Marine Animals & the Three Oceanic Layers they Live In

By: Ms. Sims

3rd Grade

In This Lesson, Students will… Discuss Ocean Life Draw pictures of different animals that live at the

different ocean levels Use their imagination to create their own

aquarium of ocean animals Discuss special adaptations of animals that live at

each level of the ocean

Rationale At this grade level, students like to use bold colors

and work with expressive, somewhat real objects and entities.

Students are interested in copying what they see and trying to depict what they know

The world around them is very interesting, especially the parts that they cannot see up close and personal

Materials Needed Black construction paper Crayons Blue paint Water Double-sided Tape Paint Brushes Saran Wrap Pictures Drawing Paper (white) Black Markers Pencils

Have plain white paper, pencils, and coloring supplies at the students’ spots when they come in the room to save time

Instructional StrategiesDay 1

Motivation Ask Students what they know about the ocean? What kinds of animals live in the ocean? Ocean Water? What other things would you see in an ocean?

Note: Class discussion time should be used to engage students as well as learn so putting the students’ ideas on a board will be beneficial.

7 MINUTES

Show Students Pictures http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/photos

-that-move-and-flow-underwater/?emc=eta1

Briefly discuss things they notice such as:Dark/light water change Kinds of animals they saw Other things around the animals such as coral, rocks, or

ice Colors of both animals and scenery

DRAWING MOMENT???

Allow students 3 minutes to sketch from memory one of the pictures they just saw

3

MINUTES

Three Layers of the Ocean are: The Sunlit layer The Twilight Layer The Midnight Layer

Instruct students to write on a sheet of paper three columns labeled sunlit layer, twilight layer, and midnight layer and while watching the following video writing down animals that go under each column

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VhcHV1uuVo Discuss animals that were seen in the video that can

be found at each layer

5

MINUTES

Animals & Their Layers The Sunlit Layer The Twilight Layer The Midnight Layer

Sharks Carbs Squid

Sea Turtles Lobster Eels

Seals Whales Starfish

Sting rays Pufferfish Jellyfish

Walk around and see what different students had in the different columns before proceeding as an informal assessment to see who was paying attention to the video as well as how they are comprehending the layers so far.

7

MINUTES

Time to Draw Walk students through 1 or 2 animals as a

class Put up picture and have students draw Have students draw from memory Examples:

Have students color the animals they draw and hang them on the wall

13

MINUTES

Closure & Clean up Ask students to bring in photos of their favorite

ocean animals for the next day Discuss drawing strategies Draw numbers to have students put back materialsHave a student collect animal samples

3

MINUTES

Instructional Strategies Day 2

Motivation

Review what was discussed about layers and the animals that live in them. Perhaps put back up the chart from day 1 Discuss animals & their colors

Explain idea of aquarium What specifics you want to include

Allow students to share their interests Explain that they will be drawing animals they

want in their aquarium & coloring themguidelines for what must be includedBrief overview of the next steps

10

MINUTES

ActivityLet’s Do the Demo

Allow students to come up to the demo table and watch

Things you should have on demo table:Completed example of aquariumPlain drawn piece of paper of aquariumPlain white piece of paper Examples of animals, decoration, and plants that the

students can draw

7

MINUTES

Example of Requirements Your aquarium must include:

1 animal from the sunlit layer 2 animals from the twilight layer2 animals from the Midnight layer

Your animals must be colored On the back you must put which animals belong in

which layer You must include 1 non animal object

Anchor Boat seashells

You must have at least 1 plant

3

MINUTES

Activity Student Work Time

Have students practice drawing animals Have students experiment with making different

shades of blue with paint Walk around and assist Ask questions Make suggestions

20

MINUTES

Closure & Clean up Have students post drawings from today on wallDiscuss inspirations for tomorrow Discuss different animals students struggled to

drawTake suggestions on animals students liked

3

MINUTES

Day 3Motivation

Have examples of animals out Let students practice drawing them Have step by step versions of different animals

available Answer questions on how to make different

animals

ActivityWhile the Artists are at Work…

Walk around and ask questions Ask students which level they are drawing animals

onAsk students what colors they are making the

animals and whyBe making note of students’ processes to

informally assess their comprehension

Paint the Aquarium

MIX THE BLUE

PAINT WITH

WATER & PAINT IT

BLUE ALL OVER

Students could make the

blue darker as they get

further down the page or

make it all one color

Assembling the Aquarium After the aquarium paper is FULLY dry:

Put 3 pieces of double-sided tape around the edgesTape Saran wrap onto the aquarium page Cut 3 black strips of construction paper Glue them on top of the tape on the sides & bottom

ALL DONE

FINISHED PRODUCT

Wrap Up Ideas Hang aquariums on wallHave student stalk about their

workHave volunteers explain their

animals/ layersUse student work to refer back to

chart/discussionHave students make a chart on

back

Give students the take home

worksheet & explain the instructions

Credits/ References Text bookBook with craft in it Please use the sign up sheet to request any info.

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