Coastal Studies Institute: K-12 Programs

*All K-12 program fees are $10 per student unless otherwise noted. To request a group to visit for one of the following programs, please click on the link to the right.

Middle School Programs (grades 5-8)

Energy Principles

  • This program can have two tracks, one which focuses on basic oceanography principles through a series of hands-on activities and wave tank observations to understand the process of harnessing electrical power from the ocean or one that focuses on basic energy literacy principles.
  • The Standards covered are: P.2, 6.P.1.1, 6.E.1.1, 6.E.2.2, 7.P.2, 7.E.1, 8.P.2, 8.E.1

Estuary Ecosystems

  • Students investigate the unique local estuarine ecosystem through hands-on experiences. Activities could include water sampling, plankton sampling, seining, soil sampling and wetland mapping. Data collected will be combined with the data from other classes to create a record of the brackish water system.
  • The Standards covered are: L.2, 6.L.1, 6.L.2, 7.L.1, 8.E.1, 8.L.3

North Carolina Shipwrecks

  • Students “uncover” the identity of a mock shipwreck on CSI campus through observations and data collection. This program focuses on the unique maritime history of NC, the science of diving and the role of shipwrecks as artificial reefs. Math, graphing, and scaled drawing will be used to create a map of what remains.
  • The Standards covered are: C.1, 5.G.1, 6.E.1, 8.H.1, 8.H.2, 8.E.1, 8.L.3

Ocean Technology

  • This program highlights the technology used by CSI scientists to collect oceanographic and estuarine data in harsh, salty environments. Students will design and construct an observational buoy, drifter or Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV). Code writing and drone piloting are possible extensions of this program.
  • The Standards covered are: E.1, 5.L.2, 6.L.2, 7.E.1, 8.E.1

Rising Waters

  • This two-part educational program was developed in partnership with Dr. Casey Dietrich, an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, with funding from North Carolina Sea Grant. The program highlights research that focuses on the impact of storms on estuary waters circulation and surge, especially in coastal NC. Students will learn about storm surge modeling and predict the expected surge for an example storm as it approaches the Outer Banks.
  • The Standards covered are: E.2, 7.E.1, 8.E.1, EEn.2.1, EEn.2.5, EEn.2.6, NC.8.EE.4

Sustainable Coastal Communities

  • Students investigate promoting economic growth on the Outer Banks while preserving fragile natural resources and valuable cultural heritage. They explore the needs of estuarine ecosystems as well as the needs of a successful Outer Banks community. Students design a community through a mapping process which includes utilizing sustainable designs, alternative energies, scales and templates. This program is successful with middle and high school students.
  • The Standards covered are: L.2, 5.E.1, 6.E.2, 8.E.1, Bio.2.1, Bio.2.2, EEn.2.2, EEn.2.4, EEn.2.7, EEn.2.8

Fishy Findings

  • Ecology is defined as the study of relationships between living things and their environment. Using sheepshead in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System as a case study, this lesson will highlight the importance of fisheries ecology studies and their contributions to better understanding of species, ecosystem interactions and balances, population changes, and future management practices.
  • The Standards covered are: 2.6.4, EEn.2.7.2, EEn.2.7.3, 8.L.3.1, Bio.2.1.2, Bio.2.1.3, Bio.2.1.4, Bio.2.2.1, Bio.2.2.2

High School Programs (grades 9-12)

Oyster Ecosystems

  • Oysters play an important role in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuary. Students investigate the biological relationships found among the shells of an oyster reef, identify different species of aquatic life, and measure oyster growth and size as they explore an oyster clump straight from the Croatan Sound.
  • The Standards covered are: 2.1, Bio.2.2, Bio.3.5, EEn.2.2, EEn.2.4

Power Potential: Ocean Energy

  • Ocean currents, tides and waves are potential sources for renewable energy. In this program students investigate basic oceanography concepts, engineering, and electricity principles. Students observe wave characteristics, explore concepts through hands-on activities and engineer a wave energy conversion device to create power.
  • The Standards covered are: 3.1, PSc.3.2, PSc.3.3, EEn.2.8, Phy.2.1, Phy.2.2, Phy.2.3, Phy.3.2

Rising Waters

  • This two-part educational program was developed in partnership with Dr. Casey Dietrich, an assistant professor at North Carolina State University, with funding from North Carolina Sea Grant. The program highlights research that focuses on the impact of storms on estuary waters circulation and surge, especially in coastal NC. Students will learn about storm surge modeling and predict the expected surge for an example storm as it approaches the Outer Banks.
  • The Standards covered are: E.2, 7.E.1, 8.E.1, EEn.2.1, EEn.2.5, EEn.2.6, NC.8.EE.4
  • Programmatic fee and bussing costs are covered through funding for this program.

Sustainable Communities

  • Students investigate promoting economic growth on the Outer Banks while preserving fragile natural resources and valuable cultural heritage. They explore the needs of estuarine ecosystems as well as the needs of a successful Outer Banks community. Students design a community through a mapping process which includes utilizing sustainable designs, alternative energies, scales and templates. This program is successful with middle and high school students.
  • The Standards covered are: L.2, 5.E.1, 6.E.2, 8.E.1, Bio.2.1, Bio.2.2, EEn.2.2, EEn.2.4, EEn.2.7, EEn.2.8

Water in Motion: Orbital Waves

  • Students explore energy transfer in orbital waves through observations made in a 10-meter wave tank. The data collected is used to solve mathematical equations to find the available energy in a wave, wave steepness, etc. They also investigate oceanographic equipment used to measure ocean waves and currents.
  • The Standards covered are: PSc.3.1, PSc.3.2, Phy.2.1, Phy.2.2

Changing Shorelines

  • Allow students to critically engage with the costs and benefits of beach nourishment in different towns along the Outer Banks. Students will investigate what makes certain areas more suited to receive nourishment, as well as think about the potential impacts on homeowners both if beach nourishment is implemented and if it is not. This activity allows students to creatively design a well-thought-out argument about an issue that is becoming increasingly central to the socio-economic infrastructure of coastal North Carolina.
  • The Standards covered are: CX.2.2, 8.P.1, I.1.5, I.1.6, I.1.7, I.1.8, I.1.9, I.1.10, EC.8.G.1.4

Fishy Findings

  • Ecology is defined as the study of relationships between living things and their environment. Using sheepshead in the Albemarle-Pamlico Estuarine System as a case study, this lesson will highlight the importance of fisheries ecology studies and their contributions to better understanding of species, ecosystem interactions and balances, population changes, and future management practices.
  • The Standards covered are: 2.6.4, EEn.2.7.2, EEn.2.7.3, 8.L.3.1, Bio.2.1.2, Bio.2.1.3, Bio.2.1.4, Bio.2.2.1, Bio.2.2.2

On-the-Water Boat Program

  • Explore the estuary in our on-the-water boat program.  You and your students will board the USCG certified Discovery for a two hour program in which students will learn about the estuarine habitats and their importance first hand.  Students will visit a nearby island where they will collect marine organisms and explore diverse estuarine habitats while learning about water quality and ways to protect these valuable nurseries. The cost for the boat program is $20 per student.