Ocean Literacy

Theoretical Framework

Ocean literacy refers to understanding the ocean’s influence on humans and humans’ influence on the ocean. It is not only a means of increasing public awareness about the oceans, but also an approach designed to encourage all citizens and stakeholders to adopt more responsible and informed behaviors toward the ocean and its resources. The Ocean Literacy Framework was developed by numerous scientists and educators within the ocean sciences education community. It consists of three consensus-based documents.

First – The Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts of Ocean Sciences (K–12)

Ocean Literacy Guide, Version 2, March 2013

This guide defines ocean literacy and outlines seven key principles of ocean sciences that all students should understand by the end of high school. These Essential Principles are supported and explained by 45 Fundamental Concepts, which were developed through a consensus-building process involving more than 100 ocean scientists and educators.

The seven principles of ocean literacy are as follows:

1. The Earth has one large ocean with many features.
2. The ocean and life within it shape the features of the Earth.
3. The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.
4. The ocean made the Earth habitable.
5. The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.
6. The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.
7. The ocean remains largely unexplored.

Second – Ocean Literacy Scope & Sequence for Grades K-12

The ocean sciences education community developed a Scope and Sequence to demonstrate how the seven principles can be taught across different grade levels. The Scope and Sequence provides educators with guidance on what students should understand in Grades K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12 to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the Essential Principles.

Together, the ocean literacy principles and the Scope and Sequence serve as practical resources that educators and policymakers use to enhance teaching and learning about the ocean in schools, museums, aquariums, science centers, parks, and other informal learning environments.

Third – Alignment of Ocean Literacy with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

This document presents the correlations between the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)—specifically the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI) and Performance Expectations (PE)—and the concepts included in the Ocean Literacy Guide and the Ocean Literacy Scope & Sequence. The alignment documents are organized by grade bands (K–2, 3–5, 6–8, and 9–12) and were developed by the National Marine Educators Association Ocean Literacy Committee.