Tale of a Whale (and Why It Can Be Told)

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Title:

Tale of a Whale (and Why It Can Be Told)

Url:

https://learninglab.si.edu/collections/tale-of-a-whale-and-why-it-can-...

Publisher:

Smithsonian Office of Education

Description: In this issue’s lesson, students exercise their observation skills to do some of the actual work of marine biologists who study the endangered North Atlantic right whale. They identify an individual whale by examining photographs taken at sea. They then examine a record of sighting of the whale in order to track its movements.

The whale in question is Phoenix, a 45-foot female that is represented as a life-sized model in the new Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. The Smithsonian worked with right whale researchers from the New England Aquarium to reproduce details of Phoenix’s individuality, the same details that students look for in the lesson.

The New England Aquarium maintains a database called the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog, which contains nearly half a million photographs and vital information on some of the remaining members of the species. The online version of the catalog can serve to deepen the lesson.

LC Classification:

Geography. Anthropology. Recreation -- Maps -- By region or country -- Oceans (General) -- Atlantic Ocean -- North Atlantic
Science -- Zoology -- Animal behavior -- Stories and anecdotes -- Special. By common name of animal, A-Z -- Whales
Science -- Zoology -- Study and teaching. Research -- Audiovisual aids

GEM Subject:

Science -- Instructional issues
Science -- Agriculture
Social studies -- Geography
Science -- Informal education
Science -- Natural history

Key Concept:

Agriculture -- Animal science
Agriculture -- Zoology

Resource Type:

Collection
Reference Material
Instructional Material
Audio/Visual -- Movie/Animation
Instructional Material -- Interactive Simulation

Format:

Document -- PDF
Document -- HTML
Video -- Quicktime

Audience:

Educator
Learner
Professional/Practitioner

Education Level:

High School
Middle School
Elementary School

Language:

English

Access Rights:

Free access

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Source:

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