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Discovering Northern Elephant Seals

Suggested Lesson Plan

PRE-VISIT		Time needed: 8 hours
Activity #1	How Can I Learn about the Secret Lives of Elephant Seals? Students use a newspaper and vocabulary list to complete questions and activities about elephant seals.		2 hours
Activity #2	How Are Elephant Seals Adapted to Their Enviornment? Using adaptation cards, students create posters identify elephant seal adaptations.		2 hours
Activity #3	Who Is in the Elephant Seal Food Pyramid? Students identify the components of the elephant seal's food pyramid and create their own version.		2 hours
Activity #4	What Can We Expect on Our Field Trip to Observe Elephant Seals? Students create field journals for use on their visit to Point Reyes National Seashore.		1 hour
Activity #5	Safety and Stewardship Challenge. Proper behaviors around National Park resources are examined in a game format.		1 hour
Activity #6	How Do I Use Binoculars? Students practice using binoculars in the classroom and outside.		varies
ON-SITE		Time needed: 3 hours
Field Journal	How Can Teachers, Chaperones, and Students make the Most of Their Field Trip? Students observe elephant seals and complete their field journals while visiting Point Reyes National Seashore.		3 hours
Optional	How Can We Inspire Others to Protect Elephant Seals and Their Habitat? Wtudents videotape elephant seals during their field trip, then create a presentation for others.		time varies
Optional	How Can I Capture My Experience in a Story, Poem or a Drawing? There are many ways to appreciate elephant seals; here are some suggestions to foster creativity.		time varies
POST-VISIT		Time needed: 5 hours
Activity #1	How Can We Learn from Our Field Journals? Students compile data from their field journals to draw conclusions between what they previously learned in class and what they experienced in the field.		2 hours
Activity #2	How Are Decisions Made for Elephant Seals? Students research and role-play various interest groups involved in elephant seal management, then develop their own strategy.		2 hourss
Activity #3	What Happens at the Marine Mammel Center? Students tour the Marine mammal Center's rehabilitation hospital to view elephant seal and sea lion patients.		1 hour (and travel time)
Activity #4	How Do I Choose and Complete the Best Stewardship Project? Students develop action plans to complete a project that will benefit habitats and their environment.		time varies

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