Vertebrates
From sea lions to sea turtles and everything in between, explore the dynamic world of marine vertebrates. Each Explorer Series includes a short video, fun facts, and discussion questions to engage students, access their prior knowledge, and set the stage for the lesson to come. Incorporate these videos into your unit on living and nonliving things, animals, biodiversity, biology, and taxonomy to introduce a new concept or use them to compare and contrast with terrestrial organisms. Include these Explorer Series in your reading and language arts classes by having students write, illustrate, and share a story about their favorite marine vertebrate.
The largest bony fish in the sea.
Mola Mola
CONTACT USThe mola mola, or oceanic sunfish is one of the more unique fish in the sea, learn more about them in this engaging snippet complete with a narrated video, images, interesting facts, and a set of discussion questions.
Flittering spots of color that dance across the reef.
Butterflyfish
CONTACT USButterflyfish are some of the most brightly colored fish on the reef, discover more about these gregarious fish in this engaging snippet complete with narrated video, images, fun facts, and discussion questions.
The largest group of vertebrates on the planet!
Fishes
CONTACT USThere are more fish than mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians combined, find out more about this diverse group of animals in this brief learning experience that includes a narrated video, images, facts and discussion questions.
Curious, acrobats of the sea.
Sea Lions
CONTACT USDiscover why sea lions are so agile and how to distinguish them from their relatives, the seals, in this brief learning experience that includes a narrated video, unique facts, and discussion questions to extend the conversation.
How did they get that name?
Triggerfish
CONTACT USAble to lock itself into crevices on the reef for safety, the triggerfish is uniquely adapted to life under the sea. Learn more about this unique fish in this short collection that includes a narrated video, unique facts, and discussion questions.
Powerful jaws and a sharp ‘beak’.
Hawksbill Sea Turtles
CONTACT USOne of six sea turtle species found in U.S. waters, discover more about the hawksbill sea turtle in this vignette, which includes a narrated video, fun facts, and discussion questions to keep the inquiry going.
Sharks are key for a healthy reef.
Reef Sharks
CONTACT USDiscover the shark species that frequent coral reefs and their importance to the ecosystem in this collection of images, facts, discussion questions and a short narrated video.
Why are they called Green Sea Turtles?
Green Sea Turtles
CONTACT USThere are seven species of sea turtle. Discover what makes the green turtle so unique in this brief learning experience that includes a narrated video, facts about green sea turtles, and discussion questions.
How can you tell one manta from another?
Manta Rays
CONTACT USIntroduce the majestic manta ray with this vignette, which includes a narrated video, compelling facts, and discussion questions to keep the inquiry going.