ClassX Video Lessons Grade Grade 1 Ocean Life Storytime | Learn Fun Facts About Humpback Whales | Circle Time with Khan Academy Kids
Hi there! I’m Sophie from the Khan Academy Kids team, and I’m thrilled to have you join us for Circle Time. It’s a special time where we come together to read, learn, and have fun. Today, my friend Paul is here with me, and we’re diving into the fascinating world of the ocean and its amazing creatures.
Our first book is a fiction story called “The Finish Line” by Cynthia Platt. It’s about two friends, Beluga and Narwhal, who are racing through the icy Arctic waters. Did you know that Beluga and Narwhal are types of whales? The Arctic Ocean is one of the coldest oceans, and that’s where our story takes place.
As Beluga and Narwhal race, they face obstacles like icebergs and ice shelves. They even encounter a frozen path blocking their way to the finish line. At first, they try to break through the ice on their own, but it’s no use. Then, they decide to work together. Narwhal uses his strong tusk to crack the ice, and Beluga swishes away the broken bits with her tail. Together, they make it through!
In the end, they decide to cross the finish line together, showing us that teamwork can help us achieve things we can’t do alone.
Next, we read a non-fiction book about humpback whales. These magnificent creatures are known for their songs and are protected today, allowing their numbers to grow. Humpbacks have blowholes on top of their heads to breathe, and they often come to the surface for air.
Humpback whales can grow up to 62 feet long, which is longer than a school bus! They have unique features like head bumps, long flippers, and a dorsal fin on their hump. Instead of teeth, they have baleen to trap food like krill, small fish, and plankton. Some humpbacks even hunt together using bubble nets to catch their prey.
These whales are world travelers, migrating thousands of miles each year. In summer, they head to cold waters for food, and in winter, they return to warmer waters to give birth. Male humpbacks sing together, but why they sing remains a mystery.
After learning so much about whales, we answered some questions. We learned that humpback whales use their blowholes to breathe and make noise to scare their prey to the surface.
We also had a fun show and tell session where our friends shared their amazing drawings of characters from Khan Academy Kids. Lucy, Anaya, Hassan, and Zayn all did a fantastic job with their artwork!
If you’d like to share your projects or drawings with us, ask an adult to send them in. We might feature them in our next Circle Time!
That’s all for today. Thanks for joining us, and we can’t wait to see you next time. Goodbye from Sophie, Paul, and all of us at Khan Academy Kids!
Create Your Own Ocean Adventure: Imagine you are an ocean explorer like Beluga and Narwhal. Draw a picture of your own ocean adventure. What creatures do you meet? What obstacles do you face? Share your drawing with a friend or family member and tell them the story of your adventure.
Whale Song Experiment: Humpback whales are known for their songs. Try creating your own “whale song” using different sounds you can make with your voice or objects around the house. Experiment with high and low pitches, and see if you can create a pattern or rhythm. Share your song with someone and see if they can guess what kind of whale you are pretending to be!
Teamwork Challenge: Just like Beluga and Narwhal worked together, find a friend or family member and try a teamwork challenge. Build a small tower using blocks or cups. One person can only use one hand, and the other person can only use the other hand. Can you work together to build the tallest tower possible? Talk about how teamwork helped you succeed.
