Here you will find a sampling of the activities students will be engaged in before, during and following my Manatee Adventure.   When I return, the students and I will determine what type of action we would like to take to help the Florida Manatees.  One suggestion has already been to adopt one!

Hugh and Buffett Web Quest - Students take on the role of college graduates with marine biology degrees.  Using the Mote Marine web site, they research a series of questions to immerse themselves in knowledge of manatees.  Students are then asked to create a pamphlet for visitors to the Jane and David Allen Exhibit, that will both inform and entertain.  Finally, they participate in an interview for the position, during which they may present all of their learning as a showcase portfolio of their work.  Stay tuned to find out who gets the job!

Morphometrics - Students learn about the manatee's anatomy.  They apply this knowledge through a measurement activity where they model the length and girth measurements taken during a manatee physical.  Students then create double bar graphs to compare their measurements to that of an average manatee.  In a group work activity that follows, students create clay manatees that meet specific measurement requirements.

Where Are the Manatees? - Students research and investigate the location of and some background information about the four types of manatees around the world.  They will create an accurate map with a key that shows placement of these gentle giants, with accompanying information about the habitat of each species.

Manatee Longevity and Causes of Death - Students will have an opportunity to collect census data for Florida manatees, and plot this information on a line graph in order to analyze and draw conclusions.  They will also collect categorical data for manatee deaths and create a double bar graph comparing how manatees died in the past compared to today.  Students will analyze this data to determine if we are making any progress, or if we truly need to do more to make a major impact on manatee survival as a species.

Creating and EED (Environmental Enrichment Device) - Students will apply what they have learned about manatees to design a toy for those in captivity.  They will follow a series of steps that will explore following design requirements, creating toys appropriate for manatee mental stimulation, and how to write a persuasive paragraph/essay.  These toys will be submitted to Mote Marine Labs for consideration.

The students and I have also started to read Manatee Blues by Laurie Halse Anderson (from the Wild at Heart series) together.   We will all continue to read while I am away and discuss issues in the book through this web site and during the video conference.

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