Twenty Questions: 

This is a simple game that can be played with almost any sized group.  Have an adult write the names of different animals on strips of papers and fasten them to the backs of the children.  Be sure that the child does not see what is written on his/her back.  The children then walk around the room asking their classmates yes/no questions until they can deduce the identity of the species written on their back.  Each has the opportunity to ask 20 yes/no questions about their mystery species and this gets them to focus on many important things that characterize and distinguish marine mammal species.  The goal is to ask questions so that they narrow the list of possible animals until they are finally able to conclusively deduce what species they are.  When correctly guessed, that child gets to move their label to their front. 

Animal Charades: 

A game of charades can also be a creative way for students to demonstrate what they have learned about animals.  Teams of students each take turns acting out a certain species that are assigned to them by the teacher.  They are only allowed to give nonverbal cues until someone guesses correctly.

Designing Posters: 

A great way for students to demonstrate an understanding of biology is to design posters showing what humans can do to help conserve life.  Students ideas often include drawings and text that allude to recycling, the control of fishing industries, the preservation of critical habitats, the proper disposal of garbage, and being much more careful about what we pour down our drains. These posters can then be hung in school hallways as reminders of what we all need to do.

Interdisciplinary Lessons: 

Lessons on animal conservation can easily be integrated into interdisciplinary lessons or team teaching situations.  For example, social studies topics can include legislation protecting marine mammals (such as the US Marine Mammal Act).  Such lessons teach very important ways in which social studies relates to biological conservation.  In another example, the undersea and coastal geology of the pacific coast greatly determines which animals are found in particular areas.  This provides an important lesson relating geology to the lives of animals. 

Taxonomy and Evolution: 

We think it is valuable to teach lessons about the taxonomic relationship of animals.  This should include emphasis on the similarities and differences between different taxa.  Such lessons flow smoothly into considerations about the ways in which animals evolved.  For example, it is useful students to grasp the idea that the marine members of Carnivora (sea otter and polar bear) are less specialized in their adaptations to the sea than are the Pinnipedia (seals), and that the Pinnipeds are themselves less specialized than the Cetaceans.   Examining adaptations in the context of taxonomic classification in this way provides a useful lesson on evolution and the adaptations animals have undergone over time.

Recycle Program: 

Since we stress that recycling paper as a good way to help the ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest, we encourage the children in each school to start or support an organized recycling program.  If you they already have recycling bins available to them, we encourage the children make signs to post on them with slogans like: "Recycling Helps Killer Whales" or "Save the Salmon - Recycle Paper".  If their school does not yet have an organized recycling system, we encourage them to start one.  We explain that most municipalities will arrange to pick up recyclables if asked.  A simple phone call to the local waste disposal company or city board is often all that is needed to get started.  

How Baleen Whales Trap Food: 

Help students explore how baleen whales trap food by setting up the following model.  In a water-filled aquarium or large pan, mix some fine sand, medium gravel, and some small toys to represent different kinds of tiny ocean animals.  Divide students into groups.  Give each group a different sized comb to represent whale's baleens (for example, one group might use a fine toothed comb, another might use a hair comb). Stir up the water in the aquarium so that the animals are dispersed through the simulated ocean.  Then let groups take turns running their combs through the tank to see what kinds of animals get trapped by the different baleens.  Have each group record the number and kinds of animals caught, then have the groups compare results.

Color your own whale:

Print up outlines of killer whales and allow the children to label the body parts and color in their own whales.  This is a great opportunity to describe that all killer whales have different saddle patches and different shaped dorsal fins.  This is how scientists distinguish individual orcas in British Columbia.  We also included in this lesson the differences between Transients and Residents.  Since the dorsal fins of Transients are pointed at the top and those of Residents are rounded, it gives the children an opportunity to make inferences about the type of whale they are coloring.  In this way, it then gives us an opportunity to teach them about the different feeding behaviors and lifestyles of these two orca ecotypes. 

Salmon Toss: 

We set up a little bean bag salmon toss game to represent the different paths that a salmon can take.  We sewed little salmon out of felt and cotton.  Our game board consisted of different areas labeled "Polluted Waters", "Commercial Fishing Nets", "Killer Whale Pod", and "Breeding Streams".  The goal is for the children to successfully get their salmon to the stream.  But wherever any given salmon lands, we use that opportunity to teach a lesson.  For example, we explain that falling in the space labeled "killer whale pod" proves unfortunate for the salmon, but beneficial for the orcas.  Missing the breeding stream and ending up on the forest via bear predation is good for the nutrient cycle of the trees.  It is a way to engage children in a discussion about many aspects of an interconnected ecosystem.

Pyramid of the Orca-Salmon-Forest Connection: 

This activity can be done with volunteers or as a demonstration to a large group.  We have pictures glued to cardboard boxes.  The boxes are stacked into a pyramid shape.  The base is four forests, then three streams, two salmon, and finally, at the top of the pyramid, a killer whale.  This allows the children to see how the killer whales that they love are dependant upon a whole ecosystem below.  The forest nurture the streams, which nurture the salmon, which nurture the whales.  However, if we cut down too many trees for our own use  (demonstrated by taking out too many tree boxes), the whole pyramid  tumbles and the killer whale falls with it.

Killer Whale Crossword: 

We give children an orca-focused crossword puzzle.  The crossword puzzle reviews many of the lessons that cover in our presentation.  We encourage our students to take these home and complete them with their parents and siblings.  Please feel free to use it with your own groups.  Just click here for a copy of the crossword puzzle that we use. 

Killer Whale Maze: 

 Another activity that we give to children consists of an orca-focused maze.  The goal of the maze is to get the killer whales past a variety of hazards and adverse conditions to get to a meal of salmon.  Click here for a free copy of our maze.  Feel free to put it to use with your own group. 

Whale Calls: 

Whales make many interesting noises underwater.  We play a recording and let the children listen.  We talk about the different types of calls and what they might mean.  Orcas have a wide variety of calls that are used for communication and echolocation.  You may also want to play the unique songs of the humpback whale, or the barking of a sea lion.  Allowing the children to hear the "talking" of the animals helps them to better remember the unique nature of each species.