Teacher Resources: Chapter 23

Writing Prompts

Opinion: Today, some sea urchin fishermen think sea otters eat too many sea urchins. They hunt sea urchins for a living and feel that sea otters decrease the number of urchins they are able to harvest and sell. In contrast, biologists believe sea otters help to control the sea urchin population. Sea urchins eat kelp and, if there are too many sea urchins in an area, kelp forests, which provide homes for hundreds of species, can be destroyed. Write ‘for’ and ‘against’ arguments responding to the question, “Should sea otters be protected?” Think about your argument from a biologist and a fisherman’s point of view. Create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support each argument.

Informative/explanatory: Link to Voices from the Field to gather information about what has happened to the sea otter population of California over time. Write a paragraph explaining what is being done now to restore sea otter populations. Include information and examples related to the topic.

Narrative: Pretend that you are Karana. Write a first-person description of Tutok’s departure from the island. What do you see? How do you feel? Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey your thoughts and feelings precisely.

Lesson Plans

Interpreting Sea Otter Diet Data

Last updated: November 17, 2018