Deep Dive
Humpback Whale, by Kyla Marino
Want to dive deeper? Try one of these activities!
A note for teachers, you may print these documents and send to your home-bound students in packets. Most do not require internet access. They may stand alone or accompany our book, Explore the Salish Sea, available for free to 4th-6th grades in low-income schools.
plankton pro
Make your own plankton net at home and catch some of the smallest plants and animals alive at a nearby beach, pond, or stream. Need: 1-2 people, materials listed, a natural water source. ~ 1 hr
Rock Cycle Tag
Learn the rock cycle in this game of tag. Due to social distancing, consider a version of this that doesn’t involve actual touching. Need: 4-5 players, game cards, and some open space. 30 min
intertidal food web
How is a heron connected with a plankton? Find out how many creatures of the sea are interdependent with these cards. Place cards in a large circle and connect predator to prey using yarn to reveal why it is called a web! Need 1 or more people, food web cards, 30 min.
Tidal Tag
Test out your intertidal creature skills as you try to eat or avoid being eaten in this fast game of swimming, scuttling, or hopping tag. Given social distancing, consider a version that doesn’t involve actual touching or groups beyond your own household. Need 3 or more people, open space, 30 min.
Tidepool Survivor
How do sea creatures survive extreme conditions in tide pools? Play to explore. Need: Game cards, 2 or more players. ~20 min
Subtidal Shuffle
A matching game with a twist. Need: Game cards, 1-2 people. ~30 min
Build a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)
This is a project for serious (and funny) engineers. It does take time, tools, and likely requires the purchase of materials for motors. Need tools, motors, frame materials, marine battery, $50-$190, 2-3 people.
Build a Hydrophone
Listen to sound in the sea or even your fish tank and learn about electricity and acoustics on the way. Need: materials listed, 1-3 people. 2 hrs
Hungry Hungry Porpoise
Become a porpoise (or its prety) to feel what it is like to sense prey with sound. Given social distancing, consider a version that doesn’t involve touching or people outside of your household. Need: blindfold, open space, 2 or more people. ~15-30 min
Test your dive reflex
Do you have diving superpowers like a seal? Test it out. Need: cup or basin of water, stop watch, notepad, 2-3 people. ~30 min
Model a diving animal Speed Diving Contest
What's the best shape to dive for prey. Make your own diving animal from clay and time its dive speed. Need: waterproof modeling clay, tank of water, stopwatch, speed diving tournament bracket, 2 or more model animals, 1-10 people. ~1 hr
Hooks & Ladders, a migration obstacle course
Why do animals migrate? Become a salmon to explore and test your migration skills in this obstacle course game. Given the current social distancing practices, consider playing a smaller version with your household. Need: materials listed, open space, 5-10 people. ~1 hr
Become a Salish Sea Hero
Salish Sea Heroes are people helping to heal the sea for wildlife and us by pitching in to improve habitats. You can be a Salish Sea Hero, too! Planting a garden, creating a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, picking up trash, saving water and electricity in your home, scooping your pet’s poop, or building a bird or bat house are all actions that help wildlife. If you do one of these actions or come up with your own, post it online and tag us at @seadocsociety or email us with a photo and description of your project. Your project may be on the next Salish Sea Heroes feature of Junior SeaDoctors!
Further Reading!
