Today, you will learn all about beluga whales and how they play in the ocean! By the end of our adventure, you will be able to identify a beluga whale and describe its special features, like the melon on its head. You will also understand how beluga whales use sound to find their way, just like in the game Marco Polo. Plus, you’ll get to join in on fun activities like Simon Says to help you remember what you learned. Get ready to have a whale of a time exploring the ocean with us!
Hey there, ocean explorers! Are you ready to dive under the waves and have an adventure? Let’s go explore the ocean together and have lots of fun!
We’re playing a fun game called Marco Polo. It’s like hide and seek in the water! Dean found me by listening to my voice. Hi, everyone! Oh, look, there’s Opus! But where’s Tinker? Let’s call out to her. Marco! Oh, there she is! Hi, Tinker!
Guess what? Tinker just saw a whale! Let’s see if we can find it. Oh, wait, that’s not a whale; it’s a dolphin! No, it’s actually a beluga whale! Beluga whales are also called white whales. They are the smallest whales, while blue whales are the biggest!
Look at the beluga whales! They’re dancing in the water. This is called milling. They love to swim and play games together, just like us when we play Simon Says!
Do you want to play Simon Says with us? Remember, only do what Simon says! Ready? Let’s go!
Great job! You did it! Simon says you win!
Did you notice the bump on the beluga whale’s head? It’s called a melon. It helps them find their way underwater by sending sounds that bounce back to them. It’s like their own game of Marco Polo!
Just like Dean followed our voices, beluga whales follow sounds to know where they are. Isn’t that cool?
Today, we learned about beluga whales, how they love to play, and how their melon helps them hear underwater. Now, let’s have a dance party to celebrate!
Thanks for exploring with us, Tinker, Caline, Neptune, and Opus! Keep having fun and exploring the ocean. Until next time, ocean explorers!
Sound Exploration: Just like beluga whales use their melon to hear underwater, let’s explore how sound travels. Fill a bowl with water and gently tap the side with a spoon. Listen carefully to the sound it makes. Now, try tapping the spoon on a table. Can you hear the difference? Discuss with your friends or family how sound changes in water compared to air.
Whale Size Comparison: Use a measuring tape to measure out the size of a beluga whale (about 13-20 feet) and a blue whale (up to 100 feet) on the playground or in your backyard. Mark the lengths with chalk or string. Walk along the lines and imagine how big these whales are. Which one is bigger? How many of you would it take to match the length of a blue whale?
Marco Polo Game Variation: Play a game of Marco Polo on land! One person is “it” and closes their eyes. The others move around quietly. The person who is “it” calls out “Marco!” and the others respond with “Polo!” The goal is to find the others by listening carefully, just like beluga whales use sound to find their way. After the game, talk about how listening helped you find your friends.
