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From Plankton to Whales

Marine life comes in all shapes and sizes. Students will explore life in the ocean, then create  a drawing that illustrates some underwater creatures.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    From microscopic plankton to the massive blue whale, marine life represents a huge range of shapes and sizes. The ocean is also the largest biome on Earth, and its health is of prime importance to the planet. Have students investigate some ocean creatures and how their size contributes to their survival. Larger animals, for example, have greater mobility and can travel longer distances to find food. Smaller animals are generally more resilient than larger ones, since larger species are more vulnerable to extinction due to their slower reproduction rates and higher energy needs. Ask them to also learn about how the ocean benefits the Earth regarding climate regulation, transportation, food, etc.

  • Step 2

    Have students create a drawing that shows the relative scale of various sea creatures. They might choose to include a human swimming alongside them to show their comparative sizes. 

  • Step 3

    Have students present their art and discuss some of the information they learned about the ocean and the life that's found there.

Standards

SCI: Ask questions about the features of phenomena observed and conclusions drawn from investigations or models. 

SCI: Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.

Adaptations

Not only is the blue whale the largest animal in the ocean, it is also the largest animal on Earth. Have students learn about the largest land animal and second-largest animal in the world, the African elephant. In what countries are these animals found? What are the two species of African elephant? What size and weight do they grow to? How many of them roam the Earth? What are the threats to their existence?

The ocean is the largest biome on Earth. Have students learn about the second-largest biome, the taiga or boreal forest. Where are these biomes found? What species of flora and fauna live there? What are some threats to the health of taigas?