GUIDE TO COVERAGE OF THE SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS
Science
Students will come to understand the flow of energy through a marine ecosystem (SC.B.1.2) as well as to know that energy is required for organisms to live and to grow (SC.B.2.2). Students will learn the difference between renewable and non-renewable forms of energy and the dangers in relying solely on non-renewable forms (SC.B2.2). The geologic and biological processes that help to shape the physical features of the Earth will be discussed, with emphasis on the large portion of the Earth's surface that is covered by water, the hydrological cycle, and the continually changing face of the Earth (SC.D.1.2). Basic life processes will be covered, such as the interdependence of plants and animals, the evolution of similar traits in different animals (SC.F.1.2), and the difference between inherited traits and learned behaviors (SC.F.2.2). Displays of the interaction of marine organisms with their environment are one of the great strengths of Gulf Specimen due to our unique and highly accessible touch tanks and other displays. Students will learn how plants and animals interact with each other; specifically that animals eat plants, animals, or both in order to grow and survive and that marine organisms compete with other organisms and are constantly adapting to their environment and to their competition. Students will also learn that variations in environmental conditions, such as light and temperature are largely responsible for evolutionary pressure (SC.G.1.2). Finally, an environmental ethic will be introduced to students, concentrating on such concepts as the possibly harmful effects of habitat alteration by humans (SC.G.2.2) and the ethic of reduce, reuse, and recycle (SC.D.2.2)The benefits of a field trip to Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, however, are not just limited to increasing your students' content knowledge on marine science and the environment. Listed below are other areas in the Sunshine State Standards that are addressed during a trip to our facility.
Language Arts
If the teacher chooses to use our pre and post field trip learning activities, students will gain practice in effective reading practices (LA.A.1.2) and effective writing practices (LA.B.1.2), (LA.B.2.2). During field trip presentations students will have practice using effective listening strategies (LA.C.1.2) as well as having an opportunity to practice effective speaking strategies in order to ask questions and clarify their understanding (LA.C.3.2).Visual Arts
The pre and post trip learning activities provide opportunities to create artwork based on the students' experiences at the lab (VA.A.1.2).Social Studies
Perhaps the most important message students will take away from Gulf Specimen Marine Lab will be an increased awareness of how people interact with their physical environment, and how the natural resources provided by the environment play major roles in our everyday lives (SS.B.2.2). The students will come to understand how scarce many of these resources are and how that scarcity affects the choices we must all make concerning the conservation of natural resources (SS.D.1.2). Students will be exposed to how population growth and economic development effect the use and conservation of natural resources (SS.B.2.2).Workbook
Teachers: before coming to the aquarium, it is a good idea to prepare your students with our specimen workbook and worksheets.GULF SPECIMEN MARINE LAB • PO BOX 237 • PANACEA, FL 32346 USA • (850) 984-5297 • FAX (850) 984-5233
