1. Ocean Exploring
Photo taken from the Smithsonian staff photographers at the National Museum of Natural History

2. Introduction
Congratulations!!!!!!! The International Ocean Explorer’s Club has chosen you to test their new ocean walker suit. This mission will require you to visit and explore zones in the ocean.
Photo taken from home.beust.com/cedric/priv/0301-cozumel/underwater/

3. The Task
During your dive into the ocean, you will enter three ocean zones. Use the internet websites found on the Resources page to research each zone and the creatures that live there.
As part of your mission, you are required to keep a journal with a minimum of four entries. You will create one journal entry for each zone, detailing what you see around you. The fourth journal entry is for you to write about your favorite ocean creature. Be sure to include a picture.
Finally, you must create either a drawing, diorama, or 3D model of the ocean zones with at least 3 ocean creatures in each zone. You will give an oral presentation of this project to the International Ocean Explorer’s Club.

4. Process
First go to resources page to find the websites for ocean zones. Read about the ocean zones.
Next, use the websites to read about the ocean creatures of each zone.
Then imagine you are diving through each ocean zone. What do you see around you? Create a journal entry that describes where you are and what you see. Do this for all three ocean zones.
Now, pick your favorite ocean creature and find out all you can about it. Your last journal entry will be a description of your favorite creature and a picture of it.
Next, use your journal to help you create a drawing, diorama, or 3D model of the ocean zones. You must have at least 3 creatures per zone.
Finally, you will use your project to help you make an oral presentation to the class about the ocean zones.

5. Resources Ocean Zones Viper fish Jellyfish Stingrays Angler fish
Viper fish
Jellyfish
Stingrays
Angler fish
Sharks

6. More Resources Lantern fish
Sea cucumber
Octopus
Vampire squid
Lantern fish
Snipe eel
Hatchet fish

7. Even More Resources Squid Black swallower Tuna
Black swallower
Tuna
Opossum shrimp
Tripod fish

8. Evaluation
You will be evaluated on three items: the journal entries; the drawing, diorama, or 3D model; and your oral presentation to the class.
Photo taken from

9. Journal Entries Rubric
Beginning 1
Developing 2
Accomplished 3
Content
Mentions key concepts, but no detail
Ideas are out of order
Fair amount of information and some details
Ideas are somewhat in order
Filled with information and details
Logical sequencing
Creativity
Little effort
Just lists information
Attempts to create a story line but still list-like
Story-like with interesting details

10. Drawing, Diorama, 3D Model Rubric
Beginning 1
Developing 2
Accomplished 3
Content
Innacurate
Less than 3 creatures per zone
Accurate
3 creatures per zone
4+ creatures per zone
Creativity
Little effort; looks thrown together last minute
Clean and neat
Uses material appropriately
Uses materials in an interesting and unexpected way to bring a sense of realism to the project

11. Oral Presentation Rubric
Beginning 1
Developing 2
Accomplished 3
Content
Mentions key concepts, but no detail
Fair amount of information and some details
Filled with information and details
Organization
Ideas are out of order; audience has difficulty following
Ideas are somewhat in order; audience can follow
Logical sequencing
Good transitioning skills
Speaking
Low voice
Uses fillers and long pauses
No eye contact
Awkward pacing
Uses some fillers
Attempts eye contact
Adequate pacing
Well paced
Clearly spoken
Very little or no use of fillers
Eye contact
Props
Does not refer to the visual
Refers to visual often
Uses the visual to help audience understand topic

12. Conclusion The International Ocean Explorer’s Club thanks
you for completing your
mission. We hope that
you enjoyed your ocean
dive and that you
learned many new
things about the ocean’s
habitat.
Photo taken from

13. Teacher’s Page TEKS Listening/Speaking Reading Writing Science
Purpose 3.1 A, D
Audience 3.3 A,B, E
Communication 3.4 A, B
Reading
Variety of text 3.7 B
Vocab. Development 3.8 B, C
Comprehension 3.9 A, B, D, I
Reading response 3.10 B
Inquiry/research 3.12 D, H
Writing
Purpose 3.14 A, C, D
Inquiry/research 3.20 B
Science
Concepts 3.8 A
Technology
Foundations 2 A; 3 A, B
Information Acquisition 5 A; 6 A
Photo taken from