Lesson One

Whale Shark Introduction

Learning Area: Science

Year : 7 – 10 (depending on difficulty of worksheet)

Topic : Whale Shark Introduction

Time Duration : approx. 1hr

Relevant Strand : Life and Living, potentially level 3 to 6

Specific Lesson Objectives -

  1. Students will be able to list biological features of whale sharks, eg. reproductive biology,
  2. Higher levels. Students will be able to describe how whale sharks have adapted to their environment over time by listing how adaptations of whale sharks may help their survival.
  3. Human impact – Students will be able to describe the impact of humans on whale shark populations.

Resources

Access to computers connected to the internet.

Worksheet provided to students.

The following websites will be useful.

1. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/r-typus-issues/biology.html

2. http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/species/sharks/whaleshark/index.html

3. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/sharks/species/Whaleshark.shtml

4. http://www.elasmo-research.org/education/topics/lh_size_benefits.htm

5. http://www.coralbay.info/whalesk.htm

6. http://www.csiro.au/files/mediaRelease/mr2005/WhaleShark.htm

Time

Teacher Activity

Student Activity

5 mins

Placemat activity – teacher to hand out large sheets of butchers paper to each group of four students. Instruct students to divide card into five equal sections. Instruct students to put any information they know about whale sharks into their space. Select a scribe to enter all information into the fifth empty square.

Students to brainstorm individually in their paper space anything they know about whale sharks.

Scribe to collate information and put into middle.

2 mins

Select one student from each group to call out what their group knows about whale sharks.

Students to call out knowledge.

5 mins

Explain purpose of lesson “ Next week a Teach live program will begin. You guys will be involved in it. The program involves photographing whale sharks to identify them as individuals. Their movements throughout the live program and beyond will also be monitored. This lesson is a basic introduction to whale sharks, so that next week when you have the opportunity to possibly contact a whale shark scientist or volunteer you know a little about them.” Read through worksheet together and explain expectations.

Students to listen.

Students to ask if they have any questions.

40 min

Teacher to ensure students stay on task and help students as necessary.

Students to research whale sharks using internet websites above and complete worksheet.

8 mins

Teacher to organise and supervise group work.

Students to get into groups of four and share information collected.

Evaluation of student knowledge: Completion of worksheet, verbal interactions during final group work as to what students have learnt.

Further lessons –

(Science) Food webs/chains that involve whale sharks, experiment to show how filter feeders obtain their food from the water column (flour dissolved in water – filer out using filter paper?), camouflage

(Society and Environment) – Discuss human impact on whale sharks eg. habitat destruction, tourism, hunting etc., follow the migration of whale sharks throughout the tem and plot movements on a map/chart.

(Maths) – Calculate distances travelled by whale sharks in a year, calculate how much food a whale shark would eat in a year,

(English) – Narrative – Write a story about the journey of a whale shark throughout the year. Write a letter to your local government representative expression your concerns about whale shark populations. Design an advertisement to promote whaleshark tourism at Exmouth.