Objectives:
To identify a food chain under the sea
To create a PowerPoint presentation
Materials:
A computer with Internet access and PowerPoint
index cards
Websites:
Public
Broadcasting System a great source of information on
science and nature
National Geographic a
rich site with sections for National Geographic Kids and
National Geographic Explorers
Whale Times go
on adventures into the ocean also has a glossary of whale terms
Ask Jeeves ask Jeeves a
question and receive an answer
Sea World click on
Seaworld Orlando, then click on Animal Information
Encarta click on reference
tools to get an online dictionary, atlas and encyclopedia
Online Encyclopedia
just type in the topic and get accurate data
Procedure:
- Explain to the students that sea animals depend upon the sun, plants, and each other to live. Some animals eat plants, some eat animals, and some eat the decomposed material of plants and animals. An animal that hunts another for food is called a predator and the animal being hunted is called prey. Spend one day creating vocabulary word cards which can be
displayed on an "Under the Sea" bulletin board.
- Each team of five children will get an index card with an animal.
After researching the food chain, the students will put
their fives card in order, depending on how they are arranged in the food chain. For example, a team might get the following:
Phytoplankton, Bluefish, Herring, Seal, Shark. Place a number on the card indicating the correct order. If the students need to research their animal, they can use any of the
Web sites mentioned above. (Order: Shark- Seal- Herring-
Bluefish- Phytoplankton)
- Once the teacher has checked the order of animals, then each group will begin working on their
PowerPoint presentation. The student who has number one, will begin first
slide and then number two, and so on. The students must include a picture of their animal, a description, and any other important facts.
- When students are using PowerPoint, they
can create their own slides or use a template. The Wizard
will help in design and placement of text and clip art.
- Students should also create a
bibliography citing resources used.
- The project may take up to two weeks. After each group has finished, they will present their
PowerPoint presentations to the class.
- Make daily Ocean Journal entry.
Assessment:
Students will be assessed on their PowerPoint
presentations using a PowerPoint
Rubric.
Vocabulary Words:
Predator
Prey
Phytoplankton
Producer
Consumer
Zooplankton
Food Web
Homework:
Locate an article about the ocean in a
newspaper, magazine, or online newspaper or magazine. Read and
bring to class to share.
Extension Activity: Fact or Fiction
- Students will use the Internet as a
research tool to discover facts and myths about sharks
- Log onto Sea
World scroll down and click on Sharks and their
Relatives
- Students can also research individual
sharks at Yahooligans,
go to Web site and type in the name of each shark in the
search box (examples: tiger, great white, bottlenose,
hammerhead, black tip, lemon, smooth hound, nurse, whale, mackerel...)
- Have students record the URL of each site
for reference
- Complete a Shark
Fact or Fiction Worksheet
- Proofread, spell check, print
- Share with class