WhalesWhales

A Kindergarten Research ProjectA Kindergarten Research Project

By Mrs. Tripp’s ClassBy Mrs. Tripp’s Class

2011-20122011-2012

Our KWL ChartOur KWL Chart

Whales are Not Fish!Whales are Not Fish!Whales

•Breathe air through blowholes•Have live babies•Swim by moving tail (flukes) up and down•Are warm-blooded•Have smooth skin

Fish•Breathe underwater using gills•Lay eggs•Swim by moving tails side to side•Are cold-blooded•Have scalesBoth

•Are able to jump out of the water•Live in the ocean•Have fins•Are fast swimmers•Can dive underwater

Are All Whales Gigantic?Are All Whales Gigantic?

No, not all whales No, not all whales are gigantic. There are gigantic. There are small and are small and medium- sized medium- sized whales, too. The whales, too. The biggest whale is biggest whale is the Blue Whale and the Blue Whale and the smallest whale the smallest whale is the dwarf sperm is the dwarf sperm whale.whale.

Do Whales Sleep?Do Whales Sleep?

Whales take naps at the surface so Whales take naps at the surface so they can breathe. This is called, they can breathe. This is called, “logging” because the whales look “logging” because the whales look like a log in the water.like a log in the water.

Can Whales Breathe Can Whales Breathe Underwater?Underwater?

No, whales No, whales cannot breathe cannot breathe underwater. underwater. They breathe air They breathe air at the surface at the surface through a through a blowhole on blowhole on their heads.their heads.

We Learned about We Learned about 6 Kinds of Whales6 Kinds of Whales

Blue Whales Beluga Whales Humpback Whales

Narwhals Orcas (Killer Whales) Sperm Whales

Blue Blue WhalesWhales

by Abby, Katelyn and by Abby, Katelyn and KirieKirie

The blue whale is the largest animal The blue whale is the largest animal that ever lived on Earth.that ever lived on Earth.

Blue whales have 2 blowholes.Blue whales have 2 blowholes. Blue whales do not have any teeth. Blue whales do not have any teeth.

They have baleen.They have baleen. Blue whales eat small shellfish.Blue whales eat small shellfish. Blue whales “talk” by using whale Blue whales “talk” by using whale

songs.songs.

Our Blue WhaleOur Blue Whale

Beluga Beluga WhalesWhales

by Gracie, Emma, and by Gracie, Emma, and KimberlyKimberly

The beluga whale is a small toothed whale. The beluga whale is a small toothed whale. They have about 34 teeth.They have about 34 teeth.

Belugas eat fish, squid, octopus and worms.Belugas eat fish, squid, octopus and worms. Belugas hunt in groups.Belugas hunt in groups. Beluga whales are white as grown-ups. The Beluga whales are white as grown-ups. The

calves are blue and brownish-red.calves are blue and brownish-red. Beluga whales grow to be about 15 feet long.Beluga whales grow to be about 15 feet long.

Our Beluga Whale and Our Beluga Whale and CalfCalf

Humpback Humpback WhalesWhales

by Isabelle, Gavriel by Isabelle, Gavriel and Zionand Zion

Humpback whales grow to be about 52 feet Humpback whales grow to be about 52 feet long. They have the longest flippers of all long. They have the longest flippers of all whales. They weigh over 40 tons.whales. They weigh over 40 tons.

Humpback whales are baleen whales and Humpback whales are baleen whales and have no teeth.have no teeth.

Humpback whales live at the surface of the Humpback whales live at the surface of the ocean and are often seen by people.ocean and are often seen by people.

Humpback whales are endangered. There are Humpback whales are endangered. There are only about 10,000 left in the world.only about 10,000 left in the world.

Humpback whales sing amazing whale songs.Humpback whales sing amazing whale songs.

NarwhalsNarwhalsby Anthony, Jocelynby Anthony, Jocelyn

and Paytonand Payton

Narwhals live in the cold Arctic seas.Narwhals live in the cold Arctic seas. Narwhals are small toothed whales. Only Narwhals are small toothed whales. Only

the boy narwhals have a long twisted the boy narwhals have a long twisted tooth like a tusk.tooth like a tusk.

Narwhals eat squid and fish.Narwhals eat squid and fish. Narwhals use clicks, squeals and whistles Narwhals use clicks, squeals and whistles

to “talk”.to “talk”.

Our NarwhalOur Narwhal

Orcas Orcas (Killer (Killer Whales)Whales)

by Julianys, Michael, by Julianys, Michael, and Sonnyand Sonny

Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet long.Orcas grow to be about 27-33 feet long. Orcas have 1 blowhole.Orcas have 1 blowhole. Orcas have teeth. They eat fish, squids, Orcas have teeth. They eat fish, squids,

sharks, seals, and birds. They do not eat sharks, seals, and birds. They do not eat people.people.

Orcas are very smart. They can learn to do Orcas are very smart. They can learn to do many tricks.many tricks.

Orcas are very fast swimmers.Orcas are very fast swimmers. Orcas like to rub against the rocks.Orcas like to rub against the rocks.

Our Orca (Killer Whale)Our Orca (Killer Whale)

Sperm Sperm WhalesWhales

by Nia, Aleecia,by Nia, Aleecia, and Matthew and Matthew

Sperm whales are the largest toothed Sperm whales are the largest toothed whales. They only have teeth on their lower whales. They only have teeth on their lower jaw.jaw.

Sperm whales eat giant squid, fish and Sperm whales eat giant squid, fish and octopus.octopus.

Sperm whales have the largest head of any Sperm whales have the largest head of any animal. They have a huge brain.animal. They have a huge brain.

Sperm whales have one blowhole that is Sperm whales have one blowhole that is shaped like an “S”.shaped like an “S”.

Our Sperm WhaleOur Sperm Whale

Our ReportsOur Reports

Whales are the “Gentle Whales are the “Gentle Giants” of the seas. We Giants” of the seas. We

hope you liked our show.hope you liked our show.

Book ReferencesBook References Whales The Gentle Giants Whales The Gentle Giants by Joyce Miltonby Joyce Milton Sperm WhalesSperm Whales by John Prevost by John Prevost Humpback WhalesHumpback Whales by Tony Gibbon by Tony Gibbon Beluga WhalesBeluga Whales by John Provost by John Provost Animals in Danger Blue WhaleAnimals in Danger Blue Whale by Rod Theodorou by Rod Theodorou The Whale The Whale by Valerie Tracquiby Valerie Tracqui Whales and DolphinsWhales and Dolphins by Anton Ericson by Anton Ericson Narwhals Narwhals by Sarah Palmerby Sarah Palmer Blue WhalesBlue Whales by Sarah Palmer by Sarah Palmer Blue WhalesBlue Whales by John Provost by John Provost Discovering Whales and DolphinsDiscovering Whales and Dolphins by Janet Craig by Janet Craig WhalesWhales by Seymore Simon by Seymore Simon

Internet ReferencesInternet References

http://www.kids.nationalgeographic.chttp://www.kids.nationalgeographic.comom

http://www.enchantedlearning.comhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com http://www.nmfs.noaa.govhttp://www.nmfs.noaa.gov http://www.coolantarctica.comhttp://www.coolantarctica.com