Wonderful whales

Students will gain knowledge of whales: the kinds of whales, the characteristics of whales, and the habitats of whales. Math skills will be incorporated into the teaching facts about whales.

A lesson plan for grade K Mathematics and Science

By Robin Moss

Learn more

• Seaworld Can be used for pictures of whales
• Whales A thematic learning unit on whales

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Related topics

• Learn more about animals, biology, compare and contrast, mathematics, measurement, science, sizes, and whales.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• Identify and comprehend the correct usage of the inch measurement.
• Identify and comprehend the correct usage of the twelve-inch/one-foot measurement.
• Identify and comprehend the concept of small in size.
• Identify and comprehend the concept of large in size.
• Make a comparison between large and small.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

3 hours

Materials/resources

• twelve-inch rulers
• crayons
• white paint
• paint brushes
• scissors
• a whale drawing measuring one foot/twelve inches

Technology resources

A computer with internet access and the following software:

• Wide World of Animals, part of the ABC World Reference series
• The Magic School Bus Explores the Ocean from Scholastic
• Flipper from BrainStorm

Pre-activities

Introduce the wonderful whale. Information to be used as an introduction includes:

• A description of different kinds of whales. For example, baleen whales have no teeth. Instead they have plates in their gums made of keratin, a substance in human hair and fingernails.
• Whales are mammals. They give birth to live young. Whales have highly developed brains.
• The largest whale is the blue whale. The blue whale measures one hundred feet in length.
• The white Beluga whale is among the smallest whales measuring ten to fifteen feet in length.

Information and games on whales can be shared with the students. These would include: software programs and websites listed in this plan.

Activities

1. After an introduction to whales, students will discuss facts about the blue whale.
2. Students will color a whale picture or pictures measuring twelve inches/one foot in length and cut the picture/pictures out. (It will depend on the number of students in the class as to how many whales each students will color and cut out. It might be that the teacher will have to contribute teacher made whale pictures for the project.)
3. Students will discuss the fact that it will take one hundred foot-long whale pictures placed side by side to show how large a blue whale can be. This measuring project needs to take place on the playground. Photographs will be made of the finished project.
4. The next part of the lesson will center on the small white Beluga whale.
5. Students will paint a white whale (backed on blue paper) measuring twelve-inches/one-foot in length and cut out the pictures.
6. Discuss the fact that there will be ten foot-long whale pictures placed side by side to show the length of the small white Beluga whale. This measuring project needs to take place on the playground.
7. Take photographs of the finished project.
8. The measuring of the blue whale and the small white Beluga whale will enable the students to compare the size concepts large to small. They will learn the vocabulary and concept of the inch measurement, and the foot measurement. They will have an understanding of the comparisons of large and small.

Assessment

• Observe the comprehension of knowledge of whales by asking oral questions on the facts taught.
• Observe the comprehension of the vocabulary of measurement, inch and foot measurements.
• Observe the understanding of the concept of comparisons of large and small.
• Compare photographs as to which is the larger and which is the smaller.