This page is a Collections for teaching
DEEPSEA CHALLENGE
The Solo Journey to the Deepest Known Point in the Ocean
On March 26, 2012, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence James Cameron succeeded in tackling his biggest challenge ever—a solo journey to Challenger Deep, the deepest known point in the ocean. Challenger Deep is 10.99 kilometers (6.83 miles) deep and is found at the southern end of the Mariana Trench near Guam. Years in the making, this feat has been compared to landing on the moon.
In order to make this journey, Cameron and his engineering team utilized revolutionary engineering and cutting-edge technology. They developed a new single-seat submersible that Cameron himself piloted to the depths of Challenger Deep. Named DEEPSEA CHALLENGER, the sub is 7.9 meters (26 feet) long and unlike anything ever built. Cameron’s team describes it as sharing qualities of both a race car and a torpedo.
This collection of National Geographic Education resources was created to help teachers like you bring the excitement of DEEPSEA CHALLENGE into the classroom. Use these resources to bring hands-on engineering lesson plans and activities into the classroom. Topics include decision-making, ocean sciences, and media literacy.
For Grades 6-8
LESSON Students investigate pressure, biological adaptations, and the engineering process through hands-on activities.
ACTIVITY Students research members of the team behind the historic DEEPSEA CHALLENGE expedition and then take on the role of a team member in a simulation of a deep-sea expedition.
ACTIVITY Through videos, students hear astronauts and deep-sea explorers describe what life is like in the extreme environments of space and the deep sea. Students create a digital story comparing and contrasting life in these two extreme environments.
For Grades 9-12
LESSON Students investigate pressure and use the engineering process to design, model, test, document evaluate, and re-design a submersible vehicle.
ACTIVITY Students research and compare three deep-sea exploration vehicles to determine how the designs of these types of vehicles have changed over time.
ACTIVITY Students discuss the importance of images in storytelling. They build a digital story around photographs they take to tell a story they want to share with others; they also evaluate their peers' digital stories.
Funder
See the Film
Experience the expedition for yourself. James Cameron's DEEPSEA CHALLENGE is coming soon to a theater near you. For more information about this ongoing project, visit the official DEEPSEA CHALLENGE website and follow us on Twitter for the latest updates.
Experience the Expedition
GEOSTORY Follow the expedition to the deepest known point of the ocean.
Historical Timeline
Learn about important milestones in underwater exploration.
Explorer Profile
James Cameron is the deepest man in the world . . . the Oscar-winning filmmaker and innovative inventor descended more than six miles in the ocean, in a sub he helped design.
Blog Archive
Incorporate DEEPSEA CHALLENGE into your classroom using expert ideas.
Explore More
Filter our featured collections on engineering, the ocean, and explorers by grade and content type to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Encyclopedic Entries
Use these student-friendly encyclopedic entries to provide background information on ocean topics.