Diving in to save the monk seal
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/18/g68/ccmonkseal.html
A lesson plan for grade 8 Science
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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore current research on the monk seal and the ecosystem reserve that’s been established in part to protect the seals. Activities in this lesson engage students in whole class discussion, development of online research skills, collaborative group work, and in class presentations.
Students will:
- locate a Hawaii on a map;
- view pictures of monk seals;
- read and answer questions about an article on monk seals;
- read the home page for the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, and discuss the benefits of the reserve;
- work in groups to list research questions they would ask on a study of Hawaiian monk seals; and
- write plans they would use on a research trip to study the seals.
Xpeditions provides detailed directions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, discussion questions, and links to helpful web resources.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 8
- Goal 1: The learner will design and conduct investigations to demonstrate an understanding of scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.01: Identify and create questions and hypotheses that can be answered through scientific investigations.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze evidence to:
- explain observations.
- make inferences and predictions.
- develop the relationship between evidence and explanation.
- Objective 1.08: Use oral and written language to:
- Communicate findings.
- Defend conclusions of scientific investigations.
- Describe strengths and weaknesses of claims, arguments, and/or data.
- Objective 1.09: Use technologies and information systems to:
- Research.
- Gather and analyze data.
- Visualize data.
- Disseminate findings to others.
- Objective 1.10: Analyze and evaluate information from a scientifically literate viewpoint by reading, hearing, and/or viewing:
- Scientific text.
- Articles.
- Events in the popular press.
- Goal 3: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of the hydrosphere.
- Objective 3.03: Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:
- Estuaries.
- Marine ecosystems.
- Upwelling.
- Behavior of gases in the marine environment.
- Value and sustainability of marine resources.
- Deep ocean technology and understandings gained.
- Objective 3.04: Describe how terrestrial and aquatic food webs are interconnected.
- Objective 3.06: Evaluate technologies and information systems used to monitor the hydrosphere.
- Objective 3.08: Recognize that the good health of environments and organisms requires:
- Monitoring of the hydrosphere.
- Water quality standards.
- Methods of water treatment.
- Maintaining safe water quality.
- Stewardship.
- Objective 3.03: Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:
- Goal 5: The learner will conduct investigations and utilize appropriate technologies and information systems to build an understanding of evidence of evolution in organisms and landforms.
- Objective 5.02: Correlate evolutionary theories and processes:
- Biological.
- Geological.
- Technological.
- Objective 5.05: Use maps, ground truthing and remote sensing to make predictions regarding:
- Changes over time.
- Land use.
- Urban sprawl.
- Resource management.
- Objective 5.02: Correlate evolutionary theories and processes:
