Look at this long list of zoology activities for elementary students, including a fun air-dry clay humpback whale great for learning about the parts and purposes of whales. Also, look at my page How To Homeschool Elementary Students Like A Pro.
Also, look at my page Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook for more hands-on ideas.
Zoology is the branch of biology that studies animals. It encompasses various aspects such as animal behavior, physiology, anatomy, classification, and distribution.
There are many sub-branches within zoology like Entomology (insects), Herpetology (reptiles and amphibians), Ichthyology (fish), Ornithology (birds), and Mammalogy (mammals).
Imagine an animal as long as a school bus swimming gracefully in the deep blue sea, that’s a humpback whale.
These incredible creatures are the gentle giants of our oceans, and they have many fascinating secrets to share. Let’s dive in and discover more about these magnificent mammals.
Next, look at more how to homeschool elementary students tips.
HOW TO HOMESCHOOL ELEMENTARY STUDENTS TIPS
- Exciting Summer Learning Activities for Elementary Students Who Love Hands-On
- How to Make a Humpback Whale & More Zoology Activities for Elementary Students
- 3 Dinosaur Stem Activities Elementary Kids Will Love
- Fun Mosaic Art Lesson Plans Elementary | How To Make A Tray
- Easy Praying Mantis Craft: Awesome Insect Projects for Elementary Students
- Easy Art And Geometry Activities For Elementary Students
- Biology Science Curriculum For Elementary Students They Love & Tiger Craft
- Exciting Scavenger Hunt: Beach Theme Activities Elementary Kids Will Love
- Easy Human Body Crafts For Elementary Featuring A Tongue Project
- Best Homeschool History Curriculum Elementary: A Focus on Albert Nobel
- Easy Diorama About The Civil War For Elementary Students
- How To Create Elementary Geography Curriculum Using Living Books
- Best Reading Curriculum for Elementary And Fun Reading Pointer Craft
BOOKS ABOUT WHALES FOR KIDS
8 Whale Books for Kids
Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.
In 19784, Alexandra moved with her husband, photographer Robin Morton, to a remote bay in British Columbia to continue her research with wild orcas. For a few idyllic years, Alexandra and Robin shared their passion for whales, cruising the green northern waters and raising a baby boy. But tragedy struck when Robin died in a terrible accident. Only the love of her son and her abiding dedication to whale research gave Alexandra the strength to continue her groundbreaking work. Her
recordings of the whales that swim by her house have led her to a deeper understanding of the mystery of whale echolocation, the vocal communication that enables the mammals to find their way in the dark sea. She continues to be among the renowned researchers attempting to break down the barriers of interspecies communication.At once an inspiring story of a woman’s determination to live her life on her own terms and a fascinating study of the profound communion between humans and whales, this book will open your eyes anew to the wonders of the natural world.
Key Features Description Acclaimed author Eve Bunting and illustrator Lambert Davis tell a simple story of a boy and his dad who watch from the shore as Orca whales swim by and imagine the pod's underwater life. A young boy stands on the beach with his father. As they watch the surf, a pod of Orca whales swim by. After wondering aloud whether the whales can talk like he does, the boy then imagines the whales' conversations, and whether they are talking about him under the bubbling waves, just as he talks about them on the land.
A young boy describes his summers spent fishing for salmon with his parents and younger brother off the southeastern coast of Alaska
The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.
For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the
leader she’s destined to be?
Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet!
How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.
Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages.
Next, look at these humpback whale facts to add to zoology activities for elementary students.
HUMPBACK WHALE FACTS
Humpback whales are enormous, they typically grow to be between 40 and 60 feet long, which is about the length of a large school bus.
Their bodies are mostly dark gray or black, but they have unique white patches on their bellies and the undersides of their long flippers.
These flippers can be up to 16 feet long, which is longer than most cars. They use these powerful flippers to help them steer and move through the water.
If you look at a humpback whale’s head you’ll notice some bumpy knobs. These are called tubercles, and each one has a small hair growing out of it. Scientists believe these tubercles help the whales sense their surroundings and may even improve their swimming.
They also have a broad, knobbly head and a series of pleats, or grooves, on their throat that can expand when they feed.
Humpback whales are found all over the world. They can be found in all the major oceans, from the icy cold waters of the Arctic and Antarctic to the warm, tropical seas closer to the equator.
And they undertake incredible journeys each year-During the summer months, they migrate to colder waters where food is plentiful.
These waters are full of tiny creatures like krill and small fish, which the whales need to eat and build up energy.
Then at more zoology activities for elementary kids.
15 ZOOLOGY ACTIVITIES FOR ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
- Learn How to Create a Homeschool Zoology Unit Without a Curriculum and Cute Fox Craft to make your own unit.
- How about a Free Kids Insect Unit Study┃ How to Make Clay Insects?
- Combine history and zoology as you learn about Daniel Boone Explorer Black Bear Unit Study and Fun Edible Bear Poop.
- Put together a Bug Eye Mask to get a bug’s eye view on the world as you learn about the different types of eyes in the bug world.
- Do You Enjoy Learning About Animals? This FREE Zoology Game can be used for bingo, memory, or go fishing.
- Hands-On Butterfly Identification Activities for Kids
- Encourage bugs to visit your yard with a How to Make a Bug Hotel Craft: Fun Craft for Kids to observe them closer.
- Learn about Animal Houses: Engineering Game for Kids and encourage your child to use problem-solving and planning skills to make functional animal houses.
- Gross and loads of fun, an Owl Pellet Dissection Activity [Free Printable Worksheets] is a unique way to study owls prey, and identify bones of small creatures.
- Turn recycling into a Fun Kids Hands-on Egg Carton Sea Turtle Life Cycle Activity
- Earthworms fall under the category of Annelida (segmented worms) and this awesome Earthworm Study Kids Activities deserves mention.
- Discover Pond Life for Kindergarten Activity Build a Fun Beaver Dam for a fun hands-on activity that encourages thinkers.
- Hop Into Action with the Reptile vs. Amphibian Skin Test – Using Hard Boiled Eggs.
- Learn How to Make Plaster Casts of Animal Tracks, a great way to preserve the prints you find along the nature trail.
- Here you will find 8 Animal Camouflage Activities and Resources & Fun Camouflage Art to research how and why animals need to use this skill.
Finally, look at how to make this fun humpback whale.
HOW TO MAKE A HUMPBACK WHALE
You will need:
- Air-dry clay
- Clay tools or popsicle sticks
- Water
- Paint
- Paintbrushes
First, shape the body by rolling a large piece of clay into an oblong shape for the whale’s body.
Create the tail by flattening a smaller piece of clay and then shape it into the distinctive fluke of a humpback whale. Attach it to one end of the body.
When you are adding additional clay pieces like the tail above and flippers below, it helps to use a tool like this to score both pieces before joining them together.
Then use water on your fingertips to smooth them seamlessly.
Roll out two smaller pieces of clay to make flippers, molding them into elongated shapes and attach them to the sides of the body as pectoral fins.
Use clay tools to add details like eyes, a mouth, and the grooves on the whale’s throat. Add texture with light markings.
Use a small amount of water to smooth out any rough areas, this gives your clay a very nice texture and dries pretty quickly.
So that your whale is not laying completely flat you can prop it up on your tools or a piece of waxed paper as it dries.
Allow the clay to dry completely, it may take several days. Paint if desired to add detail and allow it to dry.
Add details like the ‘tubercles’ or spots on the whales nose with a small brush or tip of the paint bottle.
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