Last updated: March 8, 2019
Lesson Plan
"I Wish I Had Blubber" Habitat Video: Florida Bay
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Science,Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- State Standards:
- NATIONAL/STATE STANDARDS:
Next Generation Sunshine State Standards: SC.D2.2,
S.C.D.1.2., SS.B.2.2, LA.A.2.2 - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience.
Essential Question
How do manatees rely on the environment to survive?
Objective
Students will be able to explain why manatees can not survive in cold water. Students will be able to explain the dangers of boat propellers to the Florida Bay sea grass habitat, and to the manatees. Students will describe four characteristics of the manatee.
Background
Florida Bay is home to the manatee. Manatees are an endangered species."Deadly Waters" is a mystery novel that takes place in the Florida Bay. The book's plot is about manatees that are dying without an obvious explanation. Possible explanations: When water temperature falls below 68 degrees, the water can become deadly to the manatee because
of their lack of insulating blubber. Boat propellers also pose a threat to the manatee. Boat propellers also destroy sea grasses of the Florida Bay. Sea grass, such as manatee sea grass, is a vital food source for the manatee.
Preparation
Please see Background Information.
Procedure
Please see Background Information.
Vocabulary
Manatee, sea grass, blubber, heat
Additional Resources
Watch the "Florida Bay" episode
https://www.nps.gov/ever/photosmultimedia/mountainsandvalleys.htm