Fish
"Mer" Creatures
The Challenger Deep
Vocabulary
Ms. Demkowicz
100

What 2 organs do fish have that humans don't?

Gills and a swim bladder

100

What animal were sailors viewing when they thought they spotted mermaids?

Dugongs or manatees

100

What is the Challenger Deep?

The deepest part of the ocean

100

What is blubber and why do some sea creatures have it?

It is a thick layer of fat used like a blanket to keep animals warm in cold climates

100

How many pets does Ms. Demkowicz have?

3 pets- 2 cats and 1 dog

200

What is a unique feature of a mudskippers and some kinds of catfish?

They can use their swim bladders to breathe on land for short periods of time

200

What evidence did sailors have to make them believe that mermaids existed?

The finger-like bones of dugong flippers, similar stories from cultures all over the world, and lots of reported sightings

200

What did scientists predict would be located in the Challenger Deep?  Why?

Grey slime because there is so much pressure, scientists believed anything else would be instantly crushed

200

What is regeneration?  Name 2 animals that are able to regenerate large parts of their bodies

Regeneration is when animals regrow lost limbs; Lizards, slugs, worms, salamanders, and axolotls can all regenerate lost limbs

200

What kind of craft did Ms. Demkowicz start doing this past year?

Crochet

300

What is the purpose of a swim bladder?

To help the fish move up and down through the water

300

What is the main difference between a sea lion and a seal?

The way they move or their back limbs- sea lions have strong back legs that they can walk upright on while seals have flippers that are good for swimming in water, but not for walking on land

300

What is special about the faces of fish like the Slingjaw Wrasse and the Goblin Shark?

They have long jaws that can extend out past their bodies to catch fish

300

Break down the word "bioluminescence" into its roots to explain its meaning

"Bio" means "life", "lumi" means "light", and "escence" means "the process of", so "bioluminescence" literally means "the process of life giving off light"

300

What is the name of Ms. Demkowicz's black cat with the wonky eyeball?

Mike Wazowski

400

Explain how a fish uses its swim bladder

Fish fill the swim bladder with air to float near the surface of the water and belch out the air to sink towards the bottom of the water

400

A manatee has large flat teeth.  What does that tell us about what it eats?

It eats vegetation because flat teeth are used for grinding up plants

400

What is it like at the bottom of the Challenger Deep?  Why is that?

It is dark and cold because it is far away from the Sun and it has a lot of pressure because of all the water above it

400

A sea lion is part of a group of animals known as "cuneiforms", which means they are related to dogs.  Name 2 pieces of evidence to explain this relationship between sea lions and dogs

They both bark, walk on all fours, have fur, have similar-shaped snouts, and have whiskers

400

What kinds of students did Ms. Demkowicz teach at her last school, Summit Academy?

Neurodivergents or students with disabilities

500

Explain how a fish uses its gills to breathe

Water goes into a fish's gills, oxygen gets separated from the water and spread throughout a fish's body, and then the water is pushed back out through the gills

500

Why do elephant seals fight by bumping chests?

The chests are the largest, most powerful, and most padded part of their body which allows them to cause the most amount of damage while keeping the,selves protected

500

Describe 2 characteristics of creatures that live in the Challenger Deep

They glow, have very large eyes or no eyes at all, are often transparent, and have no bones

500

"Cells" are the smallest pieces that make up living things and can include bone cells, blood cells, and skin cells.  How are stem cells different than these other kinds of cells and where can we find them?

Stem cells can turn into any other kind of cell; They can be found in human fetuses and the regeneration buds of lizards

500
What are Ms. Demkowicz's 3 STEM expectations?

Follow directions, be kind, and keep an open mind