Title:  What are the parts of the gray whale?

Aims:
    1.  To instill in students an appreciation for science and a respect for all living things.
    2.  To increase students competencies in using computer technology to research information.
    3.  To introduce vocabulary associated with the gray whale.
    4.  To enable students to appreciate the connection between multicultural literature and science.

Grade Level:  5th grade

Estimated Time: 2 class periods

Setting:  Classroom

Interdisciplinary Areas:  Literature/Science/Art/

Materials:
    Novel, El Guero, by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino, Sunburst Books, 1989
    Poster of Gray Whale
    Apple Works
    Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia
    Map
    Globe
    Internet

Motivation:
    1.  Relate to children's knowledge gained from the novel El Guero.  Ask motivating questions like:
        a.  Where did Guero and Captain Forker's boat travel?
        b.  What mammal did they encounter?
        c.  What were the physical characteristics of this mammal?
    2.  Direct students to the posters and online graphics pertaining to the gray whale.  Good web sites containing photos and general information are:
   http://acsonline.org/factpack/graywhl.htm
    http://198.188.248.11/whale/whale2.html      This site has a great diagram of a whale.
   3.  Brainstorm children's knowledge of the gray whale-

Procedure:
    1.  Introduce vocabulary in context-  baleen, blowholes, rostrum, flippers, flukes, umbilicus, barnacles, dorsal ridges, throat grooves, uro-genital slit.
 

see the above picture at: http://198.188.248.11/whale/whale2.html

    2.  Have students work in cooperative groups and use the online encyclopedia or computer encyclopedia to find the meanings.  Two good sites for this information are: http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg=2&ti=761579741 and  http://encyclopedia.com/articles/13799.html
    3.  In a class of 30 students, 5 groups would be formed. Roles for each group member will be given our. Roles include:  leader who will give out roles and directs the group; reporter will write down notes for the entire group; observer will make sure all members are on task; illustrator will illustates and draws picture for the group's report, and recorders who will write down the meanings of the words. Note: All members must participate.

Evaluation:
    1.  Children will make up clues related to new words.
    2.  Students will log onto: http://puzzlemaker.com and create crossword puzzles and word find puzzles using vocabulary words above.
    3.  Check understanding of words from teacher made test.

Follow-up:
    1.  Students will make up original whale stories containing new words.
    2.  Lesson to follow would be researching facts about gray whales.

Cllick here to see Lesson 3.