Curated OER
Marine Sanctuaries
Middle schoolers delve into diverse marine ecosystems and the problems they face. They discover students the national marine sanctuaries found in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and off the coast of American Samoa.
Curated OER
Marine Ecosystems
Students identify producers and consumers and construct a food chain from four marine ecosystems. They describe the delicate balance among organisms in each environment. In groups, students discuss the human activities that upset the...
Curated OER
Wonderful Whales
Primary marine biologists consider the largest living animals on Earth, the whales. Introduce them to general anatomy, unique adaptations, and behaviors. Teach them to sing a song that will help them remember some of these facts....
Curated OER
Whale Vocabulary
In this whales vocabulary skills worksheet, students match the 10 whale-related terms in the word bank to the appropriate definitions.
Curated OER
Whale Song Acrostic
What do whales sing about? Invite your class to imagine the thoughts of whales before writing acrostic poems on the topic. The plan blends together a bit of life science with plenty of opportunities for creativity and writing.
Curated OER
Marine Life: Anatomy of a Humpback
Third graders prepare for a trip to view marine life. In this science lesson plan, 3rd graders assemble a picture of a Humpback whale on a grid.
Curated OER
Who am I?
A matching activity on some common marine mammals is here for you. In it, 12 animals such as polar bears and seals are found. Each of the animals has a colorful and accurate picture associated with it. The bonus question at the bottom...
Curated OER
Ocean Life
Students identify marine mammals according to specific characteristics. Students read about marine mammals and list their characteristics. Next, students play a Whale and Otter game on the playground to simulate whales swimming across...
Curated OER
Ocean Life
Learners examine the fossil remains of ancient sea creatures. They create casts of fossils and identify how sea fossils are formed and consider what type of information fossils can give to scientists.
Curated OER
Common Marine Mammals Word Search
In this science worksheet, students find the names of 20 common marine mammals in a word search puzzle. The word bank has a detailed color drawing of each mammal.
National Wildlife Federation
Planning Your Research
Make it a great proposal! Class members play the role of marine scientists and choose from a variety of whales considered endangered they would like to study. Scholars then create applications for permits to conduct research of the...
Curated OER
Magic School Bus: The Wild Whale Watch Lesson Plan
Young scholars research information about whales. In this early childhood lesson plan, students create an illustration of a whale to display in a sea scene in the classroom. Young scholars then use the library and internet to research...
NOAA
Vertebrates II
Mammals of the ocean unite! Or not. The 20th installment of a 23-part NOAA Enrichment in Marine sciences and Oceanography (NEMO) program investigates how warm-blooded marine mammals survive in water. In the class activity, learners use...
Curated OER
Who Would Win? Killer Whale vs. Great White Shark Storia Teaching Guide
Teacher guides are wonderful tools with tons of ideas that help you relate content in many different ways. Using the high-interest book, Who Would Win? Killer Whale vs. Great White Shark, learners hone their discussion and reading...
Curated OER
Marine Life: Whales
Sixth graders delve into a study of whales. In this biology lesson plan, 6th graders fill in crossword puzzle utilizing vocabulary generated from the comparing and contrasting of common- and less common-place objects.
Curated OER
Plankton in the Air
Here is a lab activity adequate for use with any full lesson on environmental factors that shape animal adaptations or marine animal characteristics. Pupils will discuss the role plankton plays in the environment and filter-feeding...
Curated OER
Exploring National Marine Sanctuaries
Middle schoolers conduct Internet research of the living organisms in national marine sanctuaries, and the resources protected in the sanctuaries. Students gather information about each of the sanctuaries and make an oral presentation...
Curated OER
Getting Food
Students complete activities to learn about the ocean food web. In this ocean life lesson, students discuss how the tides affect feeding, learn about filter feeders, grazers, predators, and scavengers. Students then group the animals...
Curated OER
How Big Is A Humpback Whale?
Learners explore humpback whales. In this humpback whale lesson, students determine the actual size of humpback whales and use diagrams to identify the major features of the humpback whale.
Curated OER
Conserving Marine Life
Students discuss the different threats to various marine life. Through research, groups examine threats to specific marine life, evaluate the situation, and develop possible solutions to help marine life regain stability. Conservation...
Aquarium of the Pacific
Turn a Cow into a Whale
Third graders explore animals that might have a common ancestor and resemble one another. For this cow and whale instructional activity, 3rd graders recognize the similarities between the whale and the cow. Students complete worksheets...
Curated OER
In the Company of Whales
Students examine whales and how they migrate. In this whale lesson students research whales and their migration patterns.
Curated OER
The Gray Whale Obstacle Course Viewing Guide
Students complete a worksheet while watching a film about whales. They examine the human impact on whale migration and identify adaptations the whale has acquired in able to survive. They discover how global warming has effected the...
Curated OER
Whale Migration - The Long Journey
Marine biology learners examine right whale sighting data from the WhaleNet website. They plot the data on a map and write down the number of adults and calves spotted. Questions accompany the data analysis activity, making this a...