Brenda Ballachey, is a wildlife scientist working in Alaska. Learn more about her life and work on the video and CD-ROM. The five activities included in this kit include: Otters in Action, Kelp Critters, Fragile Waters, Otter Smorgasbord, and Tracking Otters. In Otters in Action, students observe and analyze marine mammal behaviors such as swimming, somersaulting, diving, rolling, feeding, grooming, and resting. In Kelp Critters, participants create a kelp forest and learn about the animals that live among the kelp. They then draw the animals and create a kelp forest community. In Fragile Waters, students study a map of the Gulf of Alaska and track the movement of the Exxon Valdez oil spill and conduct oil investigations. Otter Smorgasbord provides the opportunity for students to investigate how much and what kinds of food sea otter pups eat during their first year of life. Finally, in Tracking Otters, students use a handmade "antenna" to listen for clicking sounds and try to determine where a "sea otter" is located in your room.

Instructional Materials

This kit includes a video, CD-ROM, and activity book. In addition a kit containing non-consumable materials to implement the five activities is available. This portion of the kit includes (9) Beachcomber's Guides, Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Map, (7) Pipets, (1) Clicker, and a map of North America. The kit must be returned in the condition in which it was received. If not, the replacement cost is $72.00.

Illinois State Goals & Learning Standards

01A. Apply word analysis and vocabulary skills to comprehend selections.

01C. Comprehend a broad range of reading materials.

03A. Use correct grammar, spelling, puctuation, capitalization and structure.

03C. Communicate ideas in writing to accomplish a variety of purposes.

04A. Listen effectively in formal and informal situations.

04B. Speak effectively using language appropriate to the situation and audience.

05C. Apply acquired information, concepts and ideas to communicate in a variety of formats.

10A. Organize, describe and make predictions from existing data

11A. Know and apply the concepts, principles and processes of scientific inquiry

12A. Know and apply concepts that explain how living things function, adapt and change

12B. Know and apply concepts that describe how living things interact with each other and with their environment

13A. Know and apply the accepted practices of sciences

13B. Know and apply concepts that describe the interaction between science, technology, and society