Marine Mammal Month

Mary Middlebrook

7-12 years old

4 lessons

June 2 – August 18

$50

Save 10% on a full year with code NLH10 at checkout!

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If your child has taken classes with us before, use the Canvas email they log in with. Each student must have a unique email (the parent email may be reused, but not shared between students).

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CLASS DESCRIPTION

My degree is in Marine Biology (from Texas A&M University at Galveston), and marine biology was the very first homeschool class I ever taught! I have since branched out into many other sciences, but always love it when I can teach my passion–ocean life! When I offered my Marine Zoology series, so many people wanted a class for the younger kids. That’s when I created Shark Month. And the response was so huge for more, that I decided to create Marine Mammal Month! This 4 week workshop will still have TONS of science, but will be written for younger students. This class is really not a good fit for current Marine Zoology students, as all of the information in this class will be covered in zoology, but in more detail.

CLASS FORMAT

No live classes–view lessons on YOUR schedule. In general, expect 1.5-2.5 hours to work through the lesson plan each week, and an additional 2-5 hours working on assignments (it really depends what assignment your child chooses to do and how they manage their time). For classes with two levels, the material is the same for both–the depth of the assignments differs. Younger students should usually be placed in Level 1. Older students, or younger students who want more of a challenge, should be placed in Level 2. Each lesson consists of a fully narrated PowerPoint presentation with images and videos to enhance the topics. Students will have access to our learning management system, Canvas, for viewing their lesson, printing worksheets, taking quizzes, viewing/submitting assignments, participating in discussions, and viewing grades/feedback.

Some of the things we will be covering include:

1. Evolution:

Where do marine mammals fit into the grand scheme of life on earth? When did they evolve? Did they evolve from fish or something else? What were some of the first forms of marine mammals? Are marine mammals like sea lions and dolphins more closely related to each other or to something else?

2. Taxonomy:

We’ll learn about how scientists classify marine mammals into taxonomic groups so we can see what characteristics separate the various groups from each other.

3. Anatomy:

What makes a marine mammal like a whale or dolphin a marine mammal and not a fish?

4. Species:

We’ll go through all of the major groups of marine mammals and learn what makes each group unique- Pinnipeds (Seals, Sea Lions, Walruses), Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees, and Cetaceans (Dolphins and Whales). Some species are the smartest in the ocean, but is it possible that they are the most intelligent creatures on EARTH? Students will learn how to use a dichotomous key to identify species.

5. Conservation:

What is the status of the world’s marine mammal populations? What laws are in place to protect them? What are the pros and cons of keeping these animals in captivity?