Teamwork in the Ocean: Bottlenose Dolphins Working Together
Lesson Title: Teamwork in the Ocean: Bottlenose Dolphins Working Together
Grade Level: 3rd Grade
Objective: Students will understand how bottlenose dolphins work in groups to help members survive in their natural habitat.
Materials Needed:
- Videos of bottlenose dolphins working together in groups (What's Wild: Bottlenose Dolphins)
- Large poster paper or whiteboard
- Markers
Essential Question
Objective: Students will understand how bottlenose dolphins work in groups to help members survive in their natural habitat.
Grade(s):
- 3
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
Materials Needed:
- Videos of bottlenose dolphins working together in groups (What's Wild Video: Bottlenose Dolphins)
- Large poster paper or sticky notes
- Markers
Lesson Progression
Lesson Introduction:
- Begin by asking students if they know what a bottlenose dolphin is and where they live.
- Have students fold a piece of paper into 4 squares. In one square, instruct them to write two ways they notice dolphins working together. In one square, draw a picture of dolphins working together. In one square, write how they think dolphins help each other. In the last square, draw how they think the environment changed the behavior of the dolphins. They will document these things while watching the video. You may find that they need to watch the video twice.
- Show What's Wild Video- Bottlenose Dolphins
Main Lesson:
- Explain to students that bottlenose dolphins often work together in groups, called pods, to help each other survive in the ocean.
- Discuss some ways that dolphins work together: a. Hunting: Dolphins work together to find and catch fish. They may swim in circles around a school of fish, taking turns catching them. b. Protection: Dolphins protect each other from predators by swimming closely together and chasing away sharks or other threats. c. Communication: Dolphins use sounds and body language to communicate with each other, which helps them coordinate their actions when working together.
- Create Doodle notes (https://www.doodlenotes.org/) to introduce these terms to students with the main objective being to demonstrate to students how animals work together in teams to survive.
Activity:
- Divide the class into small groups.
- Ask each group to think about other animals that have to work in teams to survive. Have each group create a presentation on a large sticky note/poster paper to present how another species works in groups to survive.
- As each group presents, have students in audience provide feedback with I like, and I wonder comments.
Conclusion:
- Ask students to reflect on why teamwork is important for dolphins as well as the other animals they presented on and how it might be important for humans too.
Assessment: Observe students' participation in group discussions and their ability to determine how animals work together in teams to survive.
Extension:
- Take a virtual field trip to an aquarium or marine sanctuary where students can observe dolphins in a controlled environment.
- Write a short story or draw a comic strip about a group of dolphins working together to overcome a challenge in the ocean.
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View AssetLow Country Marine Mammal Network
A large part of the Low Country Marine Mammal Network's mission is public outreach which includes building up the next generation to care and be stewards of our oceans and the many diverse ecosystems and creatures they hold. Partner with them for a tailored learning experience in person or virtually.
Programs Include:
Marine Science Careers
Adaptations
All About Marine Animals
Strand Feeding
Relationships
Human Impact and Conservation
