Overview: Life and Times of Humpback Whales

In this unit, students begin to understand more about whales by investigating the similarities and differences of whale fossils to their present day form. Using data compiled by marine scientists, students accurately plot whale migratory routes on maps, and pinpoint sites where whales feed in Alaska, and give birth and mate in Hawai‘i. They also study the adaptability of whale body features, and the crucial roles these features play in their summer and winter environments as well as during migration. Students also note the feeding and behavioral dissimilarities displayed by different whale types in these environments.