BIOLOGY •SHOPPING SPREE UNDER THE SEA

Title: Shopping Spree Under the Sea

(Ocean Habitats)

Grade Level (s): 6 - 8

Introduction: Did you realize that more than just seafood comes from the ocean such as pearls from oysters, mother-of-pearl from abalone, scrimshaw from whale teeth and bones, and coral jewelry comes from the coral in the sea. Some shampoo is made with seaweed. Kelp can contain iodine and cod liver oil is a source of omega-3 oil. Natural sponge is found in the ocean as well as the salts used in sea bath salts. Many lifesaving pharmaceuticals are made of compounds from the sea. Did you know that even the milkshake that you drink and the pudding or ice cream that you eat may contain some seaweed because carrageenans are usually added to these item to thicken them? Many types of beautiful jewelry are also made from items that come from the ocean.

Learner Objectives:

The students will be able to work with decimals involved in money problems, find tax on certain items and have to work within a budget.

Florida Sunshine State Standards: Math: MA.A.1.3.4, MA.A.3.3.1, MA.A.3.3.2, Science: SC.D.1.3.2

Competency-based Curriculum: Math: M/J-1-I-8-A, M/J-I-7-A, I-20-A; Science: M/J-1 I-9-B

Materials

Worksheet
Paper
Pencil

Activity Procedures:

1. Each student will receive a list of stores from the undersea mall with items that are for sale in each store.
   
   
2. Each student will be given an imaginary $100.00 that they must spend on a gift for an important person in his or her life, three personal care products for him or someone else, lunch for themselves and a friend while shopping, fresh seafood (at least two pounds) to take home for dinner, and a video or two to rent for the evening.
   
   
3. They must remember to add 6 1/2% sales tax to all items except the seafood that is bought at the fish market for dinner.
   
   
4. Their totals, including tax, must not exceed $100.00
   
   
5. They must fill out the worksheet, and tell how each item is connected to something found in the ocean.

Student Assessment:

1. Allow students to spend their $100.00 using the shopping guide given.
   
   
2. Allow students to explain where their items come from in the ocean.
   
   
3. Allow students to stay within a budget and deal with tax.
   

Activity Extensions:

1. Encourage students to learn about algae, invertebrate animals, vertebrate animals and minerals and categorize the items that they bought into these categories. (Science)
   
   
2. Encourage students to read the labels of household items to see if they contain any alginates or carrageenans. (Science, Language Arts)

Home Learning Activity:

Have students bring in a recipe on how they would have cooked for dinner the seafood items that they bought on their shopping spree.

References:

http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa/ocean_planet/htnml
http://www.odysseyexpeditions.org/oceanography.html
www.aquanet.com