THE OCEAN AND ITS CREATURES

  A THEMATIC UNIT

• Concept: The ocean is one global body of water with unique characteristics and resources.

• Sub concepts:

1.  
   • Physical Characteristics
   • Diversity of life in ocean environment
   • Interaction affect humans and humans affect the ocean

    

• Procedural Lesson Development (based on teachers field experiences)

1.  
   • Compare world’s land and water areas.
   • Observe the salinity in ocean water and the sources of its salinity.
   • Compare fresh water and salt water with its source.
   • Observe how ocean water moves.
   • Identify the part of the ocean - continental shelf as home to many living things.
   • Discuss the oceans ecosystem by illustrating and explaining food chain combinations.
   • Become aware of ways to help take care of the ocean.
   • Recognize the ocean’s resources and their products.

    

• Hands-on Skill Development Objectives

1.  

   Related subjects:

    

   • Identify the amount of land and water.
   1.  

      Social Studies a. Brainstorm and list ideas about the ocean

      Listening (Language) b. "Apple Story" from AIMS

      Social Studies c. Map Study

      Art, Social Studies d. Color outline map of land and water

       

       

       

       

       

       

   • Observe salinity in water.

Investigation A:

 Reading a. Predict how salt gets into bodies of water (record)

Social Studies b. Make a vain model tray of land and ocean

Motor Activity c. Pour water onto the sand and observe change

• Compare evaporation of salt water and fresh water by examining residue (with hands lens) in two dishes.
• Record results on chart

Investigation B:

•  Observe the buoyancy of salt water
• Mathematics 1. Attach a piece of clay to an egg to make it sink in one liter of water.
• Mathematics 2. Remove egg from container. Add 3 spoons of salt to water.
• Reading 3. Record Predictions.
• Put egg with clay into the water
• Language 5. Discuss, record explanations on chart
• Social Studies (health) 6. Discuss how fish can live in only one kind of water.

   

1. Investigation A:

   Related Subjects

• Motor Activity
  • a. Cut a small square from corner of index card. Then roll the card into a tube and fasten it with tape.
  • b. Fill a tray with water. When water is still, place the square near the middle.
  • Math Time c. Use tube to blow gently straight down on water but not on square (3-4 seconds).

    • Record observations on chart.

Investigation B:

• Social Studies Explore an ocean current model
• Mathematics
  • a. Fill a tray with water and drop a spoonful of pepper in it.
  • Predict what will happen to pepper as you blow on it through a straw.
• Mathematics
  • c. Hold straw in one place and blow lightly through it for 10 seconds.
    • Discuss and record observations on chart
    •  

• Social Studies
  • a. Review land forms; mountains, hills, and plains (pictures)
    • Apply concept of known structures to the ocean (transparency overhead projector)
• Art
  • c. Draw picture in journal.
    • Introduce terms: continental shelf, coral, coral reef

• Identify ocean animals with backbones (skeleton or cartridge)

• health
  • a. Explain and observe characteristics of fish: gills, scales, fins, schools, color, shape, and size.

     

• Related Subjects
  • A. Activities

     

• Health
  • a. Complete outline of fish characteristics by connecting dots on worksheet.
• Reading
  • b. Complete closure sentences designating fish-related words
    • Compare differences in pictures of grants (overhead transparency)
• Art & Activity
  • d. Make a mobile using various kinds of fish
• Reading
  • e. Read "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish".

     

• Identify ocean invertebrates and their shells
  1.  
• Observe pictures on transparency.
• Manipulate and observe demonstration models: seastar, clam, sea snail, sand dollar, hermit crab, oyster, sea biscuit. 
• Activities

  1.  

  Math

  • a. Estimate amount of shells in given bags
    • Group univalve and bivalve mollusk shells
    • Group shells by colors; shapes, sizes

  Math

  • d. Create addition and subtraction facts for shell groups

  Math

  • e. Graph results (class graph) and (individual graph)

  Art

  • f. Create designs of various shells using sponge cutouts and colored paints

  Music-Dance

  • g. Sing and dramatize "The Mystery of the Clam"

    •  

  Become acquainted with other sea animals: jelly fish, octopus, squid.

   

  Observe and discuss pictures on overhead projector

  Choose a pattern to create a jellyfish or octopus

  • Language Arts c. Record sentences giving facts about jelly fish, octopus, squid.
  •  

  Observe and become aware of certain ocean animals that resemble plants: coral, anemone, sponge.

   

  Related Subjects:

  Demonstrate and explain characteristics of each specimen.

  • Language Arts b. Describe parts of each animal and compare to plant (pictures).

  Manipulate animal specimens.

  Record comments on chart.

•  
  • Investigate sea plants and find out how they help humans.
  •  
  • Examine and compare plants: size, color, shape of leaves (cooperative groups).

    • Language Arts b. Describe and discuss parts of plants (observing transparencies)
    • Reading & Art c. Summarize concepts by completing closure sentences and coloring samples of sea plants.
    • Art d. Draw pictures of things made from sea plants.
    •  

  • Sequence an ocean food chain using pictures of living sea creatures.
  •  
  • Examine pictures.

    Reading b. Cut pictures and paste in order

    Dramatization c. Role play ocean animals as eaten in the food chain.

    1. Draw and color a simple food chain of ocean creatures.

   

  1. Become aware of ways to protect the ocean and its resources.

   

  1. Brainstorm session.
     Language Arts b. Discuss endangered ocean animals.

     Language Arts c. List practical ways humans can care for the ocean and seashore.

     Math d. Connect "dots" activity of an endangered ocean friend.

      

      

      

      

      

  1. Assessment

Reading a. Match riddles with pictures of living things found in the ocean.

Social Studies b. Play matching card game with pictures of ocean related picture cards.

Language Arts c. Recite rhymes about the ocean’s inhabitants.

 

1. Extended Assessment

Write a story about the ocean, imagining a personal adventure including concepts (ideas) learned in the marine science unit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RELATED MATERIALS

Kaplan, Eugene: Southeastern and Caribbean Seashores

Gabet, Marcia: Fun With Science

Idol, Moorish: My Fish World

Evans, Joy and Moore Jo Ellen: Habitats

Oceans and Ponds

Kean, Thomas: The Ocean

Chavis, Paula and Camp Cammie: Sea Things Objectively

McLean, Terri: Oceans of Fun

Tyler, Tanya: Wonders of the Wild

Atwater, Mary etc: Animals that Fly, Crawl Jump and Swim

Low, Donald: Sea Shells

Romasho, Sandra: The Shell Book

Moore, Jo Ellen, and Tryon, Lesie: Science Rhymes and Chants

Kaplan, Eugene: Seashores

Moore, Jo Ellen, and Tryon, Leslie: Big Book of Science Stories

Discovery Hall Staff: Dauphin Island Scavenger Hunt

Coulombe, Deborah: The Seaside Naturalist

Discovery Hall Staff: Mr. Sandman

Charleston County Science Curriculum Objectives:

Life Science, Earth Science, Physical Science

• Book List Related to Ocean Themes
• Video Tapes Related to Ocean Science
• Children’s Fiction and Non-Fiction books will be available (from library)

INTEGRATED STUDY SKILLS

Process Skills:

Observing Classifying Inferring

Predicting Communicating

 

 

Additional Skills:

Drawing Conclusions Generalizing

Interpreting Maps Interpreting Graphs

Building Models Contrasting

Recognizing Cause and Effect Problem Solving

Applying Information Formulating Questions

Oral Narration Role Playing

Creative Writing

Swim Back to Class

Back to the Can Do Story Back to the Beginning