Sharks4Kids introduces fun and innovative ways for children to learn about sharks – and no doubt fun for the teachers, too!
US-based not-for-profit Sharks4Kids has come up with an innovative way to teach youngsters about some of the adaptations that sharks have developed in the 400 million years they’ve been present in the oceans – shark bingo!
With simple, printable bingo cards and pieces for both children and teacher, the intention of the game is not just to educate children about different shark species, but also to teach them about the differences between structural and behavioural adaptations that enable sharks to exist in their environments.
When answering questions about adaptations, students need to identify the species of the shark, and whether or not the adaptation is structural – such
as the cavernous mouth of a whale shark, which enables them to survive by feeding on plankton – or behavioural, such as the extended migrations of tiger
sharks in search of food and mates.
The game is one of many educational activities created by Sharks4Kids, designed to appeal to children from the age of five through to young teenagers. The course materials cover a wide range of subjects, and are freely available to download from the organisation’s website, www.sharks4kids.com
