Building A Sea Otter Savvy Future
Young people are not only our heirs to the planet and the challenges we leave behind, they are influencers and activists of today. They have the power and the will to make a difference now. At Sea Otter Savvy our staff and volunteers are dedicated to educating and inspiring youth about the plight of their sea otter neighbors.
" I love going to the schools because kids are the future and the best way to enforce conservation of wildlife is to embed its principles into the minds of the next generation. I find it so fulfilling and enriching to teach and learn from children of all ages and to see what they know and what they can teach me." – Ashley Y. Sea Otter Savvy in the Classroom volunteer
In the Classroom
Sea Otter Savvy is bringing our message of awareness, appreciation, and respect for sea otters to the youth of the central California coastal counties. Our Sea Otter Savvy in the Classroom program currently offers visits to grades 1-6th classrooms in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Our classroom program is designed to follow California state curriculum requirements for science for 1st through 6th grades. Led by Sea Otter Savvy volunteers and staff, the 50-minute program is designed to engage students in the learning process with activities, hands-on displays, and thought-provoking discussion.
Elements of the program include:
Kelp Connection activity player cardsClass presentation (15-20 minutes)
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- Learn about the unique characteristics of sea otters
- How do sea otters keep warm?
- What do sea otters eat?
- How much time each day do sea otters have to sleep?
- Sea otters help maintain healthy kelp forests.
- How do scientists study the effect of people on sea otter behavior?
Group activities: the class is divided into smaller groups which rotate through activities. See some of our activities in the boxes below. (20 minutes)
Conclusion and Discussion (10 minutes)
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- What activities do sea otters have to do every day to survive?
- How do sea otters help kelp forests? Is that important?
- Is it important for biologists to study sea otters?
- What can students do to keep sea otters from being disturbed?
Would you like to learn more about Sea Otter Savvy classroom programs and field trips? Click the button above to submit an inquiry form.
Try on a blubber layer! Students get to feel for themselves how not having a protective layer of blubber makes sea otters more vulnerable to cold.
Click Read More to learn how to do the blubber activity yourself!
Be a sea otter spotter! Watch step by step as a group of kayakers approach and disturb a raft of sea otters. Students become sea otter scientists as they watch and discuss real video and learn to recognize the signs of disturbance.
The kelp connection activity links sea otters, kelp, sea urchins, and other members of the kelp forest community. Students act as members of the kelp forest community web of life and actively demonstrate the important place sea otters hold in keeping that web together. We also offer an eelgrass connection version of this activity.
Read this article about our visit to a Palo Alto first grade class!
"The students got a lot of knowledge out of the presentation and were able to write about what they learned. Many were surprised by the fact we are disturbing the sea otter's sleep when we get too close. Know that you have a new group of students who will be on the lookout to help protect our sea otter friends in the bay. " — Ms. Kirby, 4th grade teacher, Monarch Grove Elementary
Interested in an immersive field trip to sea otter habitat? Visit our Sea Otter Savvy Field Experience page.
Materials for teachers and parents
Vocabulary List
Learn the vocabulary of sea otter natural history! Students can prepare for classroom visits and field trips by learning some words important to our understanding of sea otters and their role in the ocean.
Click to download a vocabulary list.
Word Puzzles
Test your vocabulary and word spotting skills! Have fun and practice your Sea Otter Savvy vocabulary with our word search puzzle.
Click below to download puzzle and get the answer key here.
Coloring Pages
Color me savvy! We have an assortment of coloring pages to entertain and teach kids of all ages
Would you like to learn more about Sea Otter Savvy classroom programs and field trips? Click the button above to complete and submit an inquiry form.
We need volunteers! If you are interested in fostering wildlife stewardship in young people, have some teaching experience, and have time to volunteer at least once a month, we need you! Please visit our volunteers page and fill out our application.
"I enjoy teaching young children about all forms of California marine life, but particularly California sea otters. It's fun to watch the children's enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Hopefully our activity will instill a love of the outdoors and help create the next generation of conservationists." – Joan T. Sea Otter Savvy in the Classroom volunteer