Project-Based Learning that Connects
Depths of Discovery is a supplemental secondary science curriculum developed by the Educurious team in partnership with the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET), founded by Dr. Robert Ballard. Grounded in real-world expeditions, the curriculum invites students to step into the roles of scientists, engineers, and policy-advisors as they investigate the unknown regions of our oceans.
Through a project-based learning approach, students engage with authentic data, collaborate to solve complex problems, and produce meaningful final products that mirror the work of professionals in the field.
Designed as a replacement for existing units within a traditional science scope and sequence, Depths of Discovery offers districts a practical, lower-risk way to introduce high-quality project-based learning without the cost or complexity of a full curriculum adoption.
The program is particularly well suited for districts prioritizing student-centered learning and career-connected learning, as it helps students build transferable skills while exploring a wide range of STEM and adjacent careers. By combining rigorous, NGSS-aligned science learning with the excitement of real exploration, Depths of Discovery provides a powerful way for districts to modernize science instruction and increase student engagement.
Start Your Ocean Exploration
Discover our middle and high school units below, and check back as new missions are released.
Optimized for middle school students, Uncharted Depths invites students to explore how the seafloor reveals the powerful geologic processes shaping our planet. Across three modules, students investigate how scientists map the ocean floor, examine the forces that form undersea features, and consider how decisions are made about future exploration. As a culminating task, students create an original “Atlas of the Unknown Ocean” entry, featuring a bathymetric map, a cross-section of an undersea volcano, and an analysis of the geologic activity in their region.
Watch the video to learn more about how this unit brings ocean science and inquiry to life.
Optimized for high school students, Metals of the Deep engages students in examining the complex decisions surrounding deep-sea mining and our growing demand for natural resources. Across three modules, students explore how the need for modern technologies drives resource extraction, consider the environmental and societal trade-offs of mining the ocean floor, and use evidence to inform responsible decision-making about future actions. As a culminating task, students research a specific metal and mining site, then develop a recommendation on whether it should be extracted from abyssal nodules, supported by scientific and environmental evidence.
Watch the video to learn more about how this unit builds students’ ability to analyze real-world challenges and make informed decisions.
