Sequence | Background | Objectives | Materials | Activity | Extensions | Evaluations

TOPIC-TITLE Marine & Aquatic Habitats Activities - Benthic BINGO AUTHOR John Jackson GRADE SUITABILITY Middle School SCOPE Biology

Sequence Before this activity, you should give a lecture on the benthic habitat. You should discuss the organisms that inhabit the various benthic communities and conditions found in this habitat. < < go top

Background Summary The benthic zone is defined as the bottom layer of the ocean. The ocean bottom is home to a diversity of organisms known as the benthos. A benthic community may exist in areas that are shallow or deep, warm or cold, or dark or bright. The organisms found in the benthic zone are directly related to the specific habitat type. Several factors control the distribution and diversity of benthic organisms. These factors include the amount of light, salinity or salt content of the water, temperature, food/nutrient availability, and the stability and type of substrate associated with the habitat. Crabs, lobsters, and clams are benthic organisms that may be found in a rocky intertidal habitat. Some near-shore benthic habitats contain seaweeds (non-vascular plants). Kelp is an example of a multicellular seaweed and a representative of the benthic community. This species of seaweed attaches to the bottom via a holdfast, which is a root-shaped structure. Other habitats with abundant benthic organisms may include coral reefs, oyster reefs, deep-ocean environments, salt marshes, estuaries, and mangrove swamps. < < go top Objectives Students will be able to do the following: Introduce aquatic organisms of benthic communities. Place marine organisms in the proper community. Define marine terms. < < go top Materials Bingo cards Transparency containing a list of terms Dry erase markers < < go top Activity Give each student one bingo card. Place the transparency containing a list of terms on the overhead projector. Sample terms may include benthic, wave shock, ahermatypic, red rock crab, barnacles, gulper eels, gas bladders, mangroves, red algae, kelp, kelp crab, tide pool gunnels, and giant kelp. Students will construct their own bingo cards by randomly placing words in each block of the bingo cards. The instructor will read the definition of each word, and the students will place an "x" or draw a line through the word. Students will use each word only once. a. A bingo occurs when each word is marked out and the words fall diagonally, horizontally, or vertically on the card. b. If the words and definitions do not correspond, the line cannot be used again, and the game continues until there is a winner. A winner is the student who accurately matches each definition with its proper term. < < go top Possible Extension Using the activity previously described, the instructor could use science bingo as a review for a chapter quiz. < < go top Teacher Evaluation The instructor will evaluate student participation and performance. Each student or cooperative learning group will prepare a journal relative to the concepts and activities learned through Benthic Bingo. < < go top