Kits Close-up

  
Sea Otter Kit
Kit Central
Kits in Action
Kits Close-up
Kits to Go
HHMI Home

One of the five Wonderwise kits profiles Brenda Ballachey, the project leader for the Sea Otter Oil Spill Studies Project for the National Biological Service in Alaska. The kit contains a biography and CD-ROM about Ballachey, and a colorful array of materials and lesson plans for students to make observations, record data, solve problems and explore scientific concepts— just like the scientist whose life they have studied.

Among the classroom activities in the kit:

  • Otters in action: Observe and record sea otter behavior
  • Kelp critter: Make a kelp forest community
  • Fragile waters: Investigate how oil can affect water and animals
  • Otter smorgasbord: Find out how much food a sea otter needs to eat
  • Tracking otters: Discover how scientists track sea otters
Generally the kits include an activity booklet, a video, a CD, lesson plans, and supplies specific to activities. Many more materials, such as the CD-ROM about Brenda Ballachey, are available online at the Wonderwise web site.

Next...Go! 		Brenda Ballachey
A video of marine biologist Brenda Ballachey shows budding scientists how she records the behavior of frolicking sea otters. Students then don blindfolds to track "sea otter sounds" in their classroom.

Kit Central | Kits in Action | Kits Close-up | Kits to Go | Top of Page | HHMI Home