Background information

    First grade students voted on learning about the ocean for their 2 week inquiry study.  They also gave suggestions for areas that they were most interested in learning about.  Now the teacher's planning begins.
    After gathering available resources and creating a web site with safe links that the children could use (although some sites require an older student, parent volunteer, or the teacher to read the material), we are ready to begin our learning adventure.  The technology-based learning will take place on our classroom computers - two Macintosh Performa 5400s and 2 iMacs, which are connected to a television for better viewing, or in the computer lab.  Both locations have T1 internet access.  We are just taking a dip into the ocean and getting our feet wet though, we are not diving into an extensive study.

Day 1 & 2  Let's Learn About the Ocean!

• Create a KWHL web of what students already know about the ocean using Inspiration on the classroom computer.
• Using Let's Learn About the Ocean! explore websites about the ocean.
• Map skills:  Color the oceans on a world map.
• Read ocean animal books.
• Make a Life in the Tide Pool book.(Copycat, Mar/Apr 1998)
• Record information about learning in a class created ocean book.
• Math: graph favorite kinds of ocean animals using The Graph Club.
• Explore the software program - Odell Down Under (Mecc)
• Create an ocean mural and an ocean area.  (Add to it each day)

Days 3 & 4   So Many Sea Creatures!

• Chart what students already know about sea creatures using Inspiration on the classroom computer to make a KWHL web.
• Using Let's Learn About the Ocean! explore websites about sea creatures:
  • fish
  • sea turtles
  • starfish
  • octopus
  • sea horses
• Read poems and songs about sea animals.
• Create a Silent Fish project.
• Make shape books about the sea creature.  In the computer lab the children use The Writing Center (Learning Center) to type and print out at least three sentences about their sea creature.  Create the cover for the shape book by tracing around a pattern and decorating it. (Cover patterns for a starfish, sand dollar, sea urchin.)
• Math:  Read book Fishy Scales.Weigh and measure shells and fish manipulatives.
• Make a sea creature mobile.
• Read ocean animal books.

Day 5 & 6    Shark Attack!

• Create a KWHL chart about sharks by using Inspiration on the classroom computer with the whole group.
• Using Let's Learn About the Ocean! explore websites about sharks.
• Read books about sharks.
• Explore the shark teeth display.
• Create a shark book using the information that has been learned.
• Math: Shark Attack game.   Skills:  Review more/less
• View Shark video.
• Create sharks from modeling clay made with sand.
• Play the Rainbow Fish game.

Day 7 & 8   Dolphin Day

• Create a KWHL chart about dolphins by using Inspiration on the classroom computer.
• Using Let's Learn About the Ocean! explore websites about dolphins.
• Make and read Dive Dolphin Dive! book.  (Copycat, Jan/Feb 1998)
• Read dolphin poems.
• Learn dolphin actions and sounds- move and sound like a dolphin.
• Write a dolphin story using The Writing Center.
• Dolphin math game.  Skill: Adding doubles to 20.
• Read ocean animal books.

Day 9 & 10    We love whales!

• Create a KWHL chart about whales by using Inspiration on the classroom computer.
• Using Let's Learn About the Ocean! explore websites about Whales.
• Writing: Make a Whale of a Book!  Create a class book using knowledge learned about whales.
• Math: Create a life size Beluga whale.  Using roll paper a parent volunteer will help the students determine how long to draw the Beluga whale.
• Science: Make plankton nets. Use the toe end of old nylons for the net. Glue onto a pipecleaner that has been bent into the handle and top of the net.
• Arts & Crafts: Check out ideas from Enchanted Learning.
• Listen and read Baby Beluga by Raffi.
• Read:  Wonderful Whales poem. Going on a Whale Watch.
• Read ocean animal books.

Day 6  Celebrate in Our Ocean!

         Invite a Kindergarten class to learn about our ocean.

• Read our books to them.
• Be underwater tour guides to tell about the ocean mural.
• Be animal experts and tell about their selected animal and answer questions.

Ocean Inquiry assessment

@2000 Gayle Berthiaume
Updated 2009