Plankton!

Today students got new seats and started a new unit on Plants, Plankton, and Biomes. This is probably our longest and most difficult unit because of the large amount of information that needs to be learned and applied.

We started class with a discussion about phytoplankton (cyanobacteria pictured above) and its importance to the ocean and to the world. Phytoplankton are responsible for feeding most of the creatures that live away from the shore and they are important for adding oxygen both to the water and to the atmosphere.

What is that? This is a meroplankton - meaning its a creature that is a plankton for only part of its life - usually egg, larvae, or juvenile (one or all three) before growing up and swimming around (nekton), or settling to the bottom (Benthos). Can you guess what this grows up to be? Students tried their hand at guessing life stages with a challenge. I can't remember from first period, but in fourth period the high score was 4/9. Ouch. Guess those meroplankton change a lot as they develop!

If you guessed Sea Star for the meroplankton above, then you are awesome! Check out this website Beyond the Reef for some great photos and information about plankton in general and some wonderful stages of meroplankton metamorphosis.

We finished class today by starting the Plankton Grand Prix. Students were given a sample of clay, a straw, and access to other materials to build a plankton to race. Plankton are designed to sink slowly, so for this race students want to design a plankton that sinks - just sinks slowly. Floaters will be disqualified. Some of the designs look awesome already and Ricky's plankton rocked in his test run today.

We'll see which design wins the Plankton Grand Prix tomorrow...