Lesson #3

How Long Are Whales? (Math)

Objectives:

The students will collect different whale lengths and be able to compare these lengths using rope measurements.

 

Materials:

• Rope/string 100 ft long
• Index cards
• Tape measure
• Tape
• List of whale lengths
• Markers
• Large amount of space: hallway or gym

Procedure:

Activity 1:

1. Divide students into groups of 2 - 4 depending on class size.
2. Have students research different whale lengths using the library/computer or a whale lengths handout.
3. Use markers to label the index cards for each whale to be measured.
4. Using the tape measure, students mark off each whale length on the rope.
5. Use tape to attach the index card representing that whale's length.

Activity 2:

1. Teacher can create the whale rope with only the measurements marked.
2. Divide the class into enough groups to represent each whale marked.
3. Take the group outside/hallway/gym to unroll the whale length rope.
4. Each group could prepare a paragraph describing their whale to be read to the class.

Activity 3:

1. Whale rope may be displayed in gym/hallway with each groups paragraph below the index cards.
2. Each group could draw a picture of their whale and display with the rope.
3. Group may present an oral report on their whale.

Assessment:

Students will successfully show that they understand the different whale lengths by using rope to depict whale size.

http://whale.wheelock.edu/whalenet-stuff/LucyPage.html

 

 

 

Whale Lengths

Type of Whale	Average Lengths
Baleen Whales
Pygmy Whale	20 feet
Gray Whale	40 feet
Humpback Whale	50 feet
Right Whale	55 feet
Sei Whales	60 feet
Fin Whale	85 feet
Blue Whale	100 feet
Toothed Whales
Bottlenose Dolphin	10 feet
Beluga (White) Whale	16 feet
Killer Whale	30 feet
Sperm Whale	55 feet