Links
website
- NOAA: National Weather Service—Jetstream: Online School for Weather—Profile of the Ocean
- Windows to the Universe: The Ocean Biome
- PBS: Nature—Dive to the Abyss
article
1. Introduce ocean habitats.
Go to the NOAA/National Weather Service’s Profile of the Ocean diagram. Discuss the significance of the depths shown on this diagram. Point out to students that the deepest part of the ocean shown is 11,000 meters (36,100 feet), or approximately 11 kilometers (7 miles) deep. Point out the intertidal zone—in the epipelagic zone right above the continental shelf—and tell students it is the region along the shoreline covered by the sea at high tide but exposed to air at low tide. Then point out to students that the top three zones together are called the pelagic zone, or open ocean. Explain that the abyssopelagic, or abyssal benthic, zone is the region that includes the ocean floor. Ask: Why is the ocean divided into different zones? Elicit from students that each zone has unique characteristics and animal and plant life.
2. Have students predict the different conditions that exist in each habitat.
Ask students to describe the differences in pressure, temperature, and light in the different layers of the ocean. Ask:
- Where is it the darkest?
- Where is it the coldest?
- Where is the pressure the greatest?
- Why is that so?
Students should realize that it gets colder and darker and pressure increases as one moves from the surface to the bottom of the ocean.
3. Have students research the animals of each zone and their adaptations.
Distribute the worksheet and have students work in small groups to complete it. Encourage groups to use information from the diagram and the provided Internet resources, or classroom and library resources. Ask students to take turns reading the Internet web pages and leading the discussion in their small groups.
Informal Assessment
Rotate around the small groups to make sure all students are contributing to the discussions. After students have completed the worksheets, collect the worksheets and use the provided answer key to check students’ answers.
Subjects & Disciplines
- Biology
- Geography
Learning Objectives
Students will:
- describe three broad ocean habitats and their locations
- describe the conditions that exist within these habitats
- identify the animals and adaptations in each habitat
Teaching Approach
- Learning-for-use
Teaching Methods
- Discussions
- Research
- Visual instruction
Skills Summary
This activity targets the following skills:
-
Critical Thinking Skills
- Analyzing
- Understanding
- Geographic Skills
Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices
National Geography Standards
- Standard 8: The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems and biomes on Earth's surface
National Science Education Standards
- (5-8) Standard C-5: Diversity and adaptations of organisms
What You’ll Need
Materials You Provide
- Pencils
- Pens
Required Technology
- Internet Access: Required
- Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector
Physical Space
- Classroom
Grouping
- Small-group instruction
Background Information
The ocean has three broad habitats: the intertidal zone, the pelagic zone, and the abyss. Water depth, temperature, and the presence or absence of light are some of the conditions that differ in these habitats. Animals adapt to their environments to help them survive. Ocean animals have unique adaptations depending on what ocean habitat they live in.
Prior Knowledge
- None
Recommended Prior Activities
Vocabulary
deep pit in the ocean or other body of water.
environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time.
Websites
Funder
This activity is made possible by a generous grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Sanctuary Program.
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Habitats and Microhabitats
A habitat is an environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time to find a mate. The habitat contains all an animal needs to survive such as food and shelter. A microhabitat is a small area which differs somehow from the surrounding habitat. Its unique conditions may be home to unique species that may not be found in the larger region. Unfortunately, some habitats are threatened by pollution, extreme weather, or deforestation. This puts many of the species that live there in danger and is causing many populations to decline. Explore different types of habitats and microhabitats with this curated collection of classroom resources.
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Marine Ecosystems
Marine ecosystems contain a diverse array of living organisms and abiotic processes. From massive marine mammals like whales to the tiny krill that form the bottom of the food chain, all life in the ocean is interconnected. While the ocean seems vast and unending, it is, in fact, finite; as the climate continues to change, we are learning more about those limits. Explore these resources to teach students about marine organisms, their relationship with one another, and with their environment.
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Animal Adaptations in the Ocean
Students review what animal adaptations are, identify marine animal adaptations in a photo gallery, and predict how types of adaptations vary with ocean habitats.
-
Adaptation and Survival
An adaptation is any heritable trait that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal, survive and reproduce in its environment.
-
Arctic Adaptations
Students learn about behavioral and biological animal adaptations, watch a video about the Arctic, and research how specific animals have adapted to this harsh environment.
-
Habitats and Microhabitats
A habitat is an environment where an organism lives throughout the year or for shorter periods of time to find a mate. The habitat contains all an animal needs to survive such as food and shelter. A microhabitat is a small area which differs somehow from the surrounding habitat. Its unique conditions may be home to unique species that may not be found in the larger region. Unfortunately, some habitats are threatened by pollution, extreme weather, or deforestation. This puts many of the species that live there in danger and is causing many populations to decline. Explore different types of habitats and microhabitats with this curated collection of classroom resources.
-
Marine Ecosystems
Marine ecosystems contain a diverse array of living organisms and abiotic processes. From massive marine mammals like whales to the tiny krill that form the bottom of the food chain, all life in the ocean is interconnected. While the ocean seems vast and unending, it is, in fact, finite; as the climate continues to change, we are learning more about those limits. Explore these resources to teach students about marine organisms, their relationship with one another, and with their environment.
-
Animal Adaptations in the Ocean
Students review what animal adaptations are, identify marine animal adaptations in a photo gallery, and predict how types of adaptations vary with ocean habitats.
-
Adaptation and Survival
An adaptation is any heritable trait that helps an organism, such as a plant or animal, survive and reproduce in its environment.
-
Arctic Adaptations
Students learn about behavioral and biological animal adaptations, watch a video about the Arctic, and research how specific animals have adapted to this harsh environment.