Topsfield, MA 01983 * Info@thewhalemobile.com * 617-838-2646
Diving Deep: A Virtual Journey into Whale Habitats
Welcome to The Whalemobile!
Would you like your students to have the opportunity to develop a deep appreciation and understanding of the ocean and marine life, but don't live near the ocean?
We would love to virtually visit some land-locked states this year and connect students all across the United States to the awesomeness of whales and the importance of the ocean!
The Whalemobile's virtual program will complement your science curriculum as we touch on topics of survival, photosynthesis, form and function, and food chains--providing real-life examples of these concepts in action within the ocean ecosystem. The kids will watch an introductory video at some point before the program. Then when we connect, we will start with showing a life-sized inflatable whale (and even on the screen kids are amazed by this). Then depending on the grade, we have other activities that we will do. We always finish with why whale poop is important to the ecosystem--obviously a favorite among the kids.
We prefer to do these virtual sessions one class at a time. We are getting ready to book for the 24-25 school year, so click here to fill out the form if you are interested!
We look forward to seeing you this year!
"We are the third grade team at the Hannah School in Beverly, MA and we have had the pleasure of having Cynde McInnis and her amazing Whalemobile visit our school for many years. Cynde is truly passionate about her work with whales and educating kids about them. The third graders at our school look forward to this program every year and anticipate going inside the life size whale model!"
Kelly Hachey, Suzy Stumpf, Trevor Harwood
Grade 3 Teachers, Hannah School, Beverly, MA 01915
What Programs are Available?
Whales of new england (elementary and middle)
This is a virtual Whalemobile experience. Cynde will do an initial presentation about whales, and then students will see the whale inflate and go inside. Topics covered are baleen and teeth, communication, individual identification, and importance of whales to our planet (spoiler...it's their poop). The program finishes with a discussion of marine debris and what we can do to help protect the oceans.
Let's go on a Virtual whale watch (tailored to any age)
Cynde has led over 2500 whale watch trips out of Gloucester, MA. We will "virtually" leave Gloucester Harbor and head out to sea aboard the Privateer IV with Seven Seas Whale Watch. Students will learn about the species of whales that are observed off the coast of Massachusetts. We will discuss why they are there, see videos of behaviors they do, and learn about individual humpback whales. If you have never been on a whale watch, this is a close second.
whales and humans: impacts of interaction (middle school)
This presentation explores how whales and humans use the ocean, when and where overlap occurs in time and space, and how that is impacting whales today. Students will brainstorm what we could do to decrease the threats to whales. We will end by discussing their solutions.
S.T.E.A.M. your passion (upper middle and high school)
This program is for upper middle school and high school students. Cynde will share her story about how she took her childhood passion for whales and made it her career. She will introduce students to whales and how they are researched today illustrating that you can take many different roads to find or create the career that you are looking for. Science, technology, engineering/education, art and math are all critically important disciplines when addressing any topic—especially conservation. She will finish by sharing how this childhood passion led to a Guinness World Record!
Are you looking to encourage your students to take action for our planet? We hope to inspire students to create conservation projects in all 50 states! Can you help us spread the word?
The Details
Cost
How Do I book a Program?
How Do I book a Program?
How Do I book a Program?
How Do I book a Program?
How Do I book a Program?
How to Prepare for a "Virtual Visit" with Cynde
Additional Information
If you have 15-45 minutes to prepare...
This is ideal. There is a 15-minute introductory video that introduces Cynde as well as basic concepts of whales. This part of the presentation is less interactive than the rest of the experience so prefect to prepare the students. If you have the 45 minutes, the students can go through the worksheets that correspond to the different grades (K-2 or 3-5).
The Whalemobile presentation will then focus on recognizing humpbacks, going inside the inflatable whale, and “talking trash”. We would love for the teachers to follow up with the students and work through creating a project to help the whales and the oceans. It could be something they do independently (at their house) or something they do collectively (like reducing plastic in the lunchroom).
Best laid plans
We realize that best laid plans sometimes don’t work, so if you have a glitch and aren’t able to prepare the students, just let Cynde know in the beginning of the presentation and she will start at the appropriate place. When this is the case, the "trash talk" at the end gets shortened. The Whalemobile has put this discussion in workbook form though, so that teachers can walk kids though these ideas after the presentation. (Please become a member/Ocean Champion to get access to all the resources! IT'S FREE!)
