Pinnipeds are marine mammals that include seals, sea lions, and walruses. They belong to the order Pinnipedia which means "fin-footed" in Latin. Unlike dolphins and whales, they live both on land and in the water. Pinnipeds are found in mostly cold water oceans all over the world. They have an insulation called blubber to keep them warm. Seals can be distinguished from sea lions in that seals have no ear flaps, and they can not rotate their hind feet. Walruses can be identified by two large protruding tusks.

Pinnipeds use their good senses, including their whiskers and large eyes in order to find food. They have sharp teeth to tear food, which they swallow whole. Both seals and sea lions are preyed upon by killer whales and sharks. They both prey upon a variety of animals including fish, squid, and octopus. Walruses use their tusks to eat clams, mussels, and snails, but many fish also. The main predators of walruses are killer whales and polar bears.

Pinnipeds are thought to have descended from a bear-like or otter-like creature, millions of years ago. The streamlined shape of a pinniped's body helps it to quickly and easily move through the water. Pinnipeds have a high content of oxygen in their blood which enables them to go with out air for long periods of time. Seals and sea lions are known to dive 1600 feet under water and hold their breathe for up to 2 hours.

There are quite a few factors that pose threats to the existance of pinnipeds. People hunts baby seals for their fur, by beating them with a club. Accidents such as oil spills contaminate the environment of pinnipeds. Entanglement in fishing nets and other marine debris is another threat that pinnipeds face. However, there are many organizations that focus on the conservation of pinniped species.

Game questions:
1. What are some characteristics of mammals? - warm-blooded, mammary glands, have fur, live birth, etc
2. How are seals differnt from sea lions? - see informaiton above
3. What does Pinnipedia mean? - fin-footed
4. How many species of pinnipeds are there? - 33
5. What do pinnipeds do on land? - mate, rest, give birth, molt
6. How do pinnipeds keep warm? - blubber
7. Name a type of seal. - leopard, monk, elephant, harbour, spotted, Baikal, harp, fur, etc.
8. What seal recently became extinct? - Caribbean monk seal
9. Why do people hunt seals? - fur and blubber
10. What does a walrus use its tusk for? - eating and protection

Game cards:
1. There was an oil spill in your ocean. Move back 2 spaces.
2. You were eaten by a shark, return to the beginning.
3. A new law was passed against hunting of pinnipeds. Move up 2 spaces.
4. You got caught in a fishing net. Move back one space.
5. You had a dangerous encounter with a polar bear. Move back one space.
6. Overfishing has depleted your food source. Move back 2 spaces.

• Pictures of seals, sea lions, and walruses
• Picture magnets of different animals that belong in the pinnipeds' food chain
• Monopoly-style board game which depicts the dangers faced by pinnipeds

The station is created for groups of no more than ten (preferrably 6-8). The teacher should begin by asking the students questions to determine their prior knowledge of information. The answers to the questions are included in the background information.

"What is a pinniped?"
"What do you know about seals, sea lions, and walruses?"
"Has anyone ever seen a pinniped? Where and what type?
What did you notice about them?"
"Where are they found?"

Next, the posters should be presented. At this time, the types of pinnipeds should be introduced to the students, as well as the ways in which they are different. Examples of seals, sea lions, and walruses will be presented through the different pictures on the posters. All basic information about pinnipeds should be presented at this time, as well as facts that will hold the interest of the students. The food web puzzle should be presented next. The students' knowledge of food webs should be tested first by a series of questions.

"What is a food web?
What does it show?"

Each student will be given a different animal magnet which they will place on the blackboard. Together, the students should decide how all of the animals fit into the pinniped food web by drawing lines to connect them. The teacher should guide the students towards the correct answers. After the puzzle, the board game should be presented. The rules of the game are as follows:

- Divide the group into two teams. Each team is supposed to represent a baby seal.
- Each team will take turns answering questions about pinnipeds, including information that they acquired earlier in the session.
- When a team answers a question correctly, they are able to pick an obstacle card. This card will instruct the team to move forward a certain number of spaces, or move backward because of an obstacle that they might encounter as a baby seal.
- The game continues until a team wins by reaching the last space on the board. After the game, the conclusion questions should be discussed. To conclude the station, the teacher should instruct the students to create a food web with themselves as the center.