I see Sea Otters

5th grade Webquest

Your Task-Your family recently took a trip out to California.

While you were there you visited the central California coast. When looking out into the ocean

you see a raft of sea otters. You recently heard that sea otters have become threatened. You want to learn more and let other people know about sea

otters and what we can do to help! You and a friend will put together a brochure displaying information

about these California Sea otters and their protection status!

• Get to know this animal! Watch this short video introducing sea otters!

Click me to watch your video!

• List three interesting facts you found out while watching this video (Answer all questions in your science notebooks!)

Listen to the sound otters make

Look at a map of Sea Otter range

on the California coastline

Read this article about sea otters

http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/sea-otter.html• What is their scientific name?• What is their current protection status?• Name one other thing you found interesting

about sea otters in the National Geographic article?

• Need more information about why these sea otters are endangered? Read this article and answer the questions at the end!

•http://www.kidsplanet.org/tt/seaotter/pdf/readthreats.pdf

• Watch this clip from Fox News about Sea Otter populations

• Why do marine biologists think the numbers are dwindling?

• What would happen if the Sea otter population continues to decline?

Now go to The Sea otter Project website-• Click on the About Sea Otters tab-

http://www.otterproject.org/site/pp.asp?c=8pIKIYMIG&b=28115

• Read the short summary of sea otters and look at the chart graphing sea otter population-

Using the California Sea Otter population graph, record the numbers for each year in your science notebook

• 1991- • 1993-• 1995-• 1997-• 1999-• 2001-• 2003-• 2005-• 2007-• 2009-

Using the numbers recorded graph/chart this data using either a bar graph, scatter plot, or any graph that you think well

represents the data. Use a Microsoft Office Excel to record data and create your graph. Make sure you label each year, as well as

the x axis and y axis. You will use this is your final brochure!

Okay so now you know there is to know everything about California Sea otters

right? And you know that there population has been dwindling due to

human interaction. So know let’s look at an organizations effort to promote

awareness about Sea otter population.

Read this article about the “No-Otter Zone”- http://www.otterproject.org/site/pp.asp?c=8pIKIYMIG&b=3929449

• What is the no-otter zone?• Where did they move the sea otters to?• Did it work?• Do you think this translocation benefits sea

otters or humans more? Why?

Scan this brochure created by Defenders of Wildlife-

• Under what two acts are sea otters protected in California?

• Why do you think the population of Sea otters in California keeps declining?

• What are some of the reasons the brochure mentions?

CONGRATULATIONS!

You’ve completed the I see Sea otters Webquest! Congratulations. Now it’s time for

you and your partner to get to work on creating your brochure. Make sure to use all the information you just gathered as well as

your graphs.