A Spectacular Ocean View: Marine Mural Activity
Grade Level: Middle and High School
Discipline: Biology, Life Science
Standards: Florida Standards
LS 4c: Organisms both cooperate and compete in ecosystems. The interrelationships and interdependencies of these organisms may generate ecosystems that are stable for hundreds or thousands of years.
LS 4d: Living organisms have the capacity to produce populations of infinite size, but environments and resources are finite. This fundamental tension has profound effects on the interactions between organisms.
LS 6b: Organisms have behavioral responses to internal changes and to external stimuli. Responses to external stimuli can result from interactions with the organism’s own species and others, as well as environmental changes; these responses either can be innate or learned. The broad patterns of behavior exhibited by animals have evolved to ensure reproductive success. Animals often live in unpredictable environments, and so their behavior must be flexible enough to deal with uncertainty and change. Plants also respond to stimuli.
LS 4e: Human beings live within the world’s ecosystems. Increasingly, humans modify ecosystems as a result of population growth, technology, and consumption. Human destruction of habitats through direct harvesting, pollution, atmospheric changes, and other factors is threatening current global stability, and if not addressed, ecosystems will be irreversibly affected.
SPSP 3c: Humans use many natural systems as resources. Natural systems have the capacity to reuse waste, but that capacity is limited. Natural systems can change to an extent that exceeds the limits of organisms to adapt naturally or humans to adapt technologically.
SPSP 4a: Natural ecosystems provide an array of basic processes that affect humans. Those processes include maintenance of the quality of the atmosphere, generation of soils, control of the hydrologic cycle, disposal of wastes, and recycling of nutrients. Humans are changing many of these basic processes, and the changes may be detrimental to humans.
SPSP 5b: Human activities can enhance potential for hazards. Acquisition of resources, urban growth, and waste disposal can accelerate rates of natural change.
SPSP 6e: Humans have a major effect on other species. For example, the influence of humans on other organisms occurs through land use—which decreases space available to other species—and pollution—which changes the chemical composition of air, soil, and water.
Art and science converge beautifully in this activity that helps students bring the complex natural systems of the ocean to life in brilliant detail.
High schoolers will research and create a visual representation of food webs, zone communities, and natural and human threats in undersea ecosystems. Their final projects can be scored on the 72-point scale included in the lesson plan.
Learn more by downloading the activity plan above.
Recommended Products
[StartProductBlock]
biOrb® LIFE Aquaria
Simple and elegant, the biOrb® LIFE series of Aquaria combine a simple basic form, with the strength of acrylic construction.
[EndProductBlock]
[StartProductBlock]
Ward's® Marine Touch Tank
Low aquarium height for easy access. Tank includes a cover, filter, cartridge, gravel, saltwater mix, air hose, submersible re-circulating pump, instructions, suggested activities and more.
[EndProductBlock]
[StartProductBlock]
Fluval® Marine Aquaria Kits
Everything you'll need to recreate a successful marine reef.
[EndProductBlock]
[StartProductBlock]
Ward's® Live Marine Hermit Crabs (Pagurus sp.)
Pagurus sp.
[EndProductBlock]
[StartProductBlock]
Ward's® Live Sea Peach (Halocynthia pyriformis)
This brightly colored filter feeder, also known as a "sea squirt" is suitable for marine aquariums.
[EndProductBlock]
