Endangered Ocean Life

A Webquest Designed for a 3^rd Grade Science Class

Introduction:

Will the ocean last forever? What about ocean life? We know that there are millions of creatures that live in the ocean, maybe even some undiscovered creatures. We often hear about the endangerment of such popular sea life as the manatee and the dolphin, but what about the rest of the ocean sea life? What’s in store for them?

Task:

You have been asked to give a special report on ocean life. You must gather as much information as possible and report on the current state and future of ocean life.

Process:

You and one other oceanographer have been asked to give a special report on ocean life. Each oceanographer will be assigned to collect specific information. The two of you will work together to develop the special report.

The following are your roles and tasks:

• Each person in the group will be required to give a five minute broadcast on his/her areas of expertise.
• Each person will be required to turn in at least one page of research answering the questions presented below.
• Each person will design a bumper sticker and create a slogan.

Oceanographer #1:

Collect information about local (Maryland’s Eastern Shore) ocean life.

What ocean life is considered endangered in Maryland waters?

What are some damaging things being done to Maryland’s waters?

How is Maryland’s crab industry affected?

Design a bumper sticker and create a slogan about saving one of the marine animals endangered in Maryland waters.

Oceanographer #2:

Collect information about endangered ocean life.

What are some of the endangered animals in the ocean?

Choose an endangered marine animal to investigate.

Design a bumper sticker and create a slogan about saving the endangered animal you chose.

Resources for Oceanographer #1:

Chesapeake Bay Foundation – Save the Bay

Chesapeake Bay

Sea Grant Maryland

The National Aquarium in Baltimore

Resources for Oceanographer #2:

WWF’s Ocean Rescue

Kid Info – Aquatic Life

Additional Resources:

Oceanlink

The Living Sea

Ocean

Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Office of Protected Resources

When both of you have completed your research and assignments, you must meet (during the designated meeting time) to discuss your findings. Your research should include the following:

• Artistic cover page
• Brief introduction about the topic of your research
• Oceanographer #1 research and bumper sticker with slogan
• Oceanographer #2 research and bumper sticker with slogan
• Brief conclusion

Evaluation:

Your work will be evaluated based on the rubric below:

	Minimum Work	Developed Work	Completed Work
Content	The questions posed were not answered; no bumper sticker included; no introduction and/or conclusion	Some questions were answered; bumper sticker artwork was submitted, but without a slogan	Answered all of the questions and submitted a one page research paper; designed a bumper sticker and created a slogan
Presentation	Program is not neat or complete; no bumper sticker included	Program is complete, but not neat; bumper sticker included, but no artwork	Program is complete and neat; bumper sticker complete and neat
Teamwork	The team members did not work together as a group	Worked as a group, but did not submit a complete program	Worked cooperatively and produced a complete program

Conclusion:

Thank you for a job well done! You have spent a lot of time investigating the endangered sea life in our local waters and in the entire ocean. Hopefully you have learned some interesting (and probably surprising) facts about ocean life.