Name:______

The Little Mermaid

Viewer’s Guide

The purpose of watching The Little Mermaid is to familiarize you with the classification of the animal kingdom and develop a basic understanding of scientific interpretation of evidence. While watching The Little Mermaid you will be asked to make observations and interpretations based on what you see or hear. You are not allowed to use any past experience when collecting and interpreting the evidence (what you see and hear). Read each question carefully to determine the intent of the question. Some questions require a specific point of view. You are only allowed to answer those questions from the perspective specified by that point of view. Any question requiring an explanation should be explained based only on the evidence available through the video. Each classification should include the phylum and class(except for the phyla Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, or Echinodermata which were not classified to that level in your notes). Do not classify humans or named characters in the story unless the question specifically asks. Have fun and think!

  1. List the criteria you should use to classify living organisms.
  1. ______
  2. ______
  3. ______
  4. ______
  1. During the introduction of the movie (until the credits end) identify and classify 10 animals.

Animalclassification

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  1. The performance:

Classify the animals pulling King Triton’s chariot. ______

Classify King Triton’s chariot. ______

Where would a stable have to be located for the animals pulling King Triton’s chariot? Explain your answer.

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Classify the animals pulling Sebastian’s chariot.______

Classify Sebastian’s chariot. ______

Classify the announcer.______

Classify two of the performers in the orchestra.

a. ______

b. ______

What is the phylum for the stage that Ariel’s sisters performed on?

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  1. The ship:

Classify the bully that chased Ariel and Flounder

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Identify three pieces of evidence that suggest the ship Ariel and Flounder explored sunk awhile ago. Explain why the evidence is interpreted that way.

a.______b.______c.______

Identify three pieces of evidence that suggest the ship Ariel and Flounder explored sunk recently/ Explain why the evidence is interpreted that way.

a.______b.______c.______

Define awhile ago.______

Define recently.______

  1. Visit to the surface:

Are Scuttle’s interpretations reasonable? Explain your answer.

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Are Scuttle’s interpretations right? Explain your answer.

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  1. Back below the surface:

Suppose you are a merscientist. What could you conclude about humans by examining a banded bulbous snarfblat and a dinglehopper? Limit your conclusions to only what you could know from a merscientist perspective.

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Classify Ursula’s snack: ______

Triton refers to humans as “fish eaters” in such a way that implies that merfolk do not

eat fish. According to the movie Splash merfolk do eat fish. What do you think merfolk eat? Base your hypothesis only on evidence you see while watching the video. There actually is at least one very good possibility based on a reliable source of evidence.

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Again, as a merscientist, after observing Ariel’s collection in her treasure trove, what more can you conclude about humans? Be as specific as possible. For example: “The device with the frame of the shiny, bendable material wrapped around the clear, hard circular discs suggests …..”

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  1. Back to the surface (Ariel must have a hearing problem)

“The one playing the snarfblat!” Was Scuttle right? Explain.

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Classify Max (kind of hairy and slobbery):______

Classify Scuttle: ______

Classify Sebastian: ______

  1. A cast of many strive to convince Ariel that life “Under the Sea” is betta. Identify and classify the following. Not necessarily in the order of appearance.

a. steel drummers______

b. steel drums______

c. back “flipper”______

d. on the plate Nate______

e. fuscia tops______

f. hook spitter______

g. background singers______

h. know it all 1______

i. know it all 2______

j. flute player______

k. harp player______

l. harp______

m.bass player______

n. bass______

o. brass player______

p. soul fish’s horn______

q. blower______

r. tooth player______
s.8-armed background______

t. jammer______

u 5-pointed dancers______

v. wailer______

w.rug cutter______

x. bubble riders______

  1. By the end of the video you will be expected to classify merfolk. List all anatomical and

physiological features of merfolk that must be considered when you classify them

Anatomical FeaturesPhysiological Features

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  1. Classify King Triton’s messenger; ______
  1. Classify Ursula’s henchcreeps ______
  1. Classify the sorry looking creatures surrounding Ursula’s place.

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  1. The fact that Ariel (and any other speaking character) has a voice suggests something about

her respiratory system. What is suggested?

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  1. When Ariel is turned into a human it appears she loses at least one specific ability. What

ability did she lose?

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  1. At the dinner table, was Scuttle right? Explain.

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  1. Why does Sebastian “click” when he runs?

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  1. Do crabs really have lips? ______
  1. Classify the engine on the chariot. ______
  2. Sebastian enlists many to help create “the mood” during “Kiss the Girl”. Classify each of the

performers. Not necessarily in the order of performance.

percussionists’______

percussion______

strings______

winds______

thin-necked singers______

oar-riding singers______

empathetic expressionists______

curtain drawers______

ya yas______

special lighting______

fountains______

  1. Scuttle musters a militia of wedding raiders. Identify and classify

animalclassification

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  1. Artistic license allows the creators of The Little Mermaid to make changes from reality for the

sake of the story. List ten examples of artistic license used in the movie. Do not include the ability to talk or magic in your list.

anatomical or physiological traitexplanation

a. ______

b.______

c.______

d.______

e.______

f.______

g.______

h.______

i.______

j.______

  1. You have to decide now. Classify merfolk and justify your decision.

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  1. What one feature clearly indicates merfolk are placental? ______
  1. How will the perspective of a merscientist from Ariel’s community possibly change after Ariel is married to Eric?

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  1. What would Triton have to change in Ariel to make sure they would not need an aquarium in

the nursery?

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