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Students separate fantasy from reality in studying several amazing ocean
creatures and write "myths" about the real creatures.
Academic Areas: | Art, Language arts, Science |
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Grade Levels: | Grades 4-8 |
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Learning Objectives: |
After participating in the activity that follows, students will be able to do the following:
- Explain the origin of several sea "monster" myths.
- Describe several fantastic ocean creatures and their adaptations.
- Discuss how an animal's "image" may help or hinder its survival.
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Standards Met: |
Art
- Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes related to the
visual arts
Language Arts
- Demonstrates competence in the general skills and strategies of the writing
process
- Gathers and uses information for research purposes
Science
- Learns about diversity and adaptations of organisms
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Materials for the class: |
Research materials, paper, pens, markers, and other art supplies
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Background:
Mermaids. Everyone knows that mermaids exist only in people's imaginations. But did
you know that the basis for the mythical mermaid might be a real sea creature? Manatees
and dugongs are believed to be the inspiration for mermaids. They may not look much
like the heroine in The Little Mermaid, but sailors have mistaken these huge marine
mammals for people in the water.
Sea serpents. Sea serpent legends abound, but such stories are undoubtedly based on
real creatures that look serpent-like. Sea snakes and eels, for example, are appropriately
shaped, and they can grow quite long. The oarfish may be an even better candidate for
sea-serpent. This fish can grow to lengths of more than 50 feet and can weigh 650
pounds. It has a red fin that runs down the top of its long body. Bright red pectoral fins
rotate like boat oars as the fish swims. Most striking is the crest of fins that rise like a red
comb on top the oarfish's head. People who catch a rare glimpse of an oarfish agree that
it resembles a sea monster.
Giant squid. If you've ever read the book or seen a movie version of Jules Verne's
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, you know about the giant squid. In other
stories, such a creature may be called a kraken. Although they don't attack ships (unlike
in the book or movie) giant squid do exist, though they are rarely seen. The
Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has on display one of the best
specimens ever found. Those squid reach lengths of 60 feet and have eyes the size of a
basketball. They fight back fiercely against sperm whales, which prey on them, and they
leave marks where their suckered tentacles pull out chunks of the whales' flesh.
As the giant squid, oarfish, and other mysterious marine creatures such as sea snakes
prove, the real creatures may be just as fantastic as the mythical ones. The activity that
follows will give students a look at both.
What to Do: |
- Ask students what a myth is. In the context of this activity, Merriam-Webster's
definition of a myth as a "popular belief or tradition that has grown up around
something or someone" fits best. Do students know any myths about marine creatures
(for example, mermaids, sea serpents, kraken, Loch Ness monster)? With younger
students, share some stories from the resources listed here about sea monsters and
other mythical creatures. Task older students to look into the legends themselves and
to report back to the class.
- Many "monsters" are based on actual marine animals. The basking shark, giant squid,
manatee, oarfish, and sea snake are a few of the real ocean creatures that serve as
fodder for the fantastic. Other ocean dwellers aren't the source of myths, but they are
pretty unbelievable just the same. Such creatures include gulper eels, giant
tubeworms living near thermal vents, narwhales, coelacanths, manta rays, Portuguese
man-of-war jellyfish, hammerhead sharks, and giant crabs. List these and other sea
creatures on slips of paper and let each student draw a slip. Students must learn about
their animal and then write a "myth" about it based on its actual attributes. It's okay
for kids to exaggerate the creature's characteristics, and their stories can be fanciful,
but what they write must be based in truth. In addition to the myths, students should
draw pictures of their creatures. Finally, they should include a fact box that lists
information about the real creature, its habitat, and habits.
- Share the myths with the class. Then turn the discussion toward more serious topics.
Are any of the fantastic creatures rare or in danger of extinction? What are the causes
of their decline? Do students think that knowing the truth about ocean animals will
encourage people to want to protect them? Can myths harm or help animals? How?
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Resources
Monsters of the Sea: The Truth About the Lock Ness Monster, the Giant Squid, Sea
Serpents, Mermaids, and Other Fantastic Creatures of the Deep by Richard Ellis (Lyons
Press, 2001)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
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Listen to More?
Click on these links to hear more about fantastic ocean creatures.
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![Basking Shark 1 [12/2/98]](images/audio.gif){kind=small}