©Center for Microbial Oceanography: Research and Education (C‐MORE). Materials may be duplicated and distributed
for educational, non‐commercial purposes only.
PLANKTON
Grade Level:
This kit is appropriate for students in grades 3–12.
Standards:
This kit is aligned with state science and art content standards for Hawai‘i, California, Massachusetts, and
Oregon, as well as national Ocean Literacy Principles.
Overview:
This kit explores plankton and their global importance through four lessons and an optional extension
activity. Plankton are tiny plants (phytoplankton) and animals (zooplankton) that are incapable of swimming against
major currents in the ocean. In Lesson 1 (40 minutes), students learn about plankton through a narrated PowerPoint
presentation and investigate and identify various phytoplankton. In Lesson 2 (45 minutes), students design their own
phytoplankton. In Lesson 3 (50 minutes), students investigate zooplankton with a microscope. In Lesson 4 (60
minutes), students use an educational CD and virtual microscope to explore phytoplankton, learn about
environmental factors that affect phytoplankton growth and distribution, and run a computer simulation to generate
phytoplankton blooms. Lessons 1, 2, and 3 are suitable for Grades 3–12, whereas Lesson 4 is geared toward Grades
6–12. Computers (not provided) are required for Lesson 4, and the students (or the teacher) must provide the
supplies for the optional extension activity. Pre‐ and post‐ surveys are included.
Suggestions for Curriculum Placement:
This science kit can be successfully integrated into a biology, environmental
science, or marine science unit. Three key concepts are addressed: 1) the global significance of plankton in the marine
food web; 2) the environmental factors that affect the growth and distribution of plankton; and 3) the identification of
these mysterious critters under a microscope.
Materials:
(Paper materials contained in binder are shown in BOLD CAPS)
Front Binder Materials
1.
CD with narrated PowerPoint presentation (also contains electronic versions of binder materials)
2.
C‐MORE
Key Concepts in Microbial Oceanography brochure
3.
C‐MORE
Microbial Oceanography: Resources For Teachers brochure
Lesson 1: Introduction to Plankton
Materials are provided for 5 groups. We suggest 4–
6 students per group.
4.
TEACHER GUIDE – Lesson 1: Introduction to Plankton
5.
PLANKTON SURVEY – Lessons 1, 2, and 3: Version 1 (geared towards elementary school standards)
6.
TEACHER ANSWER KEY to PLANKTON SURVEY – Lessons 1, 2, and 3: Version 1
7.
PLANKTON SURVEY – Lessons 1, 2, and 3: Version 2 (geared towards middle school standards)
8.
TEACHER ANSWER KEY to PLANKTON SURVEY – Lessons 1, 2, and 3: Version 2
9.
POWERPOINT SCRIPT
10.
STUDENT WORKSHEET – POWERPOINT – Lesson 1: Introduction to Plankton
11.
TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET – POWERPOINT – Lesson 1: Introduction to Plankton
12.
STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 1: Phytoplankton Microscopy Lab
13.
SLIDES – Lesson 1: Phytoplankton Microscopy Lab (5 in Inner Box)
14.
ANSWER KEY – Lesson 1: Phytoplankton Microscopy Lab
15.
PHYTOPLANKTON ID GUIDE – Lesson 1: Phytoplankton Microscopy Lab (10 in Inner Box)
16.
The Invisible ABCs reference book (elementary school level)
17.
Sea Soup reference books (middle to high school level)
o
Sea Soup Phytoplankton, Sea Soup Zooplankton, and Sea Soup Teacher’s Guide
18.
Giant Microbes (5)
o
Krill, Red Tide, Sea Sparkle, Algae, T4 Virus
2
Lesson 2: Design Your Own Phytoplankton
Materials are provided for 5 groups. We suggest 4–
6 students per group.
19.
TEACHER GUIDE – Lesson 2: Design Your Own Phytoplankton
20.
GRADING SHEETS – Lesson 2: Design Your Own Phytoplankton
21.
Black construction paper
22.
Oil pastels (5 packs)
Lesson 3: Zooplankton Microscopy Lab
Materials are provided for 5 groups. We suggest 4–
6 students per group.
23.
TEACHER GUIDE – Lesson 3: Zooplankton Microscopy Lab
24.
MATERIALS PHOTO GUIDE – Lesson 3: Zooplankton Microscopy Lab
25.
STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 3: Zooplankton Microscopy Lab
26.
ZOOPLANKTON ID GUIDE (Drifting Along) – Lesson 3: Zooplankton Microscopy Lab (5 in Inner Box)
27.
Plankton net with attached line
28.
Plastic bottle to transport plankton to the classroom (1)
29.
Squeeze bottle to rinse sample from net (1)
30.
Plankton sieve (1)
31.
Plastic beakers (5)
32.
Plastic droppers (5)
33.
Petri dishes (5)
34.
Dissecting needles: straight (2) and curved (1)
35.
Motic digital dissecting microscope (1) and cords (2) for microscope set‐up
36.
ThinkPad computer and power cord
37.
Motic Images Plus CD
38.
Motic Live Imaging Module: Quick Start Guide
39.
Motic Instruction Manual SMZ‐143
40.
Extra microscope parts
o
Black and white stage plate
o
Calibration slide
o
Spare microscope bulb
Lesson 4: Phytopia
41.
TEACHER GUIDE – Lesson 4: Phytopia
42.
PLANKTON SURVEY – Lesson 4
43.
TEACHER ANSWER KEY to PLANKTON SURVEY – Lesson 4
44.
STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 4a: Introduction to Phyto Files
45.
TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 4a: Introduction to Phyto Files
46.
STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 4b: Phytoplankton in the Water Column
47.
TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET– Lesson 4b: Phytoplankton in the Water Column
48.
STUDENT WORKSHEET – Lesson 4c: Can You Make a Bloom?
49.
TEACHER ANSWER KEY to STUDENT WORKSHEET– Lesson 4c: Can You Make a Bloom?
50.
Phytopia: Discovery of the Marine Ecosystem CD‐ROM (20)
51.
Headphones (30)
52.
Headphone adapters (15)
Extension: Build your own plankton net
Materials are not provided for the extension activity, but they are common household items.
53.
TEACHER GUIDE – Extension: Let’s Build a Plankton Net
54.
STUDENT INSTRUCTIONS – Extension: Let’s Build a Plankton Net
55.
Example of a handmade plankton net