Introduction to Zoology for Early Elementary Students ~ Week 5: Whales and Dolphins
This post is part of the Introduction to Zoology series. For a suggested class schedule, an overview of the entire course, and links to more lesson plans, please see the Introductory Post.
In this lesson you will teach your students about Whales and Dolphins.
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon
Week 5 Lesson Plan
Note: The following schedule is for a 2-hour class. We also allowed time each week for Show-and-Tell, which is not included below.
1. Introduction & Map Activity (Floor: 5 Minutes)
Whales (which include dolphins and porpoises) live in the open sea. Add pictures of whales, dolphins, and/or porpoises in the open oceans on your map.
In my lessons I used the Discovery Kids Fabric Activity Map pictured at the right. I split the felt land mass, water body, and animal pieces into 12 different baggies, one for each lesson. Each week I distributed the felt pieces among my students and allowed them to place them on the map, using a picture of the completed map as a guide.
Alternate Map Idea
The Discovery Kids map appears to be discontinued, so instead, you can use a regular wall map or globe. Cut out small pictures of the animals you are going to learn about from magazines or old encyclopedias. During each lesson attach them to the appropriate area on the map or globe with removable poster putty.
2. Poetry (Floor: 5 Minutes)
The Llama Who Had No Pajama: Whale (page 57).
3. Animal Encyclopedia (Floor: 5 – 10 Minutes)
- “What is the most interesting thing you remember?”
- “Do you remember how animals stay warm in the cold?”
- “What differences do you notice between large whales and dolphins? What similarities?”
I mostly used DK First Animal Encyclopedia, and occasionally Usborne Children’s Encyclopedia of Animals for my lessons.
Use a free Animal Sounds app on your phone or tablet: find the animals you are studying in this lesson and play the sounds for your kids. My students loved this – especially when I let them touch the buttons to play the sounds! If you can’t find the sound for the animal you are studying, try finding some that live in the same habitat.
You will need animal figures and/or Reusable Animal Habitat Sticker Sheets.
The kids really enjoyed these reusable sticker sheets – we carefully tore out all the habitat scenes and sticker sheets so several students could play at once (one or two students per habitat).
A suggestion: be sure to allow time for them to take the stickers off the included habitat scenes and replace them on the sticker sheets so they are ready to be played with the next time.
Activity Idea 2: Dolphin 4D Anatomy Model (Table: 15 – 20 Minutes)
- Dolphin anatomy model such as Famemaster 4D Anatomy Model.
- Table or floor space away from the other activity space.
Pull one to two students away from the free play group to take apart, then put back together, the dolphin anatomy model. Name the anatomical parts as they handle each one. The second time around, ask if they remember the name. This model is a little small and complicated for students of this age to handle by themselves. However, my students were all very interested in helping take it apart and putting it back together. They enjoyed letting me know the names of the parts, too, especially if they knew them before I said anything!
5. Zoology Notebook (Table: 10 – 15 Minutes)
Pass out binders and crayons, markers and/or colored pencils. Have your students color the Orca Coloring Page, Dolphin Dot-to-Dot Page (education.com downloads), and/or Dolphin Coloring & Tracing Page (download free printable below). You can assemble the Animal Science Notebooks before the school year begins if you wish: click here for blog post with free printables, instructions, and list of printables.
6. Snack (Table: 10 – 15 Minutes)
Dolphin Banana Snack from the KFUNdamentals blog. Be sure to check with your students’ parents/caretakers for any food allergies ahead of time.
For more animal-themed snack ideas, please visit my Science For Kids – Snacks Pinterest board.
Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned To Swim Again and/or Putu, Siku, and Kanik (a story about three whales) from National Geographic Kids Animal Stories.
(There are also a few entertaining educational movies about dolphins and whales available.)
This Ocean In A Jar craft is based on a project from education.com. Click here for free downloadable instructions.
See my Science For Kids – Life Science Pinterest board for more ideas!
Please feel free to comment below with your recommendations – I appreciate your ideas and suggestions!
Text and Images Copyright 2016 Kathryn Depew, except for the image of the Whale by National Marine Sanctuaries on flickr.com.
Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon
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