by Joyce Swanson
East Shore Middle School
Milford, CT
STRANGE AND SCARY CREATURES
UNDER THE SEA
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black smoker
INTRODUCTION
As you have learned in the past the
ocean is home to many plants and animals. Living near Long Island Sound
most of you have observed such animals as clams, oysters, snails, and mussels.
You are familiar with their small size and living habits. You are about
to take a journey to the ocean floor where you will find unusual sea life
that were discovered in the 1970's.
Activity 1
Before your under sea adventure try to remember all you have already learned about marine organisms. Assess your prior knowledge of marine organisms by completing the K and W part of the chart. Continue to fill in the L column as you do background research.
Activity 2
Select and research 5 animals from the link below. Use
the chart below to describe the similarities and differences among these
creatures.
| Name | |||||
| Size | |||||
| Color | |||||
| Food | |||||
| Travel | |||||
| Characteristic |
Activity 3
Pretend that your science teacher created a special potion
which you drank before you went to bed last night. When you woke up this
morning, you discovered that you are now one of these sea creatures. Which
of the animals that you researched would you choose to be and why? Make
sure you include how this creature is important to the food chain. Use
the Spider Map to help you write your story.
Assessment
| CRITERIA | POSSIBLE POINTS | POINTS EARNED |
| KWLH is accurately done | 15 | |
| Five sea creatures are identified | 15 | |
| Six facts are found for each animal | 15 | |
| Organizer is neatly done | 5 | |
| Organizer is easy to understand | 10 | |
| Story is very imaginative | 20 | |
| Sea creature is related to food chain | 20 |
Teacher Objectives
Students will be able to identify and describe the unusual
animals that live on the sea floor near the ocean vents.
Students will be able to compare these animals to the
marine life in Long Island Sound.
Students will be able to explain how these animals are
linked to all organisms in the biosphere.
CT Frameworks K12 Curricular Goals and Standards for Science:
1. Living Things And Their Environments: Students will
understand that all organisms in the biosphere are linked to each
other and to their physical environments by the transfer and transformation
of matter and energy.
2. Units Of Structure and Function: Students will understand
that living things share common materials and structures which perform
basic life functions.