Pilot whales' place in the ocean
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/08/g35/ccseaswhale.html
A lesson plan for grade 4 Science
In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore pilot whales’ sociability and bonding and consider how the National Geographic Crittercam might help scientists learn more about their social behaviors. Activities in this lesson engage students in online learning, development of research and scientific inquiry skills.
Students will:
- describe their prior knowledge of whale social behavior;
- read and answer questions about pilot whale social behavior;
- read and answer questions about pilot whale strandings;
- discuss the advantages and disadvantages of pilot whales’ social bonding;
- read and view pictures of Crittercam;
- discuss how Crittercam could help scientists study pilot whales’ social organization and behavior; and
- write research plans proposing questions that scientists could ask when using Crittercam to study pilot whale social behavior in deep water.
Xpeditions provides detailed instructions for completing the lesson, assessment and extension activities, and links to helpful web resources.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Science (2005)
Grade 4
- Goal 1: The learner will make observations and conduct investigations to build an understanding of animal behavior and adaptation.
- Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
- Other animals.
- Plants.
- Weather.
- Climate.
- Objective 1.02: Observe and record how animals of the same kind differ in some of their characteristics and discuss possible advantages and disadvantages of this variation.
- Objective 1.03: Observe and discuss how behaviors and body structures help animals survive in a particular habitat.
- Objective 1.01: Observe and describe how all living and nonliving things affect the life of a particular animal including:
