Stacey Klimkosky

Library and Media Teacher, Truro Central School Grades PK-6

Instructions for Presenter

  • TITLE: A Whale of a Tail!
  • THEME: Marine Life
  • OBJECTIVE:To learn how humpback whales are named and identified in the wild.
  • OVERVIEW: (1) Make connections between photographs of humpback whale tails and their given names through a card game. (2) Using humpback naming “rules”, create a humpback whale name for a photographed tail.
  • TOTAL TIME: 10-15 minutes (plus extension activities)
  • SUPPLIES NEEDED:
  1. Set of humpback whale tail and name cards (included)
  2. “A Whale of a Tail!” photograph and Naming Rules (included), mounted on posterboard
  3. Markers
  4. (optional) NOAA’sNMFS Office of Protected Resources “The Kids’ Times: Humpback Whale”
  • SAFETY PRECAUTIONS: none
  • PRESENTER PREP:
  1. Print copies of “The Kids’ Times: Humpback Whale” for take-aways (if desired)
  2. Print set of humpback whale tail and name cards & cut out (mount on cardstock or laminate if desired).
  3. Print copy of “A Whale of a Tail!” photograph & Naming Rules, mount to posterboard
  • PRESENTER PROCEDURE:
  1. Arrange the humpback whale tail cards randomly on one side of the table and the name cards on the other side.
  2. Explainto participants that humpback whales are identified by scientists and whale watchers by unique markings on their flukes (tails), body scars, or other unique markings on their bodies.
  3. Explain to participants that the mark on the whale’s fluke that inspired its name is circled. Challenge participants to find the name card that goes with each of the flukes.
  4. When all matches have been successfully made, encourage participants to pretend that they have been invited to submit a name for a newly identified whale whohas been observed in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the northern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts for two consecutive summers. Participants can add their suggestion to the “A Whale of a Tail” poster.
  5. Provide NOAA’s NMFS Office of Protected Resources “The Kids’ Times: Humpback Whale” handout as a take-away for those who want to know more about humpback whales.
  • DISCUSSION POINTS:

-Humpback whales are found in all the world’s oceans. They get their name from the noticeable hump on its back when it arches to dive. Their dorsal fin sits on top of this hump. Humpbacks have black backs, white flippers, and black and white (mottled) undersides.

-The NOAA NMFS Office of Protected Resources “The Kids’ Times: Humpback Whale” handout provides many more interesting humpback whale facts.

-NOAA maintains two national marine sanctuaries that protect the humpback whales that inhabit their waters—Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and the Gerry E. StuddsStellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

-Tie It To Literature! Informational Text: Journey of a Humpback Whale

Fiction: I Wonder If I’ll See a Whale by Francis Ward Weller (out of print but you can get copies on Amazon)

  • SCIENCE BACKGROUND:

The underside of the humpback whale’s fluke (tail) is like a human fingerprint—no two are alike. This is the primary way scientists identify individual whales. Markings on their dorsal fins can also be used as are body scars.

  • WORKS CITED:

NOAA’sNMFS Office of Protected Resources “The Kids’ Times: Humpback Whale”

Rules for Naming Humpback Whales

Gerry E. StuddsStellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary website,

Photographs of newly named humpback whales in Stellwagen Bank NMS (year 2000 whales)

A Whale of a Tail!

HANDOUT

  • SET-UP INSTRUCTIONS:
  1. Arrange the humpback whale tail cards randomly on one side of the table and the name cards on the other side.
  2. Explain to participants that humpback whales are identified by scientists and whale watchers by unique markings on their flukes (tails), body scars, or other unique markings on their bodies.
  3. Explain to participants that the mark on the whale’s fluke that inspired its name is circled. Challenge participants to find the name card that goes with each of the flukes.
  4. When all matches have been successfully made, encourage participants to pretend that they have been invited to submit a name for a newly identified whale calf who has been observed in Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off northern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts for two consecutive summers. Participants can add their suggestion to the A Whale of a Tail poster.
  5. Provide NOAA NMFS Office of Protected Resources “The Kids’ Times: Humpback Whale” handout as a take-away for those who want to know more about humpback whales.
  • SCIENCE EXPLANATION:

The underside of the humpback whale’s fluke (tail) is like a human fingerprint—no two are alike. This is the primary way scientists identify individual whales. Markings on their dorsal fins can also be used as are body scars.

  • EXTENSION IDEAS:

-Why is it important to be able to identify individual humpback whales?

-Why do you think scientists wait to name calves until they have been seen for a couple of years?

-There are very strict rules which boat captains must follow when near whales. Why do you think this is important? (see ship strike website below)

-Download the WHALE ALERT APP (free from iTunes) More information can be found here: -Try making your own whale fluke. Take a piece of construction paper. Fold it in half. Draw half a fluke extending from the fold (like cutting a heart) and cut out. Open the fluke like a book. Take a straw and dip it in a cup of black paint. Put your finger on the opening of the straw to hold the paint inside. Let droplets of paint out on each side of the fluke, then fold it back up and press. Open it back up and see if you can identify a marking that makes a good name!

  • REAL WORLD:

(information on ship strike prevention)

(information about the Whale Alert App)

Rules for Naming

Humpback Whales

(taken from the Gerry E. StuddsStellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary website,

  • The name must be short.
  • It should describe something about the whale’s fluke pattern, body scars or another easily identified feature.
  • It can be used for either a male or female.
  • It cannot be a person’s name.
  • It cannot be a name already on the list.