busy otters teacher guide

Monterey Bay Aquarium: Busy Otters Teacher Activity Guide of 7

© 2004 Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation http://www.montereybayaquarium.org

Busy Otters (K-2, Age 5-8) Learn about sea otters, what they do all day and how they stay warm. While at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, students observe these amazing mammals and compare them to the wild otters in the bay. Activity Descriptions Before their trip to the aquarium, students learn about sea otters, their body parts and behaviors as they read Pup�s Supper, do an Otter Pantomime and make a Sea Otter Puppet. Chaperones help the students record sea otter behaviors while they do Busy Otters Observations at the aquarium. They can also look for wild otters from the outside deck. Back in class, they use Busy Otters Graphs and Venn Diagrams of Otter Behaviors to compile their observations. They investigate the insulating properties of a variety of materials in How Do Otters Stay Warm. Students will imagine life as a sea otter in the kelp forest then write about their ideas in Create a Story. Key Concepts • Sea otters have body parts that help

them survive in the ocean: thick fur protects them in the cold water; agile paws help them gather food and groom their fur; webbed hind flippers and a tail help them swim and dive.

• Sea otters are the smallest marine mammals. They live in kelp forests in cold ocean water (30o to 60 o Fahrenheit).

• A sea otter dives into the ocean to find invertebrates to eat. It gathers its prey from the kelp or rocks and carries it to the surface, rolls over on its back, then cracks it open on its chest using a rock or big shell as a tool.

• An otter pup learns to survive through instruction from its mother. It has to nibble, rub and shake to keep itself clean

and waterproof its fur. To help insulate its body, it also fluffs its fur to trap air.

California Science Standards Pup�s Supper Grade K: 2a, 2b, 2c, 4e

Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 4a, 4b Grade 2: 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 4d

Otter Pantomime

Grade K: 1a, 2a, 2c, 4 b, 4e Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c Grade 2: 4d

Sea Otter Puppets

Grade K: 2a, 2c, 4c, 4e Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 4a, 4d Grade 2: 4d

Busy Otters Observations in the aquarium

K: 2a, 2c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e 1: 2a, 4b, 4d 2: 1a, 1b, 2d, 4c, 4d

Busy Otters Graphs

Grade K: 2a, 4a, 4d, 4e Grade 1: 2b, 2c, 4b, 4c Grade 2: 2c, 2d, 4a, 4c, 4d, 4e, 4g

Venn Diagram of Otter Behaviors

Grade K: 2a, 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e Grade 2: 1a, 2a, 2c, 2d, 4c, 4d, 4e

How Do Otters Stay Warm?

Grade K: 1a, 2a, 4a, 4b, 4d, 4e Grade 1: 1b, 2a, 4b, 4c Grade 2: 2c, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e

Create a Story Grade K: 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 4e Grade 1: 2a, 2b, 2c, 4b, 4e Grade 2: 2c, 4a, 4c, 4d

Extensions • Create a word wall or class dictionary of

otter nouns, adjectives and verbs found in Pup�s Supper.

• Play Sea Otter Charades by having a student act out one of the sea otter behaviors while the others guess which behavior is being modeled.

• Compare sea otters to another marine mammal, i.e., what is the same and different about otters and sea lions.

• Investigate other insulating materials and objects: coolers, sleeping bags or other waterproof items.

Resources Monterey Bay Aquarium Web Site www.montereybayaquarium.org



Pup�s Supper (Pre-Visit) Materials ! Pup�s Supper story (online)* ! Pup�s Supper story pictures

(one set for each group)*

Directions 1. Read the online book, Pup�s Supper with the students,

in English or Spanish. 2. Discuss some of the otter behaviors. How do otters get

their food? How do mother otters take care of their babies?

3. Using copies of the Pup�s Supper story pictures have the children recreate the story by arranging the pictures and telling about each one.

4. Students may also make their own sea otter story by writing or dictating their ideas then illustrating the page.

Otter Pantomime (Pre-Visit) Materials # Paper # Pencils # Markers or crayons

Directions 1. Lead students in a role-play in which they pretend to

be sea otters. Try these possible prompts: - Cover yourself with thick fur and put on your imaginary body parts: paws, hind flippers and tail. Don�t forget your nose, mouth, whiskers and ears. - Now imitate an otter. Groom your fur. Rollover. Dive for food. Pretend to swim, gather some food, put it in your pouch and carry it back to the surface. Pound the prey on a rock or shell to crack it open then eat it!

2. Students can write up a sequence of behaviors of a sea otter. They can use words such as first, then, next and finally. Draw pictures to illustrate each otter behavior and put them in order with the describing sentences.

Sea Otter Puppets (Pre-Visit) Materials For each student ! Otter puppet pieces* ! Paper lunch bags ! Crayons ! Scissors ! Glue

Directions 1. Provide each student with a copy of otter puppet

pieces. 2. Have the students color the templates and cut out the

pieces. 3. Glue the otter's head to the bottom of the lunch bag.

Use yarn or pipe cleaners to make whiskers by gluing them to the face of the otter. Then glue the tail to the inside edge of the bag and the paws and flippers to the outside of the bag.

* Available on the Monterey Bay Aquarium's web site under Teachers & Kids: Learning Activities: Busy Otters



Sea Otter Puppets (continued) 4. Use the puppets to act out the following story:

A sea otter dives to the seafloor, searching for something to eat. Steering with its tail, the otter uses its rear flippers, which are webbed like a duck�s feet, to paddle itself along. It spots a clam hidden just under the sand and quickly swims over to it. Wriggling its whiskers, the otter feels for the clam then grabs it with its padded paws. The otter also picks up a small rock then tucks the rock and the clam in a fold of skin under its arm. The otter swims back to the surface and floats on its back. Setting the rock on its chest as if it�s a table, the otter holds the clam and bangs it against the rock to crack open the clam�s hard shell. The otter tears at the soft clam body inside the shell with its sharp teeth in front, then chews the clam with its strong jaws and flat teeth that are in back of its mouth. Feeling full, the otter rubs its face and chest with its paws, cleaning its fur from any leftovers. Then the otter rests, floating on its back in the warm sun.

Busy Otters Observations (in the aquarium) Materials For each chaperone: 1. Busy Otters Group Exploration

Guide and Aquarium Map* ! Pencil or pen ! Clipboard (optional)

Directions 1. PRINT and BRING copies of the Busy Otters Group

Exploration Guide and Aquarium Map for each chaperone to use during your visit to the aquarium.

2. Aquarium educators will meet your group when you arrive and provide you with more specific information about your exploration.

Busy Otter Graphs (Post-Visit) Materials ! Completed Busy Otter Group

Exploration Guides* ! Sticky notes ! Poster paper or wall space

Directions 1. Prepare a blank chart on a piece of poster paper or wall

space to help students visualize the information they collected at the aquarium.

2. Working in groups, have the students refer to the Busy Otter Group Exploration Guides they used during their visit. What types of otter behaviors did they observe? Did they see otters swimming? Eating? Diving? Rubbing and grooming? Rolling?

3. Write each of the behaviors on a separate sticky note. Place the notes along the bottom of the chart.

4. Ask the students how otters spend their day? 5. Tell the students that they are going to create a

histogram or bar graph to help them analyze the information they gathered on their trip.

* Available on Monterey Bay Aquarium's web site under Teachers & Kids: Learning Activities: Busy Sea Otters



Busy Otter Graphs (continued)

6. Give each group a few sticky notes. If they saw an otter swimming, have one student from the group come to the chart and place the sticky note above the word, �swimming.� Continue with other behaviors.

7. After all the students have placed their sticky notes, analyze the graph.

8. What is the mode � the behavior most often seen by the students?

9. If your class was able to observe wild otters during their visit to the aquarium, repeat the graphing activity using the behaviors they noted.

10. Compare the two graphs. Do wild otters and exhibit otters behave the same? Which is easier to observe? Why is it important for scientists to observe animals in their natural habitat?

Venn Diagrams of Otter Behaviors (Post-Visit) Materials ! Completed Busy Otter Group

Exploration Guides ! Whiteboard or large paper ! Markers

Directions 1. Review the two graphs the students made in the

previous activity. What were the otters doing in the exhibit? What did the wild otters do outside? In addition, they can watch the aquarium�s live otter cam to gather some data: http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_fo/fo_ottr_cam.asp

2. With input from the class, make a Venn diagram on the whiteboard that records some of their findings. Draw two large intersecting circles on the board. Label one of the circles �Wild Otters.� Label the other circle, �Exhibit Otters.� Label the part where the circles overlap, �Both.�

3. Have the students identify otter behaviors that belong in each section of the Venn diagram.

4. Ask the students: �Are there behaviors that otters do that we were unable to observe? What might those behaviors be? Why weren�t we able to observe them?



How Do Otters Stay Warm? (Post-Visit) Materials ! Ice cubes ! Zipper lock sandwich bags ! Insulating materials

-Sweatshirt or jacket -Mitten or sock -Piece of fake fur or thick fabric -Folded paper towel or piece of newspaper -Foam rubber or Styrofoam -Oven mitt or ski glove -Bubble wrap

Directions 1. This activity lets students experience the insulating

properties of various materials. 2. Discuss with the students why we wear jackets and

sweatshirts on a cold day. Why is it important to stay warm?

3. Introduce the word �insulation.� Insulation is a material that blocks the flow of heat. Sweatshirts act as insulators because they keep the heat your body makes from flowing out into the air around you and that helps keep you warm.

4. Provide each group of students with two or three different insulating materials.

5. Have the students seal two ice cubes in a zipper lock baggie.

6. Have them start counting as soon the baggie is placed on the palm of their hand. Have them stop counting as soon as they feel the cold of the ice.

7. Have them repeat the activity, but this time with a piece of insulating material on their palm and the baggie of ice on top. Count again. How long does it take to feel the cold?

8. Investigate with the different kinds of insulating materials.

9. Discuss which one keeps you warmest. How do otters stay warm? How do other animals stay warm?

Create a Story (Post-Visit) Materials ! Paper ! Pencils

Directions 1. Ask the class to recall their sea otter observations and

their visit to the Kelp Forest exhibit at the aquarium. They may also do research and observations about both exhibits by watching the live cams and browsing in the online field guide (called About the Animals): http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/

2. Have the students write a story about what they think the otters would do in the big Kelp Forest exhibit. What would the otters eat? Where would they rest?

3. Share the students� stories with family and friends.

Busy Sea Otters

© 2007 - 2008, Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Science to Share • Sea otters have sharp teeth for grabbing and

flat teeth for chewing — just like we do! • Sea otters use their front paws to groom

themselves and to feel around for food. • Sea otters have “pockets” under their armpits

to store food or a favorite tool! • Sea otters use their tail and flippers for

swimming and steering. • Sea otters eat up to 25% of their body weight

every day. • At the aquarium, we feed the sea otters many

foods including clams, squid and shrimp. • We remove the shells from their foods so they

can’t smash the shells against the windows and scratch them.

• Do you see any sea otters saving food in their

armpits? Gross!

Teeth

Paws Flippers

Tail

Fur

Whiskers

Have students find the body parts. = we saw this!

Sea Otters SO

Try to attend a feeding show at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. or 3:30 p.m.

Hamburger Fish Diver

Squid Clams Kelp

Science to Share • Sea otters busily rub their fur to keep it clean

— if it gets dirty they can’t stay warm. • Otters dive to find their food and can hold

their breath for up to 5 minutes. • Sea otters eat up to 25% of their body weight

every day! • Sea otters also sleep a lot — almost 35% of

their day.

Eating

Rolling

Rubbing fur

Diving

Resting

Have students observe behaviors.

= we saw this!

Sea Otters SO

Toola • Has blue flipper tags. • Is over ten years old. How old are you? • Takes medicine everyday so she doesn’t

have seizures.

Mae • Often sucks on her paw when she sleeps! • Uses her tail to hold toys. • Likes to sneak clam shells onto exhibit. • Has white whickers and big ears!

Rosa • Has a yellow flipper tag (unless Mae has removed it). • Weighs close to 50 pounds! • Carries small pieces of kelp between her paws

while swimming.

Joy • Likes to swim on her belly. • Weighs 40 pounds. • Was stranded as a 5-day-old pup in 1998. Are you

older or younger than she is?

Sea Otters SO

Science to Share • Sea otters often use a rock as a tool to crack

open their prey. • One reason there aren’t any sea otters in the

Kelp Forest Exhibit is because they’d bang rocks against the windows and scratch them.

• In the wild, sea otters wrap themselves in kelp

for an anchor when they sleep.

Sea otters

Rocks

Sea urchins

Have students look for these things. Hint: two things aren’t there!

= we found it!

Kelp

Kelp Forest KF

Sea stars

Science to Share • Sea otters need to eat a lot to stay warm. • Abalone is a great food for sea otters.

Sea otters use a rock to loosen an abalone’s tough grip.

• If a sea star loses an arm to a sea otter, it will

often grow back! • A sea otter that eats a lot of sea urchins will

often develop purple teeth.

= we found it!

Rocky Shore of Ocean’s Edge RS

Abalone

Ochre star

Sand crab

Turban snail

Decorator crab

Sea urchin

Science to Share • Sea otters spend almost their entire lives in

the ocean.

• River otters live in fresh water. Sea otters live in salt water.

• Because river otters spend more time on land

than sea otters, river otters have less dense fur. • River otters are born on land. Sea otters are

born in the ocean.

African spotted-necked otters

Asian small-clawed otters

Encourage students to observe body parts and behaviors.

Wild About Otters WAO

Science to Share • Sea otters have thick fur and eat a lot to

stay warm.

• Seals and sea lions have thick blubber to keep their bodies warm.

• Male elephant seals can weigh over 5000

pounds — that’s more than fifteen football players combined!

• You might see sea lions sticking their flippers

out of the water to keep from losing heat. Look outside off the deck — you might see some!

• Baby sea otters squeal for their mothers.

• Humpback whales whistle and sing —

for hours! • Dolphins click and clack to tell others where

they are. • Sea lions bark. If you go out on the deck you

might hear them!

Have students look at exhibits.

Flippers, Flukes and Fun FFF

Have students press the buttons in the exhibit.

busy otters teacher guide

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