A Sea of Surprises

This Investigative Research project began on land as students cared for monarch butterflies, introducing the core concepts of life cycles and the natural world before their focus shifted to the water. As they explored biodiversity, energy transfers and food chains, their in-class learning was complemented by visits to Cedarvale Ravine, the Kortright Centre for Conservation and Ripley's Aquarium. This provided students with foundational knowledge of aquatic environments before they embarked on their own research. 

Armed with a curiosity about the underwater world, each student was tasked with selecting an aquatic animal. Some were drawn to the bizarre and complex creatures of the deep. "I picked the anglerfish because I was looking for a unique animal," shared one student. Others chose fantastical creatures: “I chose the narwhal because I really like unicorns. Narwhals are the unicorns of the sea and they seem really fascinating.”

Students developed their research skills by investigating each animal's physical characteristics and adaptations, habitat, diet and food web, community interactions and environmental threats, and unique behaviours. They translated their findings into descriptive paragraphs that, along with detailed illustrations, formed the foundation for their presentation display boards.

The result of their hard work transformed the Learning Commons into a curated gallery of underwater life. Students shared captivating facts about their chosen creatures and confidently answered questions about their animal's lifestyle.This project exemplified hands-on, inquiry-based learning as students developed critical research skills, learned to synthesize information and honed their public speaking abilities.