You will be put in groups of four and will each choose a different sea creature that you will become. Each group member will have to find where your animal lives, what your animal eats, and an interesting fact! You will also have to connect your animal to one or two of the other animals that your group members chose. After finding all of this information, you and your group will create masks and perform in a play explaining to me and the class about your animals and how they relate to the others.

Okay boys and girls now let's get started to help me learn more about Australian sea creatures! :-)

1. First, you will be placed into groups of FOUR, which your teacher will already pick for you.
2. Each of you will pick ONE of the six Australian sea animals that you will explore more about (no repeats!):
   1. Hammerhead Shark
   2. Orca Whale
   3. Giant Squid
   4. Bull Ray
   5. Clown fish
   6. Reef Crab
3. Then you need to find where your animal lives, what your animal eats, and one fun and exciting fact about your animal.
4. You will also need to find out how your animal relates to at least one of the other animals in your group. Click on the links below the picture of your animal to find out your information! Then print out this WORKSHEET and record your facts on it. Also, find ONE good picture of your animal and print it out too! Have fun!

Enchanted Learning

National Geographic for Kids

Giant Squid:

National Geographic

Enchanted Learning

Orca Whale:

Enchanted Learning

National Geographic for Kids

Kids Planet

Stingray:

National Geographic

Student Page

Clown fish :

National Geographic for Kids

Enchanted Learning

Wonder Club

Blue Swimmer Crab:

Slideshow

National Geographic

5. After each member of your group has researched their animal, sit together and take turns telling each other what you have learned about your animal and show your group members the picture you have found

6. When you're finished sharing, pick someone from your group that you would like to make an animal mask for. You CAN NOT make a mask for your own animal. Using the paper plate given to you by your teacher and markers, pipe cleaners, glue, scissors, and other materials he/she has given you, create your mask. You can be creative, however, try to make it also look as realistic as you can. For example, if you were making a mask of me, Sebastian, you can make me glittery and all different colors, but I wouldn't have giant fangs and feathers, now would I? Also, make sure to use at least three different art materials to make your mask. The pictures and descriptions your group members have shared with you should help you make your mask. After your mask dries, your teacher will glue a popsicle stick to the back so you can all hold the mask up to your faces.

Here is a picture of a mask a student made for my friend Simba, the lion:

Also, remember, be kind to our art materials and careful carrying and using scissors!

7. After you have finished making your masks for each other, again, sit together with your group members. Now your job is to create a short 3-5 minute play. You live in the ocean and are the sea creature that you researched. Your other three group members are your ocean neighbors. Here is a worksheet that will help you brainstorm and write your script: OUR OCEAN PLAY
Have one person print out the worksheet and be responsible for writing on it.

8. Once you have finished writing your script, print or have your teacher photocopy four copies (one for each group member). Using a highlighter, highlight all of your lines or times when you must do something so it is easier for you to know when you have to speak or act. Now it's time to practice! Practice a few times so you get a good idea how your play should be and remember, sometimes it's okay to ad lib, which means, make things up on the spot, just as long as the things you are doing or saying make sense. When you and your group members feel like you really know what you're doing, practice one more time using the masks. Remember you should move like how your real sea creature moves! Crabs don't walk, we crawl!

Have fun! :-)

The entire project is worth 20 points. 20 points out of 20 points is 100%.

Rubric

After researching your animal, explaining it to a friend, making an animal mask, and putting on a play, you will have learned about four different animals of the sea. You will have also taught the information you learned about these animals to your class.  What was your favorite animal to learn about?  Would you like to learn more about them?  

Hammerhead Sharks
Orca Whale
Giant Squid
Sting Ray
Clown Fish
Blue swimmer crab

(1996). Sting Ray. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from National Geographic Web site: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/stingray.html

(2006). Hammerhead Shark & Hammerhead Shark Pictures. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from SharkDiving.us Web site: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sharkdiving.us/images/hammerhead/01.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sharkdiving.us/hammerheadshark.html&h=296&w=460&sz=22&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=WCCt7YR27dmdYM:&tbnh=82&tbnw=128&prev=/images?q=hammerhead+shark&um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&sa=G

(2007, August 2). Find out about us. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from City Aquariums Web site: http://www.cityaquariums.co.uk/About_us.html

(2007). Cartoon Graphics. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from Bigoo Web site: http://www.bigoo.ws/graphics/cartoons

(2007). Cartoon Graphics. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from Bigoo Web site: http://www.bigoo.ws/graphics/cartoons/15-3-1365.htm

(2007). Emerging Killer Whale. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from WallpaperMe Web site: http://nature.wallpaperme.com/Animals-Marine-Life/Emerging_+Killer+Whale.jpg.html

E Images. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from 123child Web site: http://www.123child.com/images/missemilyzoo/me9.jpg

Kallay, W (2006, October 20). The screening room. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from From script to Dvd Web site: http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/little_mermaid_dvd.htm

Phillips, D (1998). Doug's Blog. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from The Vision Forum Web site: http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/2008/05/3597.aspx

Varischetti, B (2008). Bush Telegraph. Retrieved June 18, 2008, from ABC Web site: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/telegraph/content/2006/s1977803.htm