Migration

Activity 2:  Migration Mapping

Grade level:  5 - 8 grade

Time:  1 hour

Objectives:  Students will

• map animal migration routes

• create graphs that explain scientific data

• draw conclusions from graphs

National Standards:

            Science

            Geography

            Math

Materials:  map of North and South America, species migration information, rulers, pencils, graph paper (opt.)

Preparation Needed:  Discuss migration with students, data presented below turned into a student handout page

Procedure:

• Handout species migration data and map to each student

• Have students locate the beginning and ending points of each species’ migration on the map and draw a straight line between the points.  Label the species along the line and the distance.  Add a legend.

• Create a graph (student choice or teacher decide appropriate type of graph) using the distance information being sure to label both axis and intervals appropriately.

Evaluation:

Students use their graph to answer the following questions

• Which species migrates the longest distance?

• Which species migrates the shortest distance?

• What is the mean migrating distance?

Extension:

• Have students research other migrating species (America’s or expand to worldwide) and add them to the list, map and graph.

• Create at least three different types of graphs (bar, line, pie, etc.) using the same data and determine which is the best for interpreting this data.

Modifications:

Older Students

• Look at the routes marked on the map.  Determine if any natural features exist that might be influencing the migration route.

• Do not provide the distance information and have the students determine this from their map points and a map scale.

Younger Students

• Have students work in teams or do a class graph. 

• Label needed geographic landmarks on the map before copying for students.

Data

Species                                    Migration Points                                    Distance one way

Monarch butterfly               Denver, CO; central Mexico                      2,000 miles (3,200 km)

Alaskan fur seal                  Bering Sea, northern Mexico                     3,125 miles (5,000 km)

Northern fur seal                 Bering Sea, northern Mexico                     5,000 miles (8,000 km)

Barren ground caribou             within the high Arctic                           1,400 miles (2,250 km)

Humpback whale                  Puerto Rico, Gulf of Maine                       2,000 miles (8,000 km)

Gray whale                            Bering Sea; Baja, CA                           6,000 miles (9,650 km)

Bluegill fish                           top of lake, bottom of lake                                 10 feet (3 m)

Green sea turtle                Ascension Island, Coast of Brazil                 1,400 miles (2,200 km)

Purple martin                    Southern Canada, northern Argentina          6,000 miles, (9,600 km)

Cliff swallow                         Alaska, central Argentina                      6,800 miles (11,000 km)

Swainson’s hawk                        Colorado, Brazil                                3,750 miles (6,000 km)

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