Whalemobile Base Program
Assembly: an intro to whales
All the programs start with an assembly where students are introduced to whales off the Coast of New England. Using sounds, videos, and images, Cynde will teach the students about baleen and toothed whales and what they sound like. She will show them how scientists study humpback whales specifically, and why and where they migrate. Finally, she will talk about adaptations that baleen whales have that enable them to feed on very small fish. Cynde ends the assembly by inflating Nile in front of everyone! (This initial introduction takes about a half hour). Click HERE to see a news segment from The Whalemobile's visit to Indianapolis!
Session 1: in the belly of the whale
After the initial assembly, each class has the opportunity to come back for another half hour to go inside of Nile to learn about how humans and whales are similar and different. Do you think a whale's heart beats slower or faster than a humans? How long can a whale hold its breath? How does whale poop help the ocean? Students also touch baleen, bones and teeth from real whales! Here they have the opportunity to ask Cynde anything on their minds (within reason of course!!) Click HERE to see a video of what happens in the whale.
Session 2: talking trash
After coming out of the whale, the students and I "Talk Trash"! Marine debris is one of the biggest threats whales and all marine life face. Every whale that I have read about lately that has washed up has had trash in it's stomach--mostly plastic. Some much more than others! Students will learn about what they can do to help reduce trash in the oceans and the landfills, and ways that they can start reducing the amount of plastic they use in their every day life.
Other Assemblies
From Whaling to Disentangling
Whaling techniques of old are currently used to disentangle whales. This program discusses the interaction between whales and fisheries: problematic fishing gear, rescue strategies, and current solutions to this problem.
Research Techniques to Study Whales
Focusing on the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, this presentation discusses how technology has advanced our understanding of whale behavior.
What's the Connection: Whales' and Human Health?
Whales and humans both face similar health threats. This presentation discusses how nutrition, lifestyle, chemicals and politics contribute to the health of humans and whales.
Other Breakout Sessions
Are You Interested in Becoming a Marine Biologist?
Humpback whales are individually identified by the patterns on the underside of their tail. Students become researchers: they categorize and match humpback whale tails and learn how the whales got their names.here.
Fish and Squid dissections
Are your students talking about anatomy? Fish and squid dissections are a great hands-on way to compare and contrast or simply explore another species.