| Pos |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ter |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| and |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| Ac  |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| tiv |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ity |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| Boo |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| k** |   |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| N/A | D |         | G     | Ocean  | -   Coloring poster and activity  |
|     | i |         | rades | edu    |     book developed by the         |
|     | s |         | K-3   | cation |     National Energy Education     |
|     | c |         |       |        |     Development (NEED) project    |
|     | o |         |       |        |     and funded by MMS, DOE, and   |
|     | v |         |       |        |     the National Ocean Industries |
|     | e |         |       |        |     Association for Energy        |
|     | r |         |       |        |     Awareness Month               |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        | -   Designed to illustrate the    |
|     | s |         |       |        |     many ways in which energy is  |
|     | f |         |       |        |     produced offshore             |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | r |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | E |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | v |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | r |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | y |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | n |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| **  |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| Cur |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ric |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ulu |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| m** |   |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | C |         | Grade | Ocean  | -   Collection of 2-page          |
| ulf | l |         | K-6   | edu    |     classroom activity sheets     |
|     | a |         |       | cation |     related to offshore oil and   |
|     | s |         |       |        |     gas                           |
|     | s |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | r |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | o |         |       |        |     [www                          |
|     | o |         |       |        | .gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lag |
|     | m |         |       |        | niapp.html](http://www.gomr.mms.g |
|     | A |         |       |        | ov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.html) |
|     | c |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | v |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | s |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | D |         | G     | S      | -   Instructions for a classroom  |
| ulf | r |         | rades | cience |     activity that allows students |
|     | i |         | K-12  | edu    |     to drill for oil and for use  |
|     | l |         |       | cation |     in conjunction with lessons   |
|     | l |         |       |        |     on geology, geography,        |
|     | i |         |       |        |     environmental science, and    |
|     | n |         |       |        |     math                          |
|     | g |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | o |         |       |        |     [www                          |
|     | r |         |       |        | .gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lag |
|     | O |         |       |        | niapp.html](http://www.gomr.mms.g |
|     | i |         |       |        | ov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.html) |
|     | l |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| G   | I |         | G     |        | -   Lesson plan that complies     |
| ulf | n |         | rades |        |     with standards set forth by   |
|     | s |         | 4-12  |        |     the National Council for the  |
|     | t |         |       |        |     Social Studies focused on the |
|     | r |         |       |        |     shipwrecked sidewheel         |
|     | u |         |       |        |     steamship Josephine           |
|     | c |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        | -   Designed to help students     |
|     | i |         |       |        |     learn about the maritime      |
|     | o |         |       |        |     industry along the Gulf Coast |
|     | n |         |       |        |     of the United States in the   |
|     | a |         |       |        |     19^th^ century or to          |
|     | l |         |       |        |     understand the importance of  |
|     | R |         |       |        |     merchant steamships in the    |
|     | e |         |       |        |     settlement of the Texas Gulf  |
|     | s |         |       |        |     Coast                         |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | u |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | r |         |       |        |     [www.mms.gov/mmskids]()       |
|     | c |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | f |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | r |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | h |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | S |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | d |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | w |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | h |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | l |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | S |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | a |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | m |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | r |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | J |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | s |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | p |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | h |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | i |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | n |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| P   | T |         | G     | S      | -   Lesson plan that teaches      |
| aci | i |         | rades | cience |     basic math principles and     |
| fic | d |         | K-8   | edu    |     scientific method through     |
|     | e |         | and   | cation |     sampling tidepool plats       |
|     | p |         | 9-12  |        |                                   |
|     | o |         |       |        | -   Separate curriculum for K-8   |
|     | o |         |       |        |     and high school               |
|     | l |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | M |         |       |        | -   Includes flashcards and       |
|     | a |         |       |        |     teacher kits                  |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | h |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     |   |         |       |        |     [www.mms.gov/omm/pa           |
|     |   |         |       |        | cific/kids/kids.htm](http://www.m |
|     |   |         |       |        | ms.gov/omm/pacific/kids/kids.htm) |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| P   | I |         | Grade | S      | -   Teacher's resource guide on   |
| aci | F |         | 3-6   | cience |     activities illustrating why   |
| fic | e |         |       | edu    |     and how earthquakes occur     |
|     | e |         |       | cation |                                   |
|     | l |         |       |        | -   Includes geologic background  |
|     | t |         |       |        |     information, classroom        |
|     | h |         |       |        |     activities, a resources list, |
|     | e |         |       |        |     and earthquake safety and     |
|     | E |         |       |        |     preparedness tips             |
|     | a |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | r |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     | t |         |       |        |     [www.mms.gov/omm/pa           |
|     | h |         |       |        | cific/kids/kids.htm](http://www.m |
|     | M |         |       |        | ms.gov/omm/pacific/kids/kids.htm) |
|     | o |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | v |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | U |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | n |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | d |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | r |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | M |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | y |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | F |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | e |         |       |        |                                   |
|     | t |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| *   |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| *Ac |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| tiv |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ity |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| Boo |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| k** |   |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| P   |   | Pe      | G     | Ocean  | -   Activity book that includes a |
| aci |   | troleum | rades | edu    |     crossword puzzle about        |
| fic |   | and Our | 1-4   | cation |     geology, marine life coloring |
|     |   | Envi    |       |        |     pages, a petroleum-based word |
|     |   | ronment |       |        |     search, and a counting game   |
|     |   |         |       |        |     on fishes beneath offshore    |
|     |   |         |       |        |     platforms                     |
|     |   |         |       |        |                                   |
|     |   |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     |   |         |       |        |     [www.mms.gov/omm/pa           |
|     |   |         |       |        | cific/kids/kids.htm](http://www.m |
|     |   |         |       |        | ms.gov/omm/pacific/kids/kids.htm) |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| Ala |   | Just    | G     | S      | -   Activity book on Alaska       |
| ska |   | for     | rades | cience |                                   |
|     |   | Kids    | 1-4   | edu    | -   Includes a crossword puzzle,  |
|     |   |         |       | cation |     geology lesson, name the      |
|     |   |         |       |        |     animal quizzes, and a         |
|     |   |         |       |        |     petroleum-based word search   |
|     |   |         |       |        |                                   |
|     |   |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     |   |         |       |        |     [www.mms.gov/mmskids]()       |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| *   |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| *Pu |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| bli |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| cat |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| ion |   |         |       |        |                                   |
| s** |   |         |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| H   |   | Ocean   | G     | Ocean  | -   Booklet that reviews energy   |
| ead |   | Energy  | rades | edu    |     sources from the ocean        |
| -qu |   |         | K-8   | cation |                                   |
| art |   |         |       |        | -   Includes hands-on activities  |
| ers |   |         |       |        |                                   |
|     |   |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     |   |         |       |        |     [www.mms.gov/mmskids]()       |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| H   |   | The     | G     | Ocean  | -   Booklet on the importance of  |
| ead |   | Ocean's | rades | edu    |     offshore sand and gravel      |
| -qu |   | Sand -- | 4-12  | cation |     deposits to coastal           |
| art |   | A       |       |        |     communities                   |
| ers |   | Natural |       |        |                                   |
|     |   | R       |       |        | -   Includes hands-on activities  |
|     |   | esource |       |        |                                   |
|     |   |         |       |        | -   Available at                  |
|     |   |         |       |        |     [www.mms.gov/mmskids]()       |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+
| H   |   | M       | G     | Ocean  | -   Booklet that reviews MMS's    |
| ead |   | inerals | rades | edu    |     role in protecting our oceans |
| -qu |   | Man     | 9-12  | cation |                                   |
| art |   | agement | and   |        |                                   |
| ers |   | Service | b     |        |                                   |
|     |   | -- Our  | eyond |        |                                   |
|     |   | Ocean   |       |        |                                   |
|     |   | Role    |       |        |                                   |
+-----+---+---------+-------+--------+-----------------------------------+

[^1]: Remarks by Admiral James D. Watkins, "Sustaining Our Oceans: A
    Public Resource, A Public Trust" before the National Academies/Ocean
    Studies Board, November 5, 2003. The other three areas are: a new
    model for ocean governance, adoption of an ecosystem-based
    management strategy, and increased investment in science and
    technology.

[^2]: Offshore lands, known as the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS),
    generally begin three geographical miles offshore coastal states,
    except in Texas and the west coast of Florida where OCS lands begin
    three marine leagues (or approximately 10.3 miles) offshore.

[^3]: The Offshore Minerals Management program, headquartered in
    Washington, DC and Herndon, VA, is responsible for all aspects of
    OCS resource management in three regions: Alaska (based in
    Anchorage), Pacific (based in Camarillo, CA), and Gulf of Mexico,
    which includes the Atlantic Region, (based in New Orleans).

[^4]: See the Appendix for a list and description of MMS's marine
    educational materials.

[^5]: The descriptions of the MMS websites reflect their content at the
    time this paper was written.

[^6]: [www.mms.gov/alaska/kids/index.htm](http://www.mms.gov/alaska/kids/index.htm)

[^7]: [www.mms.gov/omm/pacific/kids/kids.htm](http://www.mms.gov/omm/pacific/kids/kids.htm)

[^8]: www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/lagniapp/lagniapp.html

[^9]: [www.mms.gov/mmskids/](http://www.mms.gov/mmskids/)

[^10]: www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm.