Christina Columbus
350 5th Ave.
New York, NY 10001
May 16, 2011
CHS Oceanography
817 8th Ave. S.
Clinton, IA 52732
Dear CHS Oceanography:
I am a representative from Glencoe Publishers. We are currently working on our first
High School Oceanography text book and would like for you to be a part of writing it!
Because there are very few resources for texts in this subject area, we find it imperative
to contact groups such as you, in order to ask for a contribution toward the completion of
this text.
On the following pages you will find a detailed description of the role we would like you
to take in the writing of this material. It will then be distributed to classrooms around the
nation. You will be given a list of ocean organisms that you must catalog to be put into
“Quick Facts” pages. It’s very important that these organisms are grouped in some
manner of your choosing, either by location, symbiotic relationships, producer,
consumer, decomposer, or something similar. Please do not put them only in alphabetical
order. A sample page has also been included. You do not have to follow this example, it
is given only as a resource.
Please review the material on the following pages. If you have questions, you may ask
the Glencoe associates, Mrs. Cook or Mr. Erikson. They will be able to assist you.
However, because we want this to be a student run project, we must limit your questions
to 2 per working day. You will be expected to present your material in a presentation on
Wednesday, May 18 at 12:00 pm. Thank you for your efforts, I look forward to seeing
the work you complete.
Sincerely,
Christina Columbus
CHS Oceanography
May 16, 2011
Page 2
Problem:
On the following page you will find a list of 20 ocean animals. Some are well known,
others are more scarcely known. You will be expected to research these animals and find
a way to put them into categories. You may base your categories on anything of your
choosing. A few examples might be:
Which light zone it lives in
If it is a floater, swimmer, or bottom dweller
Predator/Prey
Producer, consumer, decomposer
Once you have decided on how you will group each organism, you must create a book
that represents a chapter that lists quick facts about each organism. Because this must fit
into a book, each organism’s information must fit onto one Microsoft Word page. It
cannot exceed this space. The following is the list of facts we would like for you to
research and present about each organism, when possible:
Size
Lifespan
Plankton, Nekton, or Benthos
Does it have a symbiotic relationship?
Which photic zone does it reside in?
What is it’s ecosystem?
Predator/Prey
Is it endangered?
What adaptations have been made to its environment?
Producer, consumer or decomposer?
What are some threats it encounters?
What phylum does it belong to?
How does it reproduce?
Does it migrate?
How does it move?
How does it protect itself?
Which areas of the world can it be found?
Interesting Facts
You are not limited to this information and remember this is a “Quick Facts” page so you
should have short, concise bullets of information.
Please put the information you gather into book form to hand to Mrs. Cook or Mr.
Erikson, but you will be expected to present the information to them as well, so a
powerpoint is also necessary. The powerpoint does not need to be set up in the same
manner as the book but please keep in mind “Quick Facts.”
CHS Oceanography
May 16, 2011
Page 3
Parameters
You may use the teacher computer at the back of the room and the laptops. Your notes
and any of the books found within Mrs. Murphy’s classroom may also be helpful.
Each person on your team is responsible for determining the grouping of the organisms
and which organisms will be chosen for the activity. Please make sure it is a group
decision!
You are allowed 2 questions each work day. Please use them carefully but DO use them.
Product
You must present Mrs. Cook and Mr. Erikson with a completed chapter in book form by
Wednesday, May 18 at 12:00 pm. At this time, you will also be expected to present your
material to them so they can determine which edits may need to be made before sending
your material to print for our text. Your presentation does not need to focus only on each
organism, but also how you determined how they should be grouped together. Please go
in the order of your book and have a copy for Mrs. Cook and Mr. Erikson.
Please design the classroom in a manner that accommodates a presentation and 2 guests.
**Note** The laptop computer don’t save to your log on but to the computer desktop.
Please make sure you use the same computer number each day. There are only 8-9
working computers so you will have to share.
CHS Oceanography
May 16, 2011
Page 4
Possible choices of ocean organisms for “Quick Facts:”
1. Eyelight Fish
2. Blobfish
3. Barreleye Fish
4. Hammerhead Shark
5. Box Jellyfish
6. Giant Brain Coral
7. Feather Duster
8. Giant Clam
9. Spanish Dancer
10. Nautilus
11. Red Crab
12. Crown of Thorns Starfish
13. Tube Worm
14. Sea Lamprey
15. Tasseled Wobbegong Shark
16. Gulper Eel
17. Stonefish
18. Mandarinfish
19. Leatherback Turtle
20. Blue Whale
CHS Oceanography
May 16, 2011
Page 5
Giant Cuttlefish
This type of cuttlefish is the largest of all 100 types. It is named for it’s internal shell, called a cuttle.
Cuttlefish communicate through their skin and their ability to change like a chameleon.
Giant Cuttlefish Facts:
Size: 1 meter, 3 kg
Location: Australia
Light Zone: Euphotic
Symbiotic Relationship: None
Movement Category: Nekton
Ecosystem: Shallow water over reefs
Predator: Dolphins, Sharks, Seals
Prey: Eats shrimp, small fish, crabs
Endangered: No
Adaptations: 8 Tentacles and 2 feeding arms; Invisibility through changing skin color to blend;
large eyes
Producer, Consumer, Decomposer: Consumer
Threats: Hunting
Reproduction: Sperm package under females mouth, once burst, eggs are laid and fertilized.
Eggs hatch into miniature adults.
Migration: None
Movement: Jet propulsion
Defense: Change color to blend with background;
Life Span: Approximately 3 years