Name: _________________________________________________________ Period:___________
Title: Earth Systems Ocean Fair
Due Date:_________________________
Background Information:
The oceans are the largest reservoir of water on Earth. They contain a vast array of plants and
animals, in fact more than are on the land. As well as having diverse biotic organisms, oceans have
many abiotic factors that influence ecosystems in the ocean and around the planet. Some of these
factors include the temperature of the water, the depth of the water, tides, and salinity.
Procedures:
1. Choose any single biotic organism in the ocean to research. A sample list is provided below, however the
possibilities are almost limitless. Try to choose something you don’t know very much about. The ocean is full
of strange and unique creatures! You cannot research a generic organism like “shark” choose a specific type
such as a Tiger Shark.
Electric Eel
Any Dolphin
Anglerfish
Any Rays
Any Octopus
Any Clown Fish
Any Sea Urchins
Any Jelly Fish
Any Coral
Viperfish
Zooplankton
Any Squid
Zebra Fish
Baracuda
Any Shark
Phytoplankton
Blowfish or Pufferfish
Tube Worms
Sea Snakes
Coelacanth
Algae
Any Whale
Kelp
Any Sea turtles
Sea Slugs
Any Shrimp
Any Sea horses
Megalodon
2. After you choose your animal, complete the “Animal Fact Sheet.” You can use the library or the internet.
Plan your time wisely.You do not have class time to work on this this.
3. You must find out the following information and present it on your visual:
 The ecosystem it lives in. Does it live in the deep ocean or the coast? Etc. You should describe the
ecosystem in detail, but pictures can be used to help you and us.
 The food web your organism is a part of. You must draw and label a food web that includes your
organism. It does not need to be the complete food web, but it should have at least 3 organisms plus
your own organism.
 The influence of the following abiotic factors on your organism and ecosystem should be described:
salinity, water depth, tides, ocean temperature.
 You should research three interesting facts about your organism. Your classmates and teacher should
learn something new and interesting. If you don’t think it is something cool, keep looking.
4. You must build a visual that will help you present your animal to the class. It has to have a picture of the
animal and the food web on it. Your visual can be on a poster, PowerPoint or even a piece of computer paper
that we place under the document camera.
5. All writing on your visual must be typed (except the food web diagram, if you need to draw this in that is
fine). You may not copy and paste any text off the internet. You will not get any points if it looks or sounds as
if you have copied another’s work.
6. You will need a reference page that includes your sources of information. You should have at least two
different sources. NO WIKIPEDIA!
7. Please be creative. The more exciting and interesting your project is, the better your grade will be!
8. You will need to give a 3-5 minute oral presentation covering the information you learned. You should be
able to talk easily about your project without always reading your visual; it should be obvious you are the
expert on this organism.
9. Your project must be in class on the due date. If you will be absent on the Due Date, your project must
be turned in prior to that date. You must also have this packet to turn in on your presentation date.
10. Please read through all the requirements and be sure you have included everything.
Grading Requirements:
Name:
Requirements: In order to get an ‘A’ all
of the following must be completed.
Animal Fact Sheet: Finished completely,
readable and in the presenter’s own words.
Turned in on day of presentation.
Physical Appearance of your Project: Visual is
interesting, exciting, unique, and appealing.
Used interesting visual aids (music, video, food,
props etc). All wording was typed, easy to read
and could be followed.
Abiotic Factors: Description of the influence of
abiotic factors including: salinity, water depth,
tides, ocean temperature are present and
accurate on visual. These points go along with
your visual, not with your fact sheet.
Food Web: Complete with 3 organisms and
displayed on visual. Neatly drawn with energy
flow shown, and labeled properly. These points
go along with your visual, not with your fact
sheet.
Oral Presentation: Talked easily about project
without reading from the board the entire time. It
was obvious they were the expert on this
organism. Did not run over the time limit.
NOTE: IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED ON THE
PRESENTATION DATES THEN YOU CANNOT
MAKE UP THESE POINTS EVEN WITH A LATE
CARD. IF YOU ARE ABSENT YOU MUST
ARRANGE TO PRESENT SOMETIME AFTER
SCHOOL.
Interesting Tidbits: Facts were new and
interesting; taught the class something they
didn’t know before. These points go along with
your visual, not with your fact sheet.
References: Correctly formatted, at least 2
different sources, typed, clearly visible on visual
(or on back of visual). These points go along
with your visual, not with your fact sheet.
Total
Points
Possible
60
20
10
10
15
20
5
150
Points
Received
Teachers Comments
Animal Fact Sheet
1. Name of Organism: _______________________________________
2. Food Web of Organism: (Draw and label it properly)
3. Description of Ecosystem:
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
4. Abiotic Factors
a. Salinity (yes this really does change!)______________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
b. Water Depth/Zone_____________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
c. Temperature of Ocean__________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
d. Influence of Tides or Waves_____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
e. Other _______________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
5. Interesting Facts
a. ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
6. References
a. ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
b. ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
c. ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________