SHARKS: Devouring the Myths (V01)

Don’t be afraid! See sharks up close and learn the truth about them! Find out why it’s more dangerous to be at home than in the water with these fascinating creatures.

Objective: The students will learn about the behavior of sharks, types of sharks, and the anatomy and physiology of sharks (including the senses). Students will also learn about the popular misconceptions about sharks and why they are often misunderstood.

Time required: Approximately 50 minutes.

Cost: $155.00 USD program fee.

Recommended Grade Level: 4th-8th grade (students age 9-13 years).

Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:

1. A videoconferencing system capable of 384 Kbps or more, either IP or ISDN (required).
   (Not sure what this means? Click here.)
2. The SeaTrek companion curriculum for Sharks: Devouring the Myth (optional)
   (See curriculum appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards).
3. Shark Journals (optional, from Lesson 1 of the companion curriculum above).
4. Mote eNotes: Sharks and Skates (optional).

Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference on sharks. Topics include:

• Types of sharks (~5 minutes)
• Shark facts versus shark myths;
  simple statistics from the International Shark Attack File (~5 minutes)
• Shark senses and super-senses (electroreception) (~10 minutes)
• Shark feeding contrasted with other behaviors (~15 minutes)
• Shark anatomy/physiology (bony fish vs. cartilaginous fish, buoyancy) (~10 minutes)
• Questions and Answers (~5 minutes)

To register for this program, click here.