Lesson Plan - Otters to the Rescue!

Watch a Video
Use the video “All About Sea Otters” to build background knowledge. Discuss: What makes kelp forests a good home for sea otters?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• ecosystems
• extinction
• marine
• vital

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them identify how sea otters are helping to save other species.

1. What might be another good title for the article? Explain your choice.
Another good title might be “Sea Otters Save Kelp Forests” because the main idea of the article is that sea otters help protect these underwater forests and the creatures that live there. The article states, “A recent study shows that these creatures are helping to protect kelp forests, the ecosystems they call home.”
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2. What does the author mean when he writes that sea otters “have started to bounce back”? What evidence does he give?
When the author writes that sea otters “have started to bounce back,” he means that sea otter populations are increasing after the animals were nearly driven to extinction. The author supports this claim by stating that by 1911, there were only 50 otters left and that “today, there are about 3,000 sea otters.”
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3. According to the sidebar “Kelp Helpers,” what happens to a kelp forest when there are no sea otters?
According to the sidebar “Kelp Helpers,” when there are no sea otters in a kelp forest, sea urchins multiply and eat much of the kelp. Without kelp, many other sea creatures have no place to call home.
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FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Diagram
Use the skill builder “Amazing Otters” to explore some of the physical adaptations that help sea otters survive in their ocean habitat. Discuss which ones students find most interesting. 
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