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Grades 9-12

Marine Mammal Structure (90 minutes)
Students work in small groups to assemble skeletons of a dolphin, seal and gray whale, comparing them to a human skeleton. Students compare and contrast the structures of different species and discuss differences in function, environment and evolutionary relationships that may account for variations observed.

Gray Whale Articulaton (90 minutes)
Students compare several types of toothed and baleen whales and assemble a complete skeleton of a 24-foot gray whale. Students discuss how the skeletal structure of whales has evolved over time to allow them to exploit the range of food and habitat resources of the world’s oceans.

Plankton Lab (90 minutes)
Students collect plankton from the dock and use microscopes to observe, draw and identify the plankton. Emphasis is placed on plankton's role in photosynthesis and oxygen production, and its importance to marine food webs. Students learn about seasonal variation and the influence of geological formations on plankton abundance in the Salish Sea.

Beach Transect Investigation (2 hours)
Students study a local cobble beach by setting up a transect and conducting a population survey of selected species. Numerical data is analyzed, patterns are observed and tentative hypotheses formulated to explain the distributions of marine animals and plants found. The methods used are applicable to investigations in other habitats.

Classification and Structure of Invertebrates
(90 minutes)
Students compare and contrast living members of our phyla, with extensive discussion of important anatomical structures and life histories. An emphasis is placed on systematic thinking and the nature of scientific investigation.

Puget Sound Water Quality (90 minutes)
Students learn the parameters that researchers use to evaluate the health of Puget Sound. They take readings and gather water quality data around PTMSC and use the results to discuss the state of the Sound.

Inquiry and the Scientific Process (3 hours)
Students gain hands-on experience with experimental design. After investigating live marine organisms, students make a list of observations and questions. These questions are used to guide small learning groups in: selecting a testable hypothesis, designing/conducting an experiment, collecting and analyzing data, and presenting results. Focus is on critical thinking, teamwork and development of scientific process skills.