Author |
Grade Level |
Time Frame |
Featured Picture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Beach and Gail Alaimo
Soquel High School Soquel, CA |
9th – 10th grade | Two weeks |  |
DRIVING QUESTION
Can you estimate the size of a shark based upon its teeth?
LEARNING GOALS
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COLLABORATIONS
Students will work with Soquel High Knight Partner, and will team up with another pair of students. We will use the conversation cards depicting various catastrophes as a further bonding activity for the team.
STEM INTEGRATION
Science:The natural history of White Sharks will be examined during the course of our study along with the extinction of megalodon.
Technology: Students will be printing megalodon teeth from a single individual using 3D STL files found in MorphoSource.
Engineering: Students will be painting and constructing the complete megalodon jaw using the 3D printed teeth as a concluding artifact for this project.
Mathematics: Students will be calculating total body length of a Great White Shark using the regression equation provided by Kenshu Simada. Students will also calculate megalodon total body length using the White Shark regression equation; students will then evaluate the effectiveness of using the White Shark regression equation for the megalodon.
ASSESSMENT
Student artifacts created during this project will include a full 3D printed set of megalodon teeth that each student will get to paint realistically and take home.
Students will also have formative assessments of the content of our Shark Lab Stations.
Finally, students will have a summative assessment essay evaluating evidence about extinction of Carcharocles megalodon.
ANCHORING EVENT & PROCEDURE
Whole class presentation by a local shark researcher. Or watch the following online presentation by Victor Perez.
DAY 1:
Introduction to Megalodon Download PowerPoint | Download Notes
Megalodon video with accompanying questions
Presentation with any local shark expert in the area
Introduction to Printing (optional)
Shark Laboratory Stations Guide – Download:
- 3D Scanning presentation
- Great White Shark Research with Chrome books – Download
- Shark tooth anatomy with fossil shark teeth – Download
- Shark anatomy station – using Chrome books – Download
- Shark jaw anatomy using Great White Jaw and Tiger Shark Jaw – Download
- Evolutionary Timeline with five sharks from the past Download
- 3D printing in action – Each student paints a tooth that will be used to build a megalodon jaw
Using algorithms to calculate shark TBL (Total Body Length) using calipers with teeth from Great White shark (Carcharodon carcharias) and megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon). Examine and evaluate data.
STANDARDS
NEXT GENERATION SCIENCE STANDARDS (NGSS)
Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity
Performance Expectation |
Connection to Lesson |
|---|---|
| Evaluate the evidence supporting claims that changes in environmental conditions may result in: (1) increases in the number of individuals of some species, (2) the emergence of new species over time, and (3) the extinction of other species. HS-LS4-5 | How it connects to the lesson |
Science & Engineering Practices |
Connection to Lesson |
|
Engaging in Argument from Evidence Engaging in argument from evidence in 9–12 builds on K–8 experiences and progresses to using appropriate and sufficient evidence and scientific reasoning to defend and critique claims and explanations about the natural and designed world(s). Arguments may also come from current scientific or historical episodes in science. |
How it connects to the lesson |
Disciplinary Core Ideas |
Connection to Lesson |
|
LS4.C: Adaptation |
How it connects to the lesson |
Crosscutting Concept |
Connection to Lesson |
|
Cause and Effect |
How it connects to the lesson |
COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS (CCSS)
Coming Soon
RESOURCES & MATERIALS
Current science articles on Great White Sharks.
National Geographic Special on Megalodon
National Geographic Article on Sharks
Attached links to all shark laboratory stations
Megalodon 3D Files
Morphosource is an excellent site for fossils. This site required one extra step. The files are not STL, and most 3D printers will use STL files. Most of the files will be on PLY format, but there is an easy way to convert. 1) Download the open source software, MeshLab to convert the files to STL. 2) From MeshLab, import your PLY file, and then export as STL (Binary).
KEY ACADEMIC AND/OR SCIENTIFIC LANGUAGE
Extinction
Adaptation
Anterior
Lateral
Posterior
Dorsal
Ventral
Evolutionary timeline
Epoch
Periods
Era
PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
How to utilize digital calipers
Evolutionary timeline