Have you ever heard of the amazing walrus? These big, blubbery creatures live in the cold Arctic Ocean. Let’s learn some fun facts about them!
Walruses have really big teeth called tusks. These tusks can grow up to 3 feet long! The male walruses use their tusks to show who’s the boss. Walruses also have a lot of blubber, which is like a thick layer of fat. This blubber keeps them warm in the icy water and gives them energy when they can’t find food.
When the ice melts in the summer, the male walruses have to swim far to find a nice beach to rest on. They love to hang out on the beach with their friends. Meanwhile, the female walruses teach their baby walruses, called pups, how to swim. Sometimes the pups would rather play, but their moms make sure they learn to swim!
Eventually, all the walruses, both males and females, gather on the same beach. Can you imagine 20,000 walruses all together? That’s a lot of walruses! They have a special air sac under their throat that helps them float in the water. This way, they can even sleep while bobbing up and down in the ocean.
Walruses might be big and blubbery, but they are truly amazing animals. They have special features that help them live in the cold Arctic, and they sure know how to have fun on the beach!
Walrus Tusks Craft: Create your own walrus tusks using paper towel rolls or cardboard tubes. Decorate them with markers or paint to make them look like real tusks. Once your tusks are ready, pretend to be a walrus and think about how you would use your tusks. Would you use them to dig in the sand or to show off to your friends? Share your ideas with the class.
Blubber Experiment: Let’s explore how blubber keeps walruses warm. Fill a bowl with ice water. Put one hand in a plastic bag and cover it with a thick layer of shortening or butter. Then, put your hand in the ice water. Notice how your hand stays warm! This is similar to how blubber works for walruses. Discuss with your classmates why blubber is important for walruses living in cold environments.
Walrus Observation Journal: Imagine you are a scientist studying walruses. Keep a journal for a week where you draw pictures and write about what you think a day in the life of a walrus would be like. What do they eat? Where do they sleep? How do they play? Share your journal entries with the class and discuss what makes walruses unique and amazing.
