More than just an anatomy lesson, here are the full plans for dissection and student interaction with each part of a squid's body, including identifying characteristics of the giant squid.

Using topographic maps, students create profiles of the ocean floor and learn proper terminology. Then they apply the terms and content to understand bathymetric charts of Kaikoura Canyon where the search for the giant squid is being conducted.

What is the relationship between depth and pressure? Students arrive at their own conclusions with this demonstration for small or large group exploration. An emphasis is placed on how such knowledge is necessary for the giant squid.

Students determine the identifying characteristics of cephalopods using a detective theme and graphic organizer.

Students explore the purposes of luminesence in their own lives and the lives of deep sea animals.

Researchers have to focus on one area of study in order to be effective. This lesson gives students practice narrowing the topic of their own research.

Students use real problems encountered by field researchers as the basis for personal inquiry projects, problem-solving, and ethics discussions.

These are the complete plans for making a morphologically correct bean-filled "baby" of the giant squid. The final product even has an omni-directional funnel and feeding tentacles, just like the real giant squid.

These strategies include Double-entry Journals, Reading Journals, Socratic Seminar, Think-Pair-Share, I-Search, Persuasive Essay, Debate, Graphic Organizers, Directed Reading/Thinking Activity, Agree-Disagree Triads, Wordsplash, Interviews of Professionals in the Field, and additional ideas.