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Meteorology & Outreach Presentations for K-12 Students

COAPS offers the following presentations for K-12 classrooms and other youth groups. To schedule a presentation, please contact the Outreach Logistics Coordinator, Meredith Field, at or (850) 645-7457.

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The Cold Dark Ocean

This talk will help younger students understand that most of the ocean is an expansive cold dark abyss. The concepts of solar heating of the ocean surface and affects of temperature and salinity on density will be introduced using simple water tank experiments. Discussion of how life adapts to these conditions, and how oceanographers study the deep ocean will be presented with photographs and videos.

Length: 45 minutes - 1 hour

Target audience: Grades K-6

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail & Snow Network (CoCoRaHS)

Learn how to measure precipitation using rain gauges, and how your family, classroom, or youth group can participate in CoCoRaHS! CoCoRaHS is a grassroots network of volunteers who collect daily precipitation measurements and submit their measurements into an online database used by scientists around the country.

Length: 1/2-1 hour

Target audience: Grades K-Adult

Florida Weather: Hurricanes, Tornadoes & Lightning

An overview of extreme weather in Florida, including interactive questions and answers, and important safety information. A post-presentation quiz is provided upon request.

Length: 1 hour

Target audience: Grades 2-4

I Want to Be an Oceanographer!

Oceanography is way more than marine biology. Find out what oceanographers do for a living and why oceanography is so important -- no matter how far away you live from the ocean. Depending on the size of the group, the speaker may be able to bring equipment for a hands-on demonstration of how ocean measurements are collected.

Length: 1 hour

Target audience: Grades 6-12

The Apalachicola River's Influences on Marine Ecosystems

The Apalachicola River has garnered much media attention recently because of the interstate battle over water rights. This talk will focus on variations in the river flow, and the impacts it has on the Bay and offshore marine ecosystems.

Length: 30-45 minutes

Target audience: Grades 7-Adult

El Niño and Climate Variability

An introduction to the El Niño/La Niña cycle in the Pacific Ocean and how it impacts the climate of the Southeast U.S. and Florida, including extreme events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, freezes, and droughts.

Length: 1 hour

Target audience: Grades 10-12

Climate Change Basics for Florida

A presentation giving background information on the science of climate change, with emphasis on current and projected changes in the state of Florida.

Length: 1 hour

Target audience: Grades 11-12