They learn general information about the environment and learn about the different sea creatures that live there. The students then pick one of the ocean habitats and create a reproduction of the plants and animals that live there using a shoe box, paint, paper and clay and other art supplies. Students may explore four different exhibits from aquariums around the United States. Students complete a KWL activity in which they record what they know, what they want to learn and what they found out after their Web search on cluster maps. It is recommended that the cluster map be completed as a whole group language experience activity guided by the teacher.
Students develop sea life questions to ask a marine scientist.
Our school happens to have two parents who are marine scientist and who were willing to receive and respond to our class' questions. The students generate a question. Questions are written by the teacher and illustrated by the student on the record sheet provided in the task. The teacher or computer buddy types the questions on the computer and the students click the mouse to send the message on its way. The responses are glued onto the original record sheet which are then bound into a class book.