Shark Research Lab
The Shark Lab, with PI Kim Holland, is part of the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, under the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The lab and its members investigate the behavior, physiology, and ecology of sharks and other fish. Researchers in the Shark Lab engage in a variety of projects using tracking technologies, including collaborating with the community to investigate shark movement behavior and habitat requirements. Are you interested in incorporating Hawai‘i sharks into your classroom teaching and learning? Here are some possible connections!
What external structures do sharks and rays have that help them survive (4-LS1-1)? Check out the identification guides for sharks and rays to look at the physical features of a number of different sharks and rays. Use this information to construct arguments about how sharks and rays use their physical features.
Where do tiger sharks go around Hawai‘i and how might that affect their survival (MS-LS1-4)? Look at current and past tiger shark movement patterns using the Shark Lab’s Tiger Shark Tracking Website. Incorporate this evidence into arguments for how animal behaviors help them to survive and reproduce.
How do tracking instruments compare to visual tracking (MS-PS4-3)? Learn about the different types of tracking devices that are used in shark tracking research. Consider how digital tracking compares to spotting sharks visually. Based on this information, make claims about how digital signals compare to analog signals for encoding and transmitting information.
Related lesson resources If standards are not noted, the lesson may not be fully aligned to NGSS and may need to be adapted.
Survival in the Open Ocean – SEA (Grades 3–5)
Food Resources and Fisheries Science – SEA (Grades 3–5)
Fish – Exploring Our Fluid Earth (Grades 6–12)