Activity Ideas Overview

Along with lessons found in the curricular links, these activities are suggestions to help reinforce key concepts from the webcast. The structure of the activities is intended to be general. Full development is left to the educator. All activities are designed with middle-level (4-8) students in mind but can be easily modified or extended.

• Mystery Species – Based on habitat conditions, determine the correct adaptations needed for various “mystery” species.
• Case Study: Steller Sea Lions – What Happened? – Explore possible variables that may be affecting the population of Steller sea lions.
• Case Study: Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle – Cause and Effect – Connect the human activities that have led to a drastic population decline in Kemp’s Ridley turtles.
• Animal Tracking – Using actual coordinates from Satellite Telemetry, track a harbor seal.
• Comparing Insulation – Test the insulative properties of various materials.
• Exploring Fish Hatcheries – Research various fish species to determine whether a fish hatchery program would be beneficial for them, and whether their life cycle could be manipulated successfully in a hatchery. Explore how fish hatcheries work and the planning involved in breeding fish.
• Conservation Timeline – Past … Present … Future – Construct a timeline of conservation hurdles and milestones for Alaska and the Gulf Coast Region. Forecast possible future events to illustrate the importance of conservation and research.