What do we know about nurse shark mating?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ccnurseshark.html
A lesson plan for grades 4–5 Science
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In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore basic information about nurse sharks and see photographs of scientists conducting nurse shark studies. This lesson engages students in cooperative group work, online learning, and development of research skills.
Students will:
- identify nurse sharks’ geographical range;
- list nurse shark behaviors that scientists might want to study;
- read and answer questions about nurse shark mating and reproduction;
- discuss how Crittercam might help scientists learn more about nurse shark mating behavior;
- look at photographs of National Geographic scientists studying nurse sharks, and answer questions about what they see;
- discuss the potential benefits of these studies for ocean conservation;
- draw pictures of discoveries that scientists have made about nurse shark mating and reproduction; and
- share their pictures with the class.
Xpeditions provides links to web resources that contain pictures and information about the nurse shark, detailed instructions for completing the lesson, and suggestions for assessment and extension activities.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 4
- Goal 1: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
- Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
- Other animals.
- Plants.
- Weather.
- Climate.
- Objective 1.02: Observe and record how animals of the same kind differ in some of their characteristics and discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of this variation.
- Objective 1.03: Observe and discuss how behaviors and body structures help animals survive in a particular habitat.
- Objective 1.04: Explain and discuss how humans and other animals can adapt their behavior to live in changing habitats.
- Objective 1.05: Recognize that humans can understand themselves better by learning about other animals.
- Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
Grade 5
- Goal 1: The learner will conduct investigations to build an understanding of the interdependence of plants and animals.
- Objective 1.02: Identify and analyze the functions of organisms within the population of the ecosystem:
- Producers.
- Consumers.
- Decomposers.
- Objective 1.03: Explain why an ecosystem can support a variety of organisms.
- Objective 1.05: Determine the interaction of organisms within an ecosystem.
- Objective 1.02: Identify and analyze the functions of organisms within the population of the ecosystem:
