Otter Smorgasbord

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In this graphing activity (on pages 33-40), learners investigate how much and what kinds of food sea otter pups eat during their first year of life. Learners discover that young sea otters eat more than two times the amount of food needed for a boy or girl of the same weight. The "Think It Over" section prompts learners to consider how a oil spill would affect otters' crucial food supply. This activity can be used with math lessons involving graphing, marine science lessons, and even comparative nutrition lessons.

Quick Guide

Preparation Time:
10 to 30 minutes
Learning Time:
1 to 2 hours
Estimated Materials Cost:
1 cent - $1 per group of students
Age Range:
Ages 8 - 14
Resource Type:
Activity
Language:
English, Spanish

Materials List (per group of students)

  • Beachcomber's Guide or pictures of kelp forest animals downloaded from the Web or other sources - photocopy for each participant
  • 1 calculator
  • colored pencils
  • 1 sheet 12 x 18 inch white construction paper

Keywords

Subjects

  • Life Sciences
    • Diversity of Life
      • Animals
  • Mathematics
    • Data Analysis and Probability
      • Data Analysis
    • Measurement
      • Rate
  • The Nature of Science
    • The Scientific Process
      • Gathering Data
      • Formulating Explanations

Informal Categories

  • Animals
  • Nature and Environment

Audience

To use this activity, learners need to:

  • see
  • read

Learning styles supported:

  • Involves teamwork and communication skills

Designed specifically for

  • Rural dweller

Culture, ethnicity, and gender

  • Girls

    • Explicity developed for this group

Other

Foreign language versions of this resource:

Components that are part of this resource:

Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:

This resource is part of:

Access Rights:

  • Free access

By:

  • University of Nebraska State Museum; Nebraska Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development

Source Collection

  • Science After School Consumer's Guide

Rights:

  • All rights reserved, University of Nebraska State Museum, 2001

Funding Sources:

  • National Science Foundation Informal Science Education Program, 9909496
  • Howard Hughes Medical Institute