Are hammerheads a keystone species?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g68/seasshark.html
A lesson plan for grades 6 and 8 Science
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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore keystone species, which are animals that impact many other members of the ecosystem, and if the population dwindles or disappears, there can be far-reaching consequences for the ecosystem. Activities in this lesson engage students in development of online research skills, creation and use of graphic organizers, and whole class discussion.
Students will:
- read and discuss an article defining keystone species;
- draw food chains that include tiger sharks and discuss tiger sharks’ role as a keystone species;
- read a web page describing how sharks are threatened by fishing and discuss questions about these fishing practices;
- read about and list hammerhead shark food sources;
- discuss the significance of hammerheads’ role as a keystone species;
- discuss how scientists might go about trying to determine if hammerheads are keystone species; and
- prepare public education brochures or reports describing the significance of hammerheads’ role as a keystone species.
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 6
- 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.
- 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 7: The learner will conduct investigations and use technologies and information systems to build an understanding of population dynamics.
- Objective 7.01: Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:
- Coexistence/Cooperation/Competition.
- Symbiosis.
- Mutual dependence.
- Objective 7.03: Explain how changes in habitat may affect organisms.
- Objective 7.05: Examine evidence that overpopulation by any species impacts the environment.
- Objective 7.06: Investigate processes which, operating over long periods of time, have resulted in the diversity of plant and animal life present today:
- Natural selection.
- Adaptation.
- Objective 7.01: Describe ways in which organisms interact with each other and with non-living parts of the environment:
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 3.04: Describe how terrestrial and aquatic food webs are interconnected.
- Objective 3.06: Evaluate technologies and information systems used to monitor the hydrosphere.
