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WCPSS 8th grade curriculum - The Ocean

The ocean is an important source of food and
mineral resources as well as a venue for human
recreation and transportation. Oceanographers divide
the ocean into zones according to how far down sunlight
penetrates. Plants are found only in the sunlit zone
where there is enough light for photosynthesis,
however, animals are found at all depths of the oceans.
As far as we know, nearly all life in the ocean is
dependent on plants. Only plants have the ability to
manufacture food out of inorganic substances. Algae in
the ocean are an important food source as well as an
important source of atmospheric oxygen. The most
abundant plants in the ocean are known as
phytoplankton. To grow, phytoplankton needs nutrients
from sea water and an abundance of sunlight. The
ocean is home to a wide range of plans and animals.
This project is designed to give students a deeper
understand of the oceans, the organisms that live in the
oceans, and their importance.

Due Date March

28
Ocean Organism Project

You will be assigned an organism that lives in or

around the ocean.
2. You will research the organism using the Organism
Facts Sheet.
3. Using your Fact Sheet you will do the following:
1. Creating a 3D model of your organism. The
model does not have to be the exact size of
your organism. It can be smaller or larger.
Your organism can be made out of any
material.
2. In an aquarium, exhibits always have
information about the animals. Using the
information from your fact sheet, you will
create a written explanation that is two or
more paragraphs in length about your ocean
organism. This explanation must be typed

and mounted on colored paper. Be sure to

properly cite your source(s): editor, author,
compiler, site, date of source. (Use
attached rubric)
3. Prepare a 2 minutes speech about your
organism. Students should have 10 flash
cards prepared with the taking points for
their speech. Student should NOT read their
fact sheet. (Ex: description, habitat, region
of the world, importance in the food chain,
what does it eat, what eats it, 2 interesting
facts, how you made your 3D model, and
you experience completing the project)

Organism Fact Sheet

Organism Name:_____________________________
Size_______________________________________________
Color:______________________________________________
Depth Zone
:_______________________________________________
Region:_____________________________________________
What does your organism eat and what eats it?
_____________________________________
What would happen to the ecosystem if your organism
died off? ________________________________

Is your organism a protected species? If not, do you

think it should be? ____________________
Does your organism live in only one part of the world?
Do you think it would be ok to introduce it into another
part of the world?
___________________________________________

Do you consider your organism to be a predator or

Interesting information (may include important

uses and interesting facts etc.)

prey? Why?__________________________

1.

Is your organism apart of more than one food chain?

2.

__________________________________

3.

What is the origin of your organisms name?

4.

_________________________________________

5.

Do humans consume your organism?

6.

_________________________

Other notes: