A Raft of Sea Otters
Across the Curriculum:
Literature, Geography,
Writing & Art
Essential Element III: Physical Systems
Geography Standard # 8: The characteristics and spatial distribution of ecosystems on Earth's surface
Grade Level: Primary
"Sea otters are a keystone species in our waters because of their predation on green sea urchins, abalone, and other important herbivores. In the absence of otters, these grazers flourish and decimate kelp beds, which are important habitats for many fish and crustaceans. Removal of urchins by otters favors the kelp beds and their inhabitants. In feeding, otters may carry a rock on their chest, to use as an anvil to smash urchins or other hard-shelled prey. During storms, otters ride out the surf by wrapping a strip of kelp around their middles for stability." from The Nature of Southeast Alaska
Materials:
Objectives:
Anticipatory Set: (2-3 minutes for each video) Show the sea otter segments of the recommended videos listed under materials.
Language Activity: KWL Charts (15 - 20 minutes) To build on the prior knowledge of students, on chart paper or on the chalkboard record the phrases children contribute under the column WHAT I KNOW. Include all answers generated. Ask the students what they would like to learn about sea otters. Record answers under the column What I Want to Learn. Complete the third column after reading the books, Sea Otters, A New True Book:Otter, Lootas, and Welcome to the World of Otters ( Note:Pages about River Otters may be omitted to avoid confusion.)
| WHAT I KNOW | WHAT I WANT TO KNOW | WHAT I LEARNED |
| (example): A sea otter is a mammal. |
(example): What do sea otters eat? |
Sharing the trade books:
Read: Sea Otters (3 minutes) A New True Book: Otters (Omit sections about river otters.)( 15 minutes ) Lootas, Little Wave Eater- An Orphaned Sea Otter’s Story.( 30 minutes) and Welcome to the World of Otters. (15- 20 minutes)
Mapping Activity: On a large world map and globe locate the areas along the Pacific coast of North America, the Aleutian Islands off Alaska and northeastern Asia where sea otters live.
Revisit the KWL charts after listening to the books on Sea Otters to add information, correct information and to revise charts.
Writing Activity: Encourage children to refer to the KWL charts or brainstorm and create a "Raft of Words" to be used while writing a story about sea otters. Share stories with partners or with small groups of children. Story can be rolled up and held in the torn paper sea otter’s paws.
A Sea Otter’s Raft of Words
|
Food seaweed |
Habitat Pacific coast of North America |
Enemies eagles |
|
Body thickest fur in world |
Mammals covered with fur |
Learned skills swim |
Art Activity: Create a torn paper sea otter (45 minutes)
Fold and Tear Paper Otter
Material for each child:
1 ½ pieces of 9x 12" brown construction paper
1 4 ½" square of cream or ivory construction paper
1 2 x 3 " piece of cream or ivory construction paper
1 3" square of black construction paper
scraps of paper for kelp
glue
Otter’s body: (As verbal directions are given also demonstrate each step) Fold piece of 9x 12" brown construction paper in half (hamburger style). Crease. Tear on crease. Use one of these two pieces for the otter’s body. Fold the paper in half length wise (hot dog style). Place fold on left side of desk. Lightly draw a curved line from the top of the fold to the middle of the outer edge, rounding off the corners. Also draw a curved line from the bottom of the fold to the middle of the outer edge. Hold the paper on the fold near the top and tear on the line through the double thickness of paper to form an oval.
Otter’s head: Use the other half of paper (6x9").
Fold the short edge (6 inch side) of the paper diagonally along the top edge to form a square. Fold the excess paper over the edge of the square. Crease and tear. Open the folded square. Refold ( hamburger or hotdog). Place fold on left side of desk. Lightly draw a curved line from the top of the fold to the outer edge, rounding off the corners. Also draw a curved line from the bottom of the fold to the outer edge. Hold the paper on the fold near the top and tear on the line through the double thickness of paper to form a circle. Place the head at the top of the oval. (As each additional body part is torn lay it on the otter.. Do not glue until all pieces have been created. )
Otter’s Ears: Use two matching triangular scraps from the brown circle for the otter’s ears.
Otter’s tail: Use the remaining 3x6’ piece of brown paper. Fold (hot dog style) . Place fold on left. Draw a line from the top of the fold diagonally to the lower open edge. Tear on line.
Otter’s face: Fold the 4 ½" ivory or cream square in half. Follow directions for Otter’s head. Place face in center of head.
Otters arms and feet:
Fold the remaining half sheet of brown construction paper (6X9") in half (hamburger style). Crease and tear.
Arms: Fold one 4 ½"x 6" section (hot dog style). Draw a long U shaped arm to fit the paper. Tear through double thickness to make two arms.
Feet: Fold last 4 ½"x 6" section (hamburger style). Draw a leg (shaped like a hockey stick) with a wide flipper at the end. Tear through double thickness. Otter’s Ears: Use two matching scraps from the brown circle for the otter’s ears.
Otter’s Eyes: Fold the black 3 inch square in half. Use one section for the eyes. Fold (hamburger style). Draw a circle (quarter size) in the center. Tear.
Otter’s Nose: Fold the remaining 1 ½ x 3" piece in half (hamburger style). Place fold on left and draw a diagonal line from the top of the fold to the outside open edge. A tiny scrap may be used for the otter’s mouth.
Otter’s Whiskers: Use the 2 x 3" piece of cream. Use scissors to cut very thin 3 inch strips for whiskers. Use the edge of one blade of the scissors to slightly curl each whisker by gently pulling between blade and thumb.
Glue the chin of the brown head to the top of the oval body. Glue cream face to center of brown head. Position ears to top sides of head, just under the edge of the cream face. Glue on eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers. Add arms, flippers and tail to body by placing each piece behind the body. Bend arms and legs upward.
Attach some torn kelp stems and leaves, real clam shells, and the Otter story to the Otter’s hands. On a bulletin board covered in "ocean" blue paper display a "Raft of Otters" floating on their backs.
Doris Kathryn Gott
Teacher Consultant
Illinois Geographic Alliance
dgott@niu.edu