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The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program team (SDRP) has been studying the dolphin community in Sarasota Bay, Florida for over 50 years. From their ongoing study, scientists have learned about about dolphin adaptations, behaviors, and relationships. Understanding the "real life" stories of dolphin mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and calves provides scientists with insights about their needs and challenges that can help us to protect these magnificent animals.
Write your own dolphin story . . .
Stories about animals and the challenges they encounter - even fiction stories - can inspire readers to help protect wildlife. Realistic fiction writers who study animals and their environment use true-to-life details and vivid, accurate descriptions to entertain and educate their readers.
Try writing your own realistic fiction narrative about a dolphin in Sarasota Bay. Your story should raise awareness about dolphins and inspire people to take positive actions to help these animals to thrive.
Use information from a visit to Brookfield Zoo Chicago and/or from classroom lessons about dolphins to help you plan your story.
Photo Credit:Sarasota Dolphin Research Program. Images were taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific Research Permit
Where to begin? Let's start with your story's main character!
Choose your main character from one of the six "mystery dolphins" pictured below from Sarasota Bay. Then, write a realistic fiction narrative (a story that could be true) about your dolphin and how it meets a challenge that it encounters in its environment.
How to identify your main character:
Dolphins can be identified by their dorsal fin because each dolphin's fin has unique nicks and notches. Click on the photos below to identify your dolphin "main character" using the SDRP's Dolphin Identification Catalog.
Mystery Dolphin #1
Photo credit: © Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific Research Permit.
Mystery Dolphin #2
Photo credit: © Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific Research Permit.
Mystery Dolphin #3
Photo credit: © Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific Research Permit.
Mystery Dolphin #4
Photo credit: © Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific Research Permit.
Mystery Dolphin #5
Photo credit: © Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific Research Permit.
Mystery Dolphin #6
Photo credit: © Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, Brookfield Zoo Chicago. Photo taken under NMFS/MMPA Scientific Research Permit.
Your realistic fiction narrative will need a setting, descriptive details, characters, a conflict, and a resolution. Use the information below to help you plan your story:
Your realistic fiction narrative will need a setting, descriptive details, characters, a conflict, and a resolution. Use the information below to help you plan your story:
Habitat Fly-over (130% sped up).mp4Descriptive Details:
Descriptive Details:
To add “true to life” details to your story, you will need to research and learn about dolphins. What are special dolphin characteristics and adaptations that help them to survive? What sounds do they make? How do they behave?
To add “true to life” details to your story, you will need to research and learn about dolphins. What are special dolphin characteristics and adaptations that help them to survive? What sounds do they make? How do they behave?
To find out some amazing facts about bottlenose dolphins, you can also check out the Fun Facts on the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program website.
To find out some amazing facts about bottlenose dolphins, you can also check out the Fun Facts on the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program website.
You can also watch the video below and write down words that describe what you see. Use these words to make dolphin characters come alive in your story:
You can also watch the video below and write down words that describe what you see. Use these words to make dolphin characters come alive in your story:
dolphins_in_sarasota_bay (1080p) (1).mp4Characters: In addition to your main character, are there other animals or people who will be part of the story? For ideas about other animals who inhabit the Sarasota Bay community, listen to the noises that they make on the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program website.
Characters: In addition to your main character, are there other animals or people who will be part of the story? For ideas about other animals who inhabit the Sarasota Bay community, listen to the noises that they make on the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program website.
Conflict: What challenge does your dolphin encounters? (Examples include bycatch, humans feeding dolphins, predators, trash/plastics, boat noise, and red tide.) To learn more about challenges that Sarasota Bay dolphins face, watch A Day in the Life of Sarasota Dolphins: Navigating the Threats.
Conflict: What challenge does your dolphin encounters? (Examples include bycatch, humans feeding dolphins, predators, trash/plastics, boat noise, and red tide.) To learn more about challenges that Sarasota Bay dolphins face, watch A Day in the Life of Sarasota Dolphins: Navigating the Threats.
Resolution: How is the conflict in your story resolved? ( Is your dolphin able to solve the conflict on its own or with the help of other dolphins? Does your dolphin need help from humans?)
Resolution: How is the conflict in your story resolved? ( Is your dolphin able to solve the conflict on its own or with the help of other dolphins? Does your dolphin need help from humans?)
How can you find out your dolphin's true story?
After you write your realistic fiction story, read your dolphin's true story. How is your story the same as the dolphin's true story? How is it different?
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