Culminating Activity  

Question #1  |  Question #2  |  Question #3  |   Question #4  |  Question #5  |  Question #6

General classroom procedures for the manatees' culminating activity will include the following:

• Students will work in cooperative groups of four to answer one of the following research questions. 
• Each member will be responsible for researching and recording notes from related unit web sites. 
• As a group, students will organize and analyze collected data to find a solution to the question posed. 
• As a group, students will create a PowerPoint presentation to share their information with peers. 
• During the presentation students will explain their solution or answer to the selected question.

 

Question #1:     Father is planning the itinerary for a family trip to Florida during Christmas vacation.  He knows you can see manatees at Sea World, but wants to visit a group of manatees in their natural habitat.  Would you expect to find manatees living in Florida in the winter?  Why or why not?

Return to the top of the page.

Question #2:     During your visit to Sea World, someone nearby suddenly says, "Oh, look!  There's a manatee!"  You turn and discover it is really a walrus.   How can you tell the difference between a walrus and a manatee?  Why do you think that person might have confused the walrus with a manatee?

Return to the top of the page

Question #3:     Mother manatee has been migrating to the same spot in a Florida river for the last ten years.  This year when she returns with her calf, she decides to search for a different location.  Why do you think she might feel a need to search for a different place?  Do you think changing her location would be a wise decision?   Why or why not?

Return to the top of the page

Question #4:     Sea World has a special day camp for elementary boys and girls interested in learning more about manatees.  You decide to attend the camp and discover they have an assignment for you!  Sea World in California is planning to add a manatee exhibit, and need help deciding how to "build" a habitat for two manatees.  How would you design the exhibit?   What would you include in the exhibit, and why?

Return to the top of the page

Question #5:     There are 300 manatees living in the St. Johns River in Florida.   Scientists have been concerned about the declining manatee population.  They have hired you to research and present a report predicting the number of manatees that may be living there in five years.  What factors will affect your prediction?  Which factor do you think will have the greatest effect on the actual number of manatees found living in the river in five years?  Why?

Return to the top of the page

Question #6:     President Bush is forming a committee to evaluate the present laws and regulations involving the Florida manatees.  He has asked YOU to serve on that committee.  After studying the present laws and regulations, what changes would you tell President Bush should be made to protect manatees?  Why do you think those changes would help save the manatees?

Return to the top of the page

Manatee Home Page