Artic Pinnipeds
Topic intro (8th graders) - slideshow presentation - 10 minutes
Rotation 1 (12 minutes)Rotation 2 (15 minutes)Rotation 3 (12 minutes)
WHEREClassroomClassroomOutside
WHOParentTeacherMiddle school students
MATERIALSFlippered Friends lesson
Bubble wrap, oven mitts, mask with pipe cleaner whiskers, fur cap
Crisco gloves
Ice water in a bowl
Visuals (posters, magazine cutouts, etc.)
Self-drying clay
None
WHATAdaptations
1. Dress up 1 student from the group
Bubble wrap around the middle to represent blubber
Flippers on the feet to represent flippers
Oven mitts to represent the fore flippers
Mask of whiskers with piper cleaners (for feeling vibration in the water)
Fur cap to replicate fur seals hide
2. All the students put a crisco glove on and put their hand in a bowl of ice water
Scrimshaw Art
Focus on unique characteristics of a walrus, in particular the ivory tusks
Teaching points→
Ivory tusks are used for scrimshaw (Inuit art)
Tusks are canine teeth
Human impact - history of overhunting, walrus’ are now protected
Inuit community is allowed to hunt them in small numbers
Activity:
Students create replicas of scrimshaw art with self-drying clay
Whale, Octopus, Fish tag game (variation of Sharks & Minnows)
Goal of the game: survive!
Content focus:
predator/prey relationships
seal’s role as predators in their habitat
food webs
NGSS Alignment
Full, more detailed outline of standards & progressions → NGSS Progressions
Life Science
LS1.A Structure and function
LS4.C Adaptation
Earth Science
ESS3.C Human impacts on Earth systems

Life Science
LS1.A Structure and function
LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
LS2.C Ecosystem dynamics, functioning & resilience
LS4.C Adaptation
LS4.D Biodiversity and humans
Life Science
LS1.C Organization for matter and energy flow in organisms
LS2.A Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
LS2.B Cycles of matter & Energy transfer in Ecosystems
LS2.C Ecosystem dynamics, functioning & resilience
LS2.D Social interactions and group behavior
LS4.B Natural Selection
LS4.C Adaptation
Notes & Other Resources:
Sea World K-3 Teacher’s Guide - PDF