From the smallest plankton to the most massive whales, marine biology is the study of the flora and fauna, the living creatures of the ocean. This Zephyr self-directed study unit was developed to bridge the gap between students as passive learners to students as active participants. Originally developed for gifted students, these units emphasize the use of higher-level thinking skills and are appropriate for use in any classroom where the goal is to encourage students to become responsible for their own education. Interdisciplinary in content, the unit envelops a broad view of the topic by integrating the "basics" into each activity. The book contains two complete units: one created for the lower elementary gifted student (kindergarten through third grade) and one created for the upper elementary gifted student (fourth through eighth grades). Suggestions for adapting or adjusting either of the levels to fit any individual classroom are provided. Black and white drawings illustrate each page of text. (PR)