How'd you like to run into this guy? For more images, visit the Costa Rica image collection!
|
|
I am using the research I have done on coral reef fish coloration to create a short unit for my high school biology students. There would be three logical places to use this unit, depending on what courses I am teaching. The first place would be to use it as part of a larger coral reef unit in Aquatic Biology. I am not currently teaching this course, but it is offered at my high school, and I have taught it in the past. Of course, a class entitled ÒAquatic BiologyÓ would not be complete without exploring the coral reef ecosystem. Another place to use this unit would be in either Biology or Honors Biology as part of an evolution unit. The many uses for color in the fish of the coral reef are a great way to show adaptation. The final place I could use it would be as a part of a unit on ecology. The ecology of the coral reef is always a favorite, simply because the students find the ocean and its inhabitants to be Òcool.Ó
Below is an outline of the unit. There is a description of the daily activities that the students will complete during this unit. Any of the worksheets that I refer to can be found in my file on the Marine Ecology web site. This includes the video sheets, coloring pages, and lab handout. Below the outline, I have included a copy of my references, which includes the information on the videos that I use in this unit.
Fish Coloration Unit
Daily Outline
Day 1ÑIntroduction
Show clips from four videos, ÒEyewitness Video: Fish,Ó ÒEyewitness Video; Shark,Ó ÒOceans Alive! Part One,Ó and ÒOceans Alive Part Four.Ó
Students complete video hand out as they watch the video clips
Brief discussion of video clips, asking about students' theories on the colors of fish they have seen
Day 2ÑFocus on Coral Reef Fish Coloration
Each student receives a packet containing all three coloring sheets
The students number off by threes, each number corresponding to a coloring sheet
Each student reads and colors the sheet they have been assigned, taking notes as they read
Students meet in groups of three (one of each coloring sheet) and teach each other the information they have learned
Day 3ÑContinued Discussion of Coloration
Students complete group meetings if necessary
Brief lecture/discussion on the material they have covered
Introduction and lecture/discussion on other uses of color not mentioned in th coloring sheets
Day 4 and Day 5ÑLab
Create-A-Fish Lab
Students have the option to work individually or in pairs
Students follow the directions on the lab sheet to create a new fish using the coloration techniques discussed in class
Students build their fish out of the materials provided (including colored paper, pipe cleaners, colored cellophane, paper plates, cotton swabs, rubber bands, colored pencils, glue, tape, and string)
After building their fish, student complete questions on the lab sheet
Fish are displayed around the room for all the students to observe
References
Donavel, David F. ÒPlaying Dead and Other Defense Tactics,Ó Sea Frontiers, 56: 24-31, Spring 1996.
Ellis, Y. (Producer), & Robbins, A. (Director). (1994) Eyewitness Video: Shark [Videotape]. Dorling Kindersley LTD. and BBC Lionheart Television Intl. Inc.
Environmental Media Corporation/ Marine Graphics. (1996) Oceans Alive! (Part One) [Videotape]. Environmental Media Corporation/ Marine Graphics.
Environmental Media Corporation/ Marine Graphics. (1996) Oceans Alive! (Part Four) [Videotape]. Environmental Media Corporation/ Marine Graphics.
Hutt, D. (Producer), & Robbins, A. (Director). (1994) Eyewitness Video: Fish [Videotape]. Dorling Kindersley LTD. and BBC Lionheart Television Intl. Inc.
Larkins, Grover. (1997) The Nature Gallery, [online]. Available: http://www.fiu.edu/~larkinsg/nature_gallery_20.htm [2002, June 1].
Levine, Joseph S. ÒIn living colors,Ó Natural History, 108: 40-47, Spring 1999.
Levine, Joseph S. and Jeffery L. Rotman. ÒCoral reef fishes use riotous colors to communicate,Ó Smithsonian, 21: 98-104, November 1990.
Levine, Joseph S. and Jeffery L. Rotman. ÒSkins and fins and emperor tails,Ó Sea Frontiers, 40: 40-49, May-June 1994.
Lipkin, Richard. ÒSight in the sea: exploring light and color in coral reef ecosystems,Ó Science News, 148: 184-186, September 16, 1995.
Niesen, Thomas M. The Marine Biology Coloring Book. New York: HarperPerennial, 1982.
Singapore Zoological Gardens Docents. (2000) CORAL REEFS: Why are reef creatures so colourful? and strangely shaped?, [online]. Available: http://wwww.szgdocent.org/ff/f-reef3.htm (2002, June 2).
WCB McGraw-Hill. An Introduction to the Biology of Marine Life. Boston, 1999, pp.291-294.
WCB McGraw-Hill. Marine Biology. Boston, 1997, 149-150,
Next Article
Previous Article
Return to Topic Menu
DOWNLOAD the Paper Posting HTML Formating HELP SHEET!
We also have a GUIDE for depositing articles, images, data, etc in your research folders.
Article complete. Click HERE to return to the Pre-Course Presentation Outline and Paper Posting Menu. Or, you can return to the course syllabus
WEATHER & EARTH SCIENCE RESOURCES |
|
OTHER ACADEMIC COURSES, STUDENT RESEARCH, OTHER STUFF
|
|
TEACHING TOOLS & OTHER STUFF
 |
It is 11:22:40 AM on Monday, March 15, 2010. Last Update: Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Listen to a "Voice Navigation" Intro!
(Quicktime or