Teaching STEM with Sharks Sharkwreck Mystery
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Diving into STEM with Oceanic Research Group Secondary Unit: Teaching STEM with Sharks Sharkwreck Mystery: Teacher Vocabulary Resources Concepts: Scientific Inquiry, Hypothesis, Theory, Study design Grade Level: 9 Estimated Time: Afterschool: 20 hours Classroom: 9 hours Overview: Thirty miles off the coast of North Carolina there is a shipwreck on the bottom and swarming around the wreck are dozens of Sand Tiger sharks. They look menacing, but they seem to be very docile. What are they all doing there, in one spot? That’s what Jonathan wants to find out. Biologists think they are coming to mate, as evidenced by the shark teeth they find scattered on the wreck. But while observing the sharks, Jonathan can’t see them doing much of anything except swimming around. He and his crew try various ways to learn more about why these Sand Tiger sharks congregate at this wreck. What do they learn by diving with and recording these sharks both during the day and at night? Resources: Jonathan Bird’s Blue World - Webisode 7 - http://www.blueworldtv.com/webisodes/watch/a- sharkwreck-mystery Introduction Objectives People are able to study land animals such as bears, • Introduce viewers to the Sand Tiger shark, and its lions or birds by sitting for many hours and observing specialized teeth designed for catching fish. them. In order to not affect the natural behavior of the animals, this observation usually occurs from a • Teach how a hypothesis can be tested by distance or by people camouflaging themselves in experimentation. the surrounding environment. Studying behavior of • Demonstrate just how little we know about some animals underwater is much more challenging due to species and how hard it is to learn new things about the limitations of time, underwater visibility, location wildlife. and difficulty blending in with the environment. Consequently, long hours of observational research is • Review different types of scientific study design not possible for underwater animals which means there are many unanswered questions about underwater animal behavior. NGSS and Common Core Standards It has been known for years that Sand Tiger sharks Next Generation Science Standards gather in certain locations at certain times of the year Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics but the exact reason for this is not known. This lesson highlights the progressive attempts and challenges of Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity learning what the Sand Tiger sharks are doing on this North Carolina shipwreck. Results are reviewed and Common Core Standards hypotheses revised while considering other ways to Reading Standards 6-12 research the question. Considerations for study design Speaking and Listening 6-12 such as open, blind and double blind are also included in this lesson. Writing Standards 6-12 Secondary Unit Lesson 3- Sharkwreck Mystery: Teacher Resources - Page 1 Learn more at www.BlueWorldTV.com! ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY Sharkwreck Mystery: Teacher Answer Key Directions: Find a picture or a synonym (similar word) for each of the Essential Vocabulary words. Use a dictionary, thesaurus, internet, or any other resource available to you. These are in alphabetical order. For an additional activity, pair words with opposite meanings. AGGRESSIVE - ready and willing to fight, argue, etc.; using forceful methods to succeed or to do something ANCHOR LINE – the rope or chain that connects the anchor to a boat or ship BIAS - a tendency to believe that some people, ideas, etc., are better than others that usually results in treating some people unfairly BIOLOGIST - a scientist who studies living organisms, often in the context of their environment BLIND STUDY - of, relating to, or being an experimental procedure in which the experimenters but not the subjects know the makeup of the test and control groups during the actual course of the experiments BOTTOM - the lowest part, point, or level of something CLUE - something that helps a person find something, understand something, or solve a mystery or puzzle; an understanding of something COINCIDENCE - a situation in which events happen at the same time in a way that is not planned or expected CONVERGE - to move toward one point and join together CONFIRM - to state or show that (something) is true or correct; to give official approval to (something or someone) CONTROL GROUP - A control group is a group separated from the rest of the experiment where the independent variable being tested cannot influence the results. This isolates the independent variable’s effects on the experiment and can help rule out alternate explanations of the experimental results. CREW -the group of people who operate a ship, airplane, or train; a group of people who do a specified kind of work together CRYSTAL CLEAR - perfectly clear: able to be seen through completely; perfectly easy to understand DEPENDENT VARIABLE - the variable being tested in a scientific experiment and represents the output or effect. DETERIORATE -to become worse as time passes DISTURB - to stop (someone) from working, sleeping, etc. : to interrupt or bother (someone or something) DOUBLE-BLIND STUDY - used to describe an experiment that is done so that neither the people who are doing the experiment nor the people who are the subjects of the experiments know which of the groups being studied is the control group and which is the test group EXPLORE - to look at (something) in a careful way to learn more about it : to study or analyze (something); to travel over or through (a place) in order to learn more about it or to find something FOOTAGE - scenes or action recorded on film or video; the size of something measured in feet HAWTHORNE EFFECT (OBSERVER EFFECT)- the alteration of behavior by the subjects of a study due to their awareness of being observed. Secondary Unit Lesson 3- Sharkwreck Mystery: Teacher Resources - Page 2 Learn more at www.BlueWorldTV.com! ESSENTIAL VOCABULARY Sharkwreck Mystery: Teacher Answer Key (continued) ILLUMINATION - light that comes into a room, that shines on something, etc.; knowledge or understanding INCONSPICUOUS - not very easy to see or notice INDEPENDENT VARIABLE - is the variable that is not changed or controlled in a scientific experiment usually plotted on the x-axis; it represents the inputs or causes MURKY - very dark or foggy; not clearly expressed or understood NOCTURNAL - active mainly during the night OBSERVER BIAS - A form of bias arising from lack of objectivity in those who are recording or measuring subjects’ responses in trials or social surveys. This can be addressed by blinding (single or, preferably, double). OFFSHORE - located in the ocean away from the shore; moving away from the shore toward the water OPEN STUDY -An open-label study or open studyis a type of study in which both the researchers and participants know which treatment is being administered. REMOTE CAMERA - control of the operation or performance of a camera from a distance SCIENTIST - a person who is trained in a science and whose job involves doing scientific research or solving scientific problems SECRET - kept hidden from others: known to only a few people SECTION - one of the parts that form something SHIPWRECK - the destruction or sinking of a ship at sea SHY -feeling nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people; tending to avoid something because of nervousness, fear, dislike, etc.; having less than a full or expected amount or number SINK - to go down below the surface of water, mud, etc.; a wide bowl that has a faucet for water and a drain at the bottom and is usually positioned in a counter or on a pedestal --- SANK - past tense of sink -------SUNK - past tense and past participle of sink SURFACE - an outside part or layer of something TEST GROUP - the group in a scientific experiment where the experimental procedure is performed. This group is exposed to the independent variable being tested and the changes observed and recorded. TO BE CONFUSED – to be unable to understand or think clearly TO BITE - to press down on or cut into (someone or something) with the teeth, stinger, fang, etc. TO DESCEND - to go down: to go or move from a higher to a lower place or level TO MATE - either one of a pair of animals that are breeding; a person who lives with you, works in the same place as you, etc. — usually used in combination with another noun TO RECORD - to write (something) down so that it can be used or seen again in the future : to produce a record of (something) TO TAPE - to record (something); to attach (something) using sticky tape VARIABLE - an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are trying to measure that is capable of changing. There are two types of variables-independent and dependent. WRECK - a vehicle, airplane, etc., that has been badly damaged or destroyed Secondary Unit Lesson 3- Sharkwreck Mystery: Teacher Resources - Page 3 Learn more at www.BlueWorldTV.com! EXTENDED VOCABULARY Sharkwreck Mystery: Teacher Answer Key Directions: Find a picture or a synonym (similar word) for each of the Extended Vocabulary words. Use a dictionary, thesaurus, Internet, or any other resource available to you. DAZE - to stupefy especially by a blow; to dazzle with light GEAR - supplies, tools, or clothes needed for a special purpose GERMAN U-BOAT - a German submarine LEISURE - time when you are not working : time when you can do whatever you want to do LONELY - sad from being apart from other people NEEDLE - a small slender usually steel instrument that has an eye for thread or surgical