Student Answers to Challenge Question #1 & 2

Many classes "captured" very thoughtful answers:

5th graders at St. John's Episcopal Day School in Tampa, FL, sent in several answers to CQ #1:

Matthew said: "They could use a net and come under the manatee. It would take eight people I think. A good capture sight would be near a sandbar."

Caroline said: "A good capture site would be a place with shallow and warm water."

And Lauren contacted another source and said: "This is what Lowry Park Zoo told me: 'scientists capture a manatee by carting nets. They have eight people in a boat. They pull them out with a sling and pull them to shallow water by shore.'"

St. John's students at Episcopal Day School also said: "They would want to capture a manatee to check its health" Nick.

Another school wrote that "Scientists would also want to capture manatees if they need to be treated for illnesses or to be rehabilitated."

Congratulations to seventh graders Indrajit, Allison, Perry and Nikhar from Iselin Middle School in New Jersey, who wrote that:

"Some reasons why scientists would capture manatees instead of attaching a tracking tag are: (1) if the manatees were in danger of extinction, scientists would breed them in captivity; (2) if they were in danger of poachers; (3) if scientists want to get up close an personal to study them; and (4) if one was ill or hurt and needed medical attention."

And kudos also go to Ruby, Kristopher, Ryan, Lindsay and Jake from Ms. Hibbard's class, who wrote:

"We think that the scientists might want to take blood samples from the manatee and milk samples from the mother. They might also want to weigh them. This way, the scientists could see if the manatees were healthy. They would take pictures of the manatee so they could see any changes in the animal."

Thanks to everyone who sent in their answers (we wish we could include them all) You all did a great job!