Sharks Discussion Prompts and Pause Points

Read the movie description that appears below the movie player on the Sharks Topic Page. Then use the following prompts to encourage class discussion before, during, and after watching the movie.

Before the Movie

What do people think about sharks?

What do you know about sharks?

During the Movie (Pause Points)

Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:

Timecode 1:46: Why do sharks swim and float differently than fish?

Timecode 2:06: How do denticles make sharks less vulnerable to attack by other predators?

Timecode 3:24: In what ways are sharks perfectly adapted to be predators?

Timecode 4:21: How might countershading help sharks prey on bottom-feeding fish?

Timecode 4:30: What would make a shark “mistakenly” bite a human?

After the Movie

An “apex predator” is at the top of its ecosystem’s food chain. How are sharks perfect apex predators? How are they not?

What can we do to keep the shark population from dropping even further?

*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.