A trip to the beach?
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/14/g68/beachshark.html
A lesson plan for Grades 8–12 Biology
About this resource
- Appropriate grades
- 8–12
- Subjects
- healthful living (safety), science (biology and life science, oceanography)
- Provider
- National Geographic
Legal
This catalog record is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License. This license applies to the content of this page only and does not apply to the referenced website.
In this lesson, found on the Xpeditions website, students investigate the truth behind common myths about sharks and shark attacks, learning why sharks are important members of the ecosystem. They view National Geographic's “Crittercam Chronicles” in order to learn how researchers study shark behavior by attaching small cameras directly to the sharks. They also consider the ways humans should modify their habits to account for the presence of sharks, particularly in popular beach areas. Students conclude by writing letters explaining to family or friends why it is generally safe to take a beach vacation to Florida, despite recent news reports of shark attacks. From this page, teachers can access all the materials needed to complete this lesson.
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 1.08: 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.
- Objective 1.08: Use oral and written language to:
- 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 3.03: Evaluate evidence that Earth's oceans are a reservoir of nutrients, minerals, dissolved gases, and life forms:
Grades 9–12 — Biology
- Goal 1: The learner will develop abilities necessary to do and understand scientific inquiry.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze reports of scientific investigations from an informed, scientifically literate viewpoint including considerations of:
- Appropriate sample.
- Adequacy of experimental controls.
- Replication of findings.
- Alternative interpretations of the data.
- Objective 1.05: Analyze reports of scientific investigations from an informed, scientifically literate viewpoint including considerations of:
- Goal 5: The learner will develop an understanding of the ecological relationships among organisms.
- Objective 5.01: Investigate and analyze the interrelationships among organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
- Techniques of field ecology.
- Abiotic and biotic factors.
- Carrying capacity.
- Objective 5.03: Assess human population and its impact on local ecosystems and global environments:
- Historic and potential changes in population.
- Factors associated with those changes.
- Climate change.
- Resource use.
- Sustainable practices/stewardship.
- Objective 5.01: Investigate and analyze the interrelationships among organisms, populations, communities, and ecosystems.
