Project Immersion: Measure A Whale

Grades K-5: Measure A Whale

Objective Students will learn the actual sizes and dimensions of whales and compare them to other species.

Materials Chalk or string; measuring tape.

Time Frame 1 hour

Teacher Background See Mysticetes and Odontocete in the Background Information

Blue whales are up to 100 ft. long and can weigh 150 tons.
Humpback whales are up to 45 ft. long and can weigh 35 tons. Their flippers can be 15 ft. long. Calves are 10 ft. long when born!
Pilot whales are up to 20 ft. long.
Bottlenose dolphins are up to 7-8 ft in length.
Vaquita porpoises are 4 ft. long (the smallest cetacean)!

Dive In! How long are these great animals? To what can we compare them?

Process Take your students outside or to a large indoor area, a gym or hallway for example. Tennis courts also work well. Using the above measurements you will have students measure out the sizes of the species. You can either draw a line with chalk or unroll a string to the needed length. Students can have some fun by making the string or chalk outline resemble the type of whale they are measuring.
Allow students to choose several types of whales, of various sizes.
When the students have drawn or measured the whales, have them draw the outline of one of their classmates for comparison.
After you have finished outlining or measuring whales and students you can have them make a umber of mathematical comparisons between species. For example, how many pilot whales would equal one blue whale? How many people equal a pilot whale? Ratios and simple manipulations abound.

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Objective	Students will learn the actual sizes and dimensions of whales and compare them to other species.

Materials	Chalk or string; measuring tape.

Time Frame	1 hour

Teacher Background	See Mysticetes and Odontocete in the Background Information Blue whales are up to 100 ft. long and can weigh 150 tons. Humpback whales are up to 45 ft. long and can weigh 35 tons. Their flippers can be 15 ft. long. Calves are 10 ft. long when born! Pilot whales are up to 20 ft. long. Bottlenose dolphins are up to 7-8 ft in length. Vaquita porpoises are 4 ft. long (the smallest cetacean)!

Dive In!	How long are these great animals? To what can we compare them?

Process	Take your students outside or to a large indoor area, a gym or hallway for example. Tennis courts also work well. Using the above measurements you will have students measure out the sizes of the species. You can either draw a line with chalk or unroll a string to the needed length. Students can have some fun by making the string or chalk outline resemble the type of whale they are measuring. Allow students to choose several types of whales, of various sizes. When the students have drawn or measured the whales, have them draw the outline of one of their classmates for comparison. After you have finished outlining or measuring whales and students you can have them make a umber of mathematical comparisons between species. For example, how many pilot whales would equal one blue whale? How many people equal a pilot whale? Ratios and simple manipulations abound.