Whales (Junior)
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
This lesson discusses whale species and why they are important to our ecosystem.
Instructions
This lesson is about whale species, some of the issues harming whales and what everyone can do to help them.
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2021
Instructions
Worksheets
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd is a marine conservation organisation with a mission to protect the ocean and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the ocean, running numerous direct action campaigns each year. Whales are one species that Sea Shepherd is fighting to protect.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Slide 3 - Slide
This lesson is about whale species, some of the issues harming whales and what everyone can do to help them.
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
INTERACTIVE JOIN – ask students to go to www.LessonUp.app
Slide 4 - Slide
Whales have been around on this planet for 50 million years. They appeared long after the dinosaurs were gone.
The ocean was once filled with whales. Today their numbers are much smaller as they slowly disappear.
We need to protect whales from harm if we want them to continue to live in the ocean.
The ocean was once filled with whales. Today their numbers are much smaller as they slowly disappear.
We need to protect whales from harm if we want them to continue to live in the ocean.
Slide 5 - Slide
Whales are important to the ocean.
Whales play an important part on our planet, supporting our air supply, which allows us to breathe and stay alive. How do they do this?
Whales poo in the ocean.
Whale poo adds food to the ocean for little creatures called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are tiny little beings that live in the sea. So small you can’t see them.
Phytoplankton takes carbon out of the air, leaving us with oxygen to breathe. Carbon is what we breathe out. Too much carbon in the air would make it poisonous for us.
This means we need whales and the phytoplankton to keep our planet healthy.
Teachers note:
Whale poo provides nutrients needed by phytoplankton and krill to grow. This includes – iron, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Whales play an important part on our planet, supporting our air supply, which allows us to breathe and stay alive. How do they do this?
Whales poo in the ocean.
Whale poo adds food to the ocean for little creatures called phytoplankton. Phytoplankton are tiny little beings that live in the sea. So small you can’t see them.
Phytoplankton takes carbon out of the air, leaving us with oxygen to breathe. Carbon is what we breathe out. Too much carbon in the air would make it poisonous for us.
This means we need whales and the phytoplankton to keep our planet healthy.
Teachers note:
Whale poo provides nutrients needed by phytoplankton and krill to grow. This includes – iron, nitrogen and phosphorus.
Slide 6 - Video
Spaceship earth
Scientists estimate that by 2050 the ocean ecosystem will be on the verge of collapse, empty of fish and marine wildlife, unless urgent action is taken on the issues impacting the ocean and marine wildlife.
This video (2.53min) explains to children how important all species are to our planet and keeping it alive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLcA31VRlRU
Discuss the video with the class and ask what they think it means.
Scientists estimate that by 2050 the ocean ecosystem will be on the verge of collapse, empty of fish and marine wildlife, unless urgent action is taken on the issues impacting the ocean and marine wildlife.
This video (2.53min) explains to children how important all species are to our planet and keeping it alive:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLcA31VRlRU
Discuss the video with the class and ask what they think it means.
Slide 7 - Slide
Mammals or fish
Are whales fish or mammals, like us?
They may swim in the ocean, but they are not fish.
What makes them a mammal?
Are whales fish or mammals, like us?
They may swim in the ocean, but they are not fish.
What makes them a mammal?
- Breathe air through blow holes (fish through gills) - they have to come to the surface to breathe air like we do.
Slide 8 - Slide
What makes them a mammal?
- Give birth to young (fish lay eggs).
- Warm blooded (fish are cold blooded).
Slide 9 - Slide
Mammals or fish
What makes them a mammal?
What makes them a mammal?
- Smooth skin (fish have scales).
- Young drink mums milk.
- Tail moves up and down (fish move side to side).
- Heart has 4 chambers (fish have 2).
Slide 10 - Slide
Toothed whales
Some whales have teeth, so they can eat fish, shrimp, crabs, squid and krill.
The most well known whale with teeth is the sperm whale, also known as cachalot. Another group with teeth are the beaked whales.
Some whales have teeth, so they can eat fish, shrimp, crabs, squid and krill.
The most well known whale with teeth is the sperm whale, also known as cachalot. Another group with teeth are the beaked whales.
Slide 11 - Slide
Baleen whales
Some whales don’t have teeth, instead they have a baleen plates.
They feed by sifting krill through these baleen plates.
The baleen plate is like a big sieve/colander that they catch their food in. They open their mouth scoop up the water with all the fish, then let the water drain away leaving the fish trapped.
Some whales don’t have teeth, instead they have a baleen plates.
They feed by sifting krill through these baleen plates.
The baleen plate is like a big sieve/colander that they catch their food in. They open their mouth scoop up the water with all the fish, then let the water drain away leaving the fish trapped.
Slide 12 - Slide
The largest whale species.
Which is the largest whale species?
The blue whales have been found measuring up to 33m (108 feet). The blue whale is a baleen whale.
The blue whale is the biggest mammal to ever have lived. The tongue is as big as an adult elephant.
They are bigger than any dinosaur that ever lived.
Which is the largest whale species?
The blue whales have been found measuring up to 33m (108 feet). The blue whale is a baleen whale.
The blue whale is the biggest mammal to ever have lived. The tongue is as big as an adult elephant.
They are bigger than any dinosaur that ever lived.
Slide 13 - Slide
The longest living whale.
Which whale species can live the longest?”
Bowhead whales are known to live up to 200 years. They live in the artic and sub-arctic waters, around the north pole. To survive in this environment they have thicker blubber layers, which helps them to cope with the colder waters.
Bowhead whales are baleen whales.
Talk about what a bowhead whale could have seen in the last 200 years.
Which whale species can live the longest?”
Bowhead whales are known to live up to 200 years. They live in the artic and sub-arctic waters, around the north pole. To survive in this environment they have thicker blubber layers, which helps them to cope with the colder waters.
Bowhead whales are baleen whales.
Talk about what a bowhead whale could have seen in the last 200 years.
Slide 14 - Slide
Comparing sizes.
This image shows the comparative size of some whale species.
This image shows the comparative size of some whale species.
Slide 15 - Slide
Baby whales.
Ask students “What is a baby whale called?”
A whale baby is called a calf.
When the calf is born, mum keeps it afloat by lifting the calf onto her back or using her rostrum (nose). This allows the calf to breathe and rest until it is ready to learn to swim and feed.
The calf will swim by mum for support until it grows big enough to fend for itself.
Ask students “What is a baby whale called?”
A whale baby is called a calf.
When the calf is born, mum keeps it afloat by lifting the calf onto her back or using her rostrum (nose). This allows the calf to breathe and rest until it is ready to learn to swim and feed.
The calf will swim by mum for support until it grows big enough to fend for itself.
Slide 16 - Slide
Whale families
What is a family of whales called?
Whales have families, called a pod. The pod helps to protect the younger whales and they travel and hunt together.
What is a family of whales called?
Whales have families, called a pod. The pod helps to protect the younger whales and they travel and hunt together.
Slide 17 - Video
Whales can talk!
They don’t exactly talk like we do, but they have their own language to communicate with each other.
Whales sing and can be heard from miles away.
Show this video (1.14min), which shows a humpback whale singing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am5fOjC4Ac0
They don’t exactly talk like we do, but they have their own language to communicate with each other.
Whales sing and can be heard from miles away.
Show this video (1.14min), which shows a humpback whale singing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=am5fOjC4Ac0
Slide 18 - Slide
Echolocation
Whales and dolphins use echolocation to find their way and hunt for fish.
Echolocation means they send out a sound and listen for the echoes that come back. These echoes tell them what objects or animals are in the area.
See the Lesson Activity Sheet – Echolocation Activity.
Whales and dolphins use echolocation to find their way and hunt for fish.
Echolocation means they send out a sound and listen for the echoes that come back. These echoes tell them what objects or animals are in the area.
See the Lesson Activity Sheet – Echolocation Activity.
Why do you think whales
have been disappearing
from the ocean?
have been disappearing
from the ocean?
Slide 19 - Mind map
Why are whales endangered?
We talked about how there were once millions of whales filling the ocean, now there are only thousands.
Ask students if they know why the number of whales in the ocean has diminished so dramatically?
We talked about how there were once millions of whales filling the ocean, now there are only thousands.
Ask students if they know why the number of whales in the ocean has diminished so dramatically?
Slide 20 - Slide
Whaling
The main reason there aren’t as many whales is that people hunted them for food and oils.
There are still some countries that hunt whales each year.
Ask students: “Do you think we should allow people to hunt whales?”
Ask students what they like about whales and why they are important to them.
The main reason there aren’t as many whales is that people hunted them for food and oils.
There are still some countries that hunt whales each year.
Ask students: “Do you think we should allow people to hunt whales?”
Ask students what they like about whales and why they are important to them.
Slide 21 - Slide
By-catch
Whales get caught in the nets of large fishing vessels. The nets are so big they trap even the biggest whales. Often they don’t get released in time and they die.
To help protect whales we have to make sure the fishing vessels do the right thing and watch out for whales when they are putting their nets out, or release the whales quickly.
Ask students why they think whales get caught in nets?
Whales get caught in the nets of large fishing vessels. The nets are so big they trap even the biggest whales. Often they don’t get released in time and they die.
To help protect whales we have to make sure the fishing vessels do the right thing and watch out for whales when they are putting their nets out, or release the whales quickly.
Ask students why they think whales get caught in nets?
- The whales are eating the same fish the fishing vessel wants to catch.
Slide 22 - Slide
Entanglement
Each year a lot of fishing gear is lost or left behind in the ocean by fishing vessels. These nets float in the ocean catching marine wildlife and also entangling whales.
Imagine whales swimming and all of a sudden they get caught in fishing nets and lines. They have to swim along all entangled until someone can help them. Unfortunately not all of them find help in time.
Ask students how we can help stop the whales becoming entangled?
Teacher’s note: Each year 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is lost, abandoned or discarded at sea by the commercial fishing industry.
Each year a lot of fishing gear is lost or left behind in the ocean by fishing vessels. These nets float in the ocean catching marine wildlife and also entangling whales.
Imagine whales swimming and all of a sudden they get caught in fishing nets and lines. They have to swim along all entangled until someone can help them. Unfortunately not all of them find help in time.
Ask students how we can help stop the whales becoming entangled?
- By helping to clean up fishing gear from the ocean.
- Making the fishing vessels clean up their fishing gear properly.
Teacher’s note: Each year 640,000 tonnes of fishing gear is lost, abandoned or discarded at sea by the commercial fishing industry.
Slide 23 - Slide
A sea of plastic.
We talked about baleen whales and how they scoop up their food from the ocean. Now imagine if the whale goes to scoop up food and instead scoops up a mouth full of plastic rubbish – plastic bags, bottles, food packaging, balloons and small pieces of plastic.
Ask students and discuss:
Every day all over the world rubbish is finding its way into the ocean. It is estimated that this rubbish amounts to more than one garbage truck every 40 seconds dumping trash in the ocean – imagine all that rubbish floating in the ocean
All kinds of trash are left behind at beaches or in waterways, to be washed out to sea, dumped at sea from boats or lost from container ships in storms.
Teacher’s note: Over 12 million tonnes of trash is finding its way into the ocean each year. This amount is growing each year. It equates to one garbage truck every 40 seconds dumping in the once.
We talked about baleen whales and how they scoop up their food from the ocean. Now imagine if the whale goes to scoop up food and instead scoops up a mouth full of plastic rubbish – plastic bags, bottles, food packaging, balloons and small pieces of plastic.
Ask students and discuss:
- Would that be bad for the whale?
- Do you think the whale would be expecting to find plastic instead of krill or fish?
Every day all over the world rubbish is finding its way into the ocean. It is estimated that this rubbish amounts to more than one garbage truck every 40 seconds dumping trash in the ocean – imagine all that rubbish floating in the ocean
All kinds of trash are left behind at beaches or in waterways, to be washed out to sea, dumped at sea from boats or lost from container ships in storms.
Teacher’s note: Over 12 million tonnes of trash is finding its way into the ocean each year. This amount is growing each year. It equates to one garbage truck every 40 seconds dumping in the once.
Slide 24 - Slide
Stopping the trash.
Ask students “What do you think we can do to stop this trash ending up in the ocean?”
Teacher’s note:
You can discuss things like:
Ask students “What do you think we can do to stop this trash ending up in the ocean?”
Teacher’s note:
You can discuss things like:
- Reducing single use plastics being used.
- Using reusable products.
- How to properly dispose of rubbish.
- Recycling plastics.
- Doing clean ups.
Slide 25 - Slide
Stay a safe distance from whales
Something else that is important to remember is that noise impacts whales. Which is why, when out on boats and you see whales, you have to keep a safe distance. Especially if they have a young calf.
When coming too close with a boat, there is always the risk the whale will accidentally be hit.
Something else that is important to remember is that noise impacts whales. Which is why, when out on boats and you see whales, you have to keep a safe distance. Especially if they have a young calf.
When coming too close with a boat, there is always the risk the whale will accidentally be hit.
What do you like most about whales?
Slide 26 - Open question
What do you like most about whales?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“What do you like most about whales?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“What do you like most about whales?”
Write down one issue we talked about that is harming whales?
Slide 27 - Open question
What is harming whales?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one issue we talked about that is harming whales?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one issue we talked about that is harming whales?”
Write down one thing that you can do to help protect whales?
Slide 28 - Open question
How can we help protect whales?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one thing that you can do to help protect whales?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one thing that you can do to help protect whales?”
Write down one new thing you have learned today?
Slide 29 - Open question
What did you learn?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom:
“Write down one new thing you have learned today?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or discuss in the classroom:
“Write down one new thing you have learned today?”
Write down one thing you didn't understand?
Slide 30 - Open question
What don’t you understand?
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Ask students to answer the following question using www.LessonUp.app or write on paper:
“Write down one thing you didn’t understand?”
Slide 31 - Video
Learning activities
Sea Shepherd Lesson Activity Sheets provide additional lesson activities or discussion topics to expand the learning experience.
Optional fun video.
Show this video (3.14 mins), which shows a humpback whale calf and mum playing with dolphins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETvZI1hjVVE
Sea Shepherd Lesson Activity Sheets provide additional lesson activities or discussion topics to expand the learning experience.
Optional fun video.
Show this video (3.14 mins), which shows a humpback whale calf and mum playing with dolphins.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETvZI1hjVVE
Slide 32 - Slide
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