Ocean Biomes Webquest

Ocean Biomes WebQuest

Developed by Mr. Hoopman

Overview

/ In this WebQuest you, an ocean scientist, will work for the government to solve different issues associated with specific ocean projects.
/ This WebQuest is for Middle School Science students.
/ Standards & Benchmarks:
STANDARD E: Students in Wisconsin will demonstrate an understanding of the structure and systems of the earth and other bodies in the universe and their interactions.
E.9 Using the science themes explain and predict changes in major features of land, water, and atmospheric systems.
E.11 Using the science themes during investigations, describe climate, weather, ocean currents, soil movements, and changes in the forces acting on the earth.
E.16 Using past and current models of the structure of the solar system, explain the daily, monthly, yearly, and long-term cycles of the earth.
STANDARD G: Students in Wisconsin will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between science and technology and the ways in which that relationship influences human activities.
G.8 Illustrate the impact that science and technology have had, both good and bad, on careers, systems, society, environment, and quality of life.
/ Resources will depend on how the students present their findings.

Introduction

Our government has just sent seven project to its science division, the Council of Hoopman Atmospheric and Oceanic Scientists. You are one of the scientists of CHAOS. Your job is to evaluate the pros and cons of each project as they relate to your field of science. You and a team of scientists from other fields will work together to decide if we should go ahead with the project.

Quest(ions) and the Task

Each group of 3 or 4 will be composed of one of each of the following scientists:

Marine Biologist – describes life in the oceans and how those organisms interact with each other and their environment. More info
Marine Chemist – determine the chemical composition of the water and ocean sediment. More Info
Marine Physicist– study the currents, wave, and tides of the ocean. More Info
Marine Geologist – study topography and tectonic features of the oceans. More Info

Each group of scientists will use their unique lens to answer the questions of the following projects:

Coastal Development
Submarine Canyon Sludge
Kelp Forest Facial
Coral Reef Vacation
Sargasso Sea Salvage
All that glitters on a Hydrothermal Vent
Cold Seep running on empty

Process

Each CHAOS scientist should complete the worksheet provided for their project using their individual lens. You will have only two computer periods to complete the worksheet but you may work after school and use other resources.Then next two days you will work with your group to decide the future of the project. You will be required to turn in this worksheet along with your group presentation on the final day of the week.

Resources

Intertidal

Enchanted Learning – Intertidal Animals and adaptations

Wild Classroom – Intertidal Biome

Coastal Development

NOAA – coastal development

National Geographic – coastal development

Man and the Intertidal Zone – Human effects on the biome

Chemical Pollution – Very high end lexile

Neritic Zone

World Wildlife Foundation – Open Ocean

Britannica Online – Neritic Zone

Office of Naval Research – Blue Water

Submarine Canyons

National Oceanographic Partnership – Submarine canyon?

Science and the Sea – Canyon pollution

Monterrey Bay – SIMoN sanctuary

Pollution – Organic contaminants in canyon sediment

US Navy – Sediment transport

Kelp Forests

NOAA – Kelp forests

Kelp Forests – General info

News in Science – Threats to kelp forests

Sea Kelp – Uses for kelp

Coral Reef

National Geographic – Great Barrier Reef

World Wildlife Foundation – Threats to coral reefs

Global Issues – Coral Reefs

Ambergris Caye – Coral Reef vacations

Great Barrier Reef – Travel to Queensland

Pelagic Zone

Wild Classroom – Pelagic Biome

Sargasso Sea

How Stuff Works – Sargasso Sea

Greenpeace – Trash Vortex

Habitats of the World – Threats to the Sargasso Sea

Sea Turtles – Rehabilitation and Pollution

Federal Register – threat of Sargasso harvest to American eel

Benthic Zone

USGS – Benthic ecosystems and links

NOAA – Benthic Animals

Hydrothermal Vents

Woods Hole – Hydrothermal Vent systems

Fisheries and Aquaculture – use of hydrothermal vents

Office of Science and Technology – harvesting minerals from vents

UNEP – national jurisdiction for vent mineral harvesting

Cold Seep

Monterrey Bay – overview of Cold Seeps

AAAS – Cold Seep creatures

Marine Ecology – Cold seep benthic communities

Geobiology – Fuel cells from cold seep

Evaluation

During the Ocean Biomes WebQuest week, individuals will be graded on their own project worksheet and groups will be assessed on their collaboration skills and their final presentation. Group members and teacher will fill out a Group Rubric and Presentation Rubric.

Conclusion

The end of each project has the opportunity to be the beginning of a new one. What new issues arose from the original project?

/ How were the roles interpreted differently in each group?
/ If we had interpreted their roles differently, how might the outcome have changed?
/ Were we flexible enough to compromise with the group and attain resolution, or did we yield to group pressures?
/ What new questions did the projects generate? Why would these new questions be important in deciding on the original project?