Goals:

The students will learn the significance of plankton in the ocean.

The students will create their own plankton.

The students will learn about the different varieties of plankton.

The students will view plankton on the wreck of the Titanic

Materials:

• resources on plankton
• pictures of plankton
• access to the Titanic Index
• markers, crayons, etc.
• Internet access

Time:

This project should take about 2 hours depending on the type of presentation the teacher gives before the actual making of the plankton.

Procedures:

1. Have a display or slide show of several different types of plants and animals that make up plankton.

2. Check student's prior knowledge of the term "plankton." Let students guess at definitions.

3. Explain the difference between zoo plankton and phytoplankton as well as their adaptations.

4. Have students view the plankton found on the wreck of the Titanic.

5. Have the students create their own plankton. They can draw a picture, describe it through writing, or both. If they decide to just draw a picture, they must orally explain it.

6. Each student shares their individual plankton and describes it.

7. Display students' plankton on a bulletin board or cut them out and hang them from the ceiling .

Assessment:

Criteria for success: Students will be assessed by their participation and presentation of their plankton.

Curricular Strands and Major Concepts:

Science - learning about the different types of marine life that are found in the ocean and the around shipwrecks

Art - creating their own plankton through a drawing

Language Arts - explaining their creation through the written or spoken word

Adapted from Vancleave, Janice. (1991). Physics for Every Kid. New York: Wiley.

Technology - hands on computer-based research using a teacher-directed Web site/search