Elephant Seal Count WhaleTimeswhaletimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ACTIVITY... · 2017. 7....
Transcript of Elephant Seal Count WhaleTimeswhaletimes.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/ACTIVITY... · 2017. 7....
WHAT TO DO:
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dElephant Seal CountActivity: Counting elephant seals
Overview:
GrAde LeveL(s): 3-12th
discipLines: Science, math
Objectives:
varies (30-40 minutes average)
MAteriALs:
WhaleTimes
@ $!Students count and estimate elephant seals on different beaches.
Students count and record elephant seals from three different beaches, compare and contrast numbers from location to location, discover the challenges of population studies elephant seal rookery photos (printed or projected onto screen) photocopies: Elephant Seal Count; Science Team Reports pencils crayons calculators (OPTIONAL)
2+3
1. Show students one or more of the photos of elephant seals on the beach. Have them guess how many seals are on the beach. How many males? How many females? How many pups or juveniles? 2. Tell the kids they’ll be scientists counting seals on different beaches. Give each (or learning groups) a Elephant Seal Count for one of the beaches and a Science Team Report.3. Have kids share the numbers from each beach. If time, total all the numbers by male, female, mothers with pups, pups without mother nearby, and juveniles. 4. Discuss the challenges of counting individual animals. Have kids brainstorm other ways of determining elephant seal numbers.
Other discussion questions: When there are this many seals, how else could the scientists figure out the number of animals?Why do scientists count elephant seals? How does keeping records from year to hear help scientists?
OPTIONAL IDEAS Have students color their beach scene and add other animals that might be on the beach or in the surf further out at sea, harbor seals, California sea lions, sharks, gray whales, seabirds and more. Give students a copy of Beach 4. Have students draw seals. Then create a new report.
Preparation: 1. Select and make photocopies of elephant seals on the beach (if not projecting on a screen).
One or two per learning group.
2. Make photocopies of Elephant Seal Count pages and Science Team Reports, one per student or one per student per photo)
Celebration of Conservation K-5 CurriculumPage 10 WhaleTimes Inc.
whaletimes.org
Pacific Ocean
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