Marine Mammal Month

Marine Mammal Month


About this course

Recommended Ages: 7-11

Start Date: February 4. Class runs for 4 weeks. Students have 2 weeks after the last class is posted to complete the course!! No live classes- do the lesson plans on YOUR schedule.

Price: $50

Space Available:

My degree is in Marine Biology (from Texas A&M University at Galveston), and marine biology was the very first homeschool class I ever taught. I have since branched out into many other sciences, but always love it when I can teach my passion- ocean life! When I offered my Marine Zoology series, so many people wanted a class for the younger kids. That’s when I created Shark Month. And the response was so huge for more, that I decided to create Marine Mammal Month! This 4 week workshop will still have TONS of science, but will be written for younger students.This class is really not a good fit for current Marine Zoology students, as all of the information in this class will be covered in zoology, but in more detail.

This is meant to be a fun, no pressure class! But that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to learn! Some of the things we’ll be covering will include:

1. Evolution: Where do marine mammals fit into the grand scheme of life on earth? When did they evolve? Did they evolve from fish or something else? What were some of the first forms of marine mammals? Are marine mammals like sea lions and dolphins more closely related to each other or to something else?

2. Taxonomy: We’ll learn about how scientists classify marine mammals into taxonomic groups so we can see what characteristics separate the various groups from each other.

3. Anatomy: What makes a marine mammal like a whale or dolphin a marine mammal and not a fish?

4. Species: We’ll go through all of the major groups of marine mammals and learn what makes each group unique- Pinnipeds (Seals, Sea Lions, Walruses), Otters, Polar Bears, Manatees, and Cetaceans (Dolphins and Whales). Some species are the smartest in the ocean, but is it possible that they are the most intelligent creatures on EARTH? Students will learn how to use a dichotomous key to identify species.

5. Conservation: What is the status of the world’s marine mammal populations? What laws are in place to protect them? What are the pros and cons of keeping these animals in captivity?



DISCUSSION:We offer an “open talk” forum where students can have fun getting to know their classmates!



GRADES: Grades are NOT given for this course, although instructor feedback is given for all submitted assignments.




Total numbers of students in course