Quick Take
- Manatees are called 'sea cows,' though their real role in the ocean goes far beyond what that nickname suggests.
- Their slow, grazing lifestyle might look passive, yet it quietly determines which other species survive.
- There's a specific reason manatees are classified as a keystone species, and most people have no idea what it means for the ecosystems around them.
- Five days is all it takes to turn a child into a genuine manatee advocate, and this is the roadmap that makes it possible.
Manatees are a remarkable aquatic mammal species that can often be found grazing along warm, shallow waters for seagrass, algae and other water plants. These gentle giants are commonly known as “sea cows” because of their massive size, slow-moving demeanor and constant consumption of vegetation, much like the behavior of cows in a pasture. Manatees play a significant role in ensuring healthy ecosystems and biodiversity because of their feeding habits, which provide habitat maintenance for many other species of both plants and animals.
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In our five-day unit, designed for elementary-aged students, children can explore more about where manatees live, their herbivorous diets, various stages of their life, and why they are a keystone species in the waters that they inhabit.
Included in the unit plan are five days’ worth of comprehensive lesson plans, graphic organizers, educational video ideas, children’s book suggestions, comprehension questions, instructional resources, writing templates, and research activities.
We hope you enjoy learning more about the fascinating manatee and how we can continue to protect their species for future generations!
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