Name:______The Little Mermaid Viewer’s Guide
The purpose of watching The Little Mermaid is to familiarize you with the classification of the animal kingdom and develop a basic understanding of scientific interpretation of evidence. While watching The Little Mermaid you will be asked to make observations and interpretations based on what you see or hear. You are not allowed to use any past experience when collecting and interpreting the evidence (what you see and hear). Read each question carefully to determine the intent of the question. Some questions require a specific point of view. You are only allowed to answer those questions from the perspective specified by that point of view. Any question requiring an explanation should be explained based only on the evidence available through the video. Each classification should include the phylum and class (except for the phyla Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, or Echinodermata which were not classified to that level in your notes). Do not classify humans or named characters in the story unless the question specifically asks. Have fun and think!
1. List the criteria you should use to classify living organisms. a. ______b. ______c. ______d. ______
2. During the introduction of the movie (until the credits end) identify and classify 10 animals. Animal classification ______
3. The performance:
Classify the animals pulling King Triton’s chariot. ______
Classify King Triton’s chariot. ______
Where would a stable have to be located for the animals pulling King Triton’s chariot? Explain your answer. ______
Classify the animals pulling Sebastian’s chariot.______
Classify Sebastian’s chariot. ______
Classify the announcer ______
Classify two of the performers in the orchestra. a. ______b. ______
What is the phylum for the stage that Ariel’s sisters performed on? ______3. The ship: Classify the bully that chased Ariel and Flounder ______
Identify three pieces of evidence that suggest the ship Ariel and Flounder explored sunk awhile ago. Explain why the evidence is interpreted that way. a.______b.______c.______
Identify three pieces of evidence that suggest the ship Ariel and Flounder explored sunk recently/ Explain why the evidence is interpreted that way. a.______b.______c.______
Define awhile ago.______
Define recently.______
4. Visit to the surface: Are Scuttle’s interpretations reasonable? Explain your answer. ______
Are Scuttle’s interpretations right? Explain your answer. ______
5. Back below the surface: Suppose you are a merscientist. What could you conclude about humans by examining a banded bulbous snarfblat and a dinglehopper? Limit your conclusions to only what you could know from a merscientist perspective. ______
Classify Ursula’s snack: ______
Triton refers to humans as “fish eaters” in such a way that implies that merfolk do not eat fish. According to the movie Splash merfolk do eat fish. What do you think merfolk eat? Base your hypothesis only on evidence you see while watching the video. There actually is at least one very good possibility based on a reliable source of evidence. ______
Again, as a merscientist, after observing Ariel’s collection in her treasure trove, what more can you conclude about humans? Be a specific as possible. For example: “The device with the frame of the shiny, bendable material wrapped around the clear, hard circular discs suggests …..” ______
6. Back to the surface (Ariel must have a hearing problem) “The one playing the snarfblat!” Was Scuttle right? Explain. ______
Classify Max (kind of hairy and slobbery):______Classify Scuttle: ______Classify Sebastian: ______
7. A cast of many strive to convince Ariel that life “Under the Sea” is betta. Identify and classify the following. Not necessarily in the order of appearance. a. steel drummers ______b. steel drums ______c. back “flipper” ______d. on the plate Nate ______e. fuscia tops ______f. hook spitter ______g. background singers ______h. know it all 1 ______i. know it all 2 ______j. flute player ______k. harp player ______l. harp ______m.bass player ______n. bass ______o. brass player ______p. soul fish’s horn ______q. blower ______r. tooth player ______s. 8-armed background ______t. jammer ______u 5-pointed dancers ______v. wailer ______w. rug cutter ______x. bubble riders ______
8. By the end of the video you will be expected to classify merfolk. List all anatomical and physiological features of merfolk that must be considered when you classify them Anatomical Features Physiological Features ______
9. Classify King Triton’s messenger; ______
10. Classify Ursula’s henchcreeps ______
11. Classify the sorry looking creatures surrounding Ursula’s place. ______
12. The fact that Ariel (and any other speaking character) has a voice suggests something about her respiratory system. What is suggested? ______
13. When Ariel is turned into a human it appears she loses at least one specific ability. What ability did she lose? ______
14. At the dinner table, was Scuttle right? Explain. ______
15. Why does Sebastian “click” when he runs? ______
16. Do crabs really have lips? ______17. Classify the engine on the chariot. ______18. Sebastian enlists many to help create “the mood” during “Kiss the Girl”. Classify each of the performers. Not necessarily in the order of performance. percussionists’ ______percussion ______strings ______winds ______thin-necked singers ______oar-riding singers ______empathetic expressionists ______curtain drawers ______ya yas ______special lighting ______fountains ______
19. Scuttle musters a militia of wedding raiders. Identify and classify animal classification ______
20. Artistic license allows the creators of The Little Mermaid to make changes from reality for the sake of the story. List ten examples of artistic license used in the movie. Do not include the ability to talk or magic in your list.
anatomical or physiological trait explanation a. ______b.______c.______d.______e.______f.______g.______h.______i.______j.______
21. You have to decide now. Classify merfolk and justify your decision. ______
22. What one feature clearly indicates merfolk are placental? ______
23. How will the perspective of a merscientist from Ariel’s community possibly change after Ariel is married to Eric? ______
24. What would Triton have to change in Ariel to make sure they would not need an aquarium in the nursery? ______