Grade level: Elementary
Learning Standard: The student asks questions about natural phenomena, objects and organisms, and events and discoveries. The student acquires information from multiple sources, such as experimentation and print and non-print sources.
Preparation Time: Several hours (including a pre visit)
Topics Covered: pollution, conservation, ocean life - marine organisms, water, water cycle (oceanography, marine biology, ichthyology)
Pre-Visit:
Purpose: Preparation of students for their visit.
Objective: Introduce the students to the topics.
Materials Required: globe, posters, books, magazines, Internet (www.yoto98.noaa.gov), paper, dead fish, paint, sand paper, Field Journals
Students Learning Prerequisites: Through in class discussions, activities, lessons, and experiments students will be able to identify parts of a fish, diagram the water cycle, and able to list various organisms which live in the
ocean. The students should also be able to name and locate the oceans. The students will have also begun their research on marine animals. In addition, prior to the visit the students will able to define, what is an aquarium? The
purpose of the visit will also be reviewed and the assignment to be completed at the museum explained.
VISIT: Initially, the group will tour the aquarium together. Once chaperones and students are generally familiar with the layout the class will be divided according to predetermined group division. Each group will study a particular marine animal. For example, one group will study the walrus while another group will study the sharks. Each student is responsible for recording their observations and answering the questions pertaining to the graphics and exhibit in their Field Journal. The student will observe for example whether the subject is preening, eating, swimming.
POST VISIT:
Assessment: Have students share what they learned and observed at the NY Aquarium. Review with the class the information they recorded in their Field Journal. And review the answers to the questions they were given to answer on the various exhibits. Extension: In class a discussion will be held on conservation and pollution. And why it is important to take care of our oceans. Together the story of the Exxon Valdez will be read. Each student will then write a report on the marine animal that they studied. The next assignment will be to create a poster about saving the oceans and its organisms. All will then take the ocean pledge. The students could possibly design their own aquarium.
Possible Questions
What special adaptations does it have?
What does it eat, and what eats it?
Is it endangered or threatened? If so, why?
Where does it live?
How do scientists study the ocean?
What are the major sources of ocean pollution?
What is the world's largest fish?
Do fish sleep?
How do fish swim?
What are Pinnipeds?
What are the names of the oceans?
How big are the oceans?
MSTEP
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