SERTC: Educational Resources

SERTC Educational Poster Series
(click on title for larger view)

Sargassum
- a poster containing illustrations and information about Sargassum, "Golden Rainforests of the Sea" (24"x 36") Smooth Cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora
- a poster containing illustrations and information about Spartina alterniflora and the benefits of this predominant salt marsh plant species in the Southeast (24"x 36")

Sargassum poster Spartina poster

Islands Under the Sea
- a poster illustrating the major hardbottom areas on the continental shelf of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and north Florida, with images of some common invertebrates (24"x 36") Echinoderms of the coastal Carolinas, Georgia and northern Florida
- a poster that describes the differences among echinoderm groups and and illustrates some common species from the NC, SC, GA and FL coasts (24"x 36")

Islands under the Sea poster Echinoderms of the Coastal Carolinas, Georgia, and northern Florida poster

Jellies of South Carolina, Georgia and northeast Florida
-a poster containing illustrations and information about regional jellyfish (24"x 36") Cnidarians of the South Atlantic Bight
-a poster containing many vibrant images and information about the classification and biology of regional cnidarians (24"x 36")

Jellies of South Carolina, Georgia and northeast Florida poster Cnidarians poster

(please contact SERTC staff to obtain copies of these posters)

Guides

Guide to the Salt Marshes and Tidal Creeks of Southeastern United States
- This reference guide contains detailed descriptions and full color photographs of the invertebrates, plants and other natural artifacts likely to be encountered in a salt marsh-tidal creek ecosystem in the Southeast. It was developed to provide readers with an appreciation for this ecosystem and how important it is to sustaining our coast and quality of life. We hope you find this guide useful in your explorations, and that it provides you with an appreciation for the value of this important ecosystem.

Classroom sets of this guide are available to educators on a limited basis. Please email SERTC for more information. Access the guide digitally.

Brochures

The Asian Green Mussel - Unwelcome Addition to Fouling Communities of South Carolina
- an informational brochure about the introduced Asian green mussel, Perna viridis, problems associated with the species, habitat, similar native species, and how to recognize the mussel.

(please contact SERTC to obtain brochures)

Lesson Plans

The lesson plans below have been produced by other entities but coordinate well with SERTC publications. Please contact SERTC with suggestions for other lesson plans or for help finding materials to use in your classroom.

The Sea With No Shores - (PDF) a lesson plan focusing on the Sargassum ecosystem in the Sargasso Sea. This lesson plan was develped by educators working with the NOAA Ocean Exploration program during the 2002 Islands in the Stream:Exploring underwater Oases Expedition. (Grades 5-6)

Seashell Mapping (PDF) - A lesson plan from the NJ Sea Grant Consortium that focuses on classifying, identifying, organizing, observing, and interpreting while working with shells. (Grades 4-8)

What Lives in A Shell

Educational articles

Survey of Hard Bottom Areas on the Continental Shelf - (PDF) article describing the 2005 cruise aboard the NOAA ship Nancy Foster

Sampling the Charleston Bump: Finding a Needle in a Haystack (PDF) - photodocumentary illustrating some of the different methods of offshore specimen collecting

Ragged Claws Under Silent Seas - Deep Water Crabs of the Charleston Bump (PDF) - a photodocumentary about deep sea crabs in their dark environment

Please visit our Featured Species page for an up-close look at a selected invertebrate or group, as well as access to archived articles.