Whale Shark Station: US Year 10-12
Advanced marine biology scenarios exploring whale shark behaviour and conservation.
- Describe whale shark anatomy, feeding mechanisms, and growth biology
- Analyse satellite tracking data to map migration patterns
- Evaluate hypotheses about whale shark migration drivers
- Assess conservation challenges unique to highly migratory species
Duration: 3–4 lessons (50 min each)
Engagement Strategy: Virtual underwater research station exploration, satellite data analysis, migration mapping
- Access to Salty Sharks Whale Shark Station virtual world
- Satellite tracking datasets (from whale shark research organisations)
- World map or GIS mapping tool
- Migration hypothesis worksheet
- Scientific article on whale shark ecology
Driving Question
Why do whale sharks migrate thousands of kilometres, and how can tracking them help conservation?
Project
Students analyse real satellite tracking data, create migration maps, and propose a hypothesis for migration patterns.
Curriculum Standard
AP Biology/AP Environmental Science: Ecology, population dynamics, and conservation biology; NGSS HS-LS2-2.
Teacher's Role
- 1 Provide satellite tracking datasets and analysis tools
- 2 Teach data analysis and GIS mapping basics
- 3 Facilitate hypothesis development through Socratic questioning
- 4 Connect to real whale shark researchers if possible
Student's Role
- 1 Explore the Whale Shark Station virtual exhibits
- 2 Analyse satellite tracking data and create migration maps
- 3 Develop and test hypotheses about migration drivers
- 4 Present migration analysis and findings to the class
Assess data analysis skills and scientific reasoning about migration.
- 1 Migration maps accurately represent tracking data
- 2 Hypothesis is clearly stated and testable
- 3 Data analysis supports or refutes the hypothesis
- 4 Conservation implications logically derived from findings
- 5 Report follows scientific writing conventions
Compare whale shark migration patterns to other migratory species (humpback whales, leatherback turtles) and present a comparative analysis.
- Describe whale shark anatomy, feeding mechanisms, and growth biology
- Analyse satellite tracking data to map migration patterns
- Evaluate hypotheses about whale shark migration drivers
- Assess conservation challenges unique to highly migratory species
Duration: 3–4 lessons (50 min each)
Engagement Strategy: Virtual underwater research station exploration, satellite data analysis, migration mapping
- Access to Salty Sharks Whale Shark Station virtual world
- Satellite tracking datasets (from whale shark research organisations)
- World map or GIS mapping tool
- Migration hypothesis worksheet
- Scientific article on whale shark ecology
Driving Question
Why do whale sharks migrate thousands of kilometres, and how can tracking them help conservation?
Project
Students analyse real satellite tracking data, create migration maps, and propose a hypothesis for migration patterns.
Curriculum Standard
AP Biology/AP Environmental Science: Ecology, population dynamics, and conservation biology; NGSS HS-LS2-2.
Teacher's Role
- 1 Provide satellite tracking datasets and analysis tools
- 2 Teach data analysis and GIS mapping basics
- 3 Facilitate hypothesis development through Socratic questioning
- 4 Connect to real whale shark researchers if possible
Student's Role
- 1 Explore the Whale Shark Station virtual exhibits
- 2 Analyse satellite tracking data and create migration maps
- 3 Develop and test hypotheses about migration drivers
- 4 Present migration analysis and findings to the class
Assess data analysis skills and scientific reasoning about migration.
- 1 Migration maps accurately represent tracking data
- 2 Hypothesis is clearly stated and testable
- 3 Data analysis supports or refutes the hypothesis
- 4 Conservation implications logically derived from findings
- 5 Report follows scientific writing conventions
Compare whale shark migration patterns to other migratory species (humpback whales, leatherback turtles) and present a comparative analysis.