Whale Watching Wonders

Grade Level

1st Grade

Duration

30 Minutes

Unit

Seasons of Learning – Lesson 15 of 30

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Describe basic facts about whales and their habitats.
• Identify at least two differences between whales and fish.
• Use descriptive language to talk about whales and their environment.
• Ask and answer questions about whales to build comprehension skills.

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Common Core Standards Alignment

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.3
Describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4
Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.1
Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

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Materials Needed

• Picture book or short video about whales (age-appropriate, e.g. “Whales” by Gail Gibbons)
• Whale and fish images or figurines
• Large chart paper and colorful markers
• Whale habitat tactile materials if possible (sand, blue water sheet, toy plants)
• Whiteboard or paper for KWL chart (Know, Want to know, Learned)
• Drawing paper and crayons

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Lesson Procedure

1. Introduction & Engagement (5 minutes)

• Begin with a KWL chart on chart paper: What do you Know about whales? What do you Want to know? Write down responses.
• Show clear images of whales and fish side by side. Ask: “What do you notice about these animals? Are whales fish?”

2. Read-Aloud / Video (7 minutes)

• Read or show a short video focusing on:
  • What whales are (mammals, breathe air).
  • Where they live (oceans, seas).
  • How they are different from fish (whales breathe air, have lungs not gills, give birth to live babies, are warm-blooded).
• Pause to ask key questions aligning with CCSS.RI.1.1, such as "Why do whales breathe air?" "Where do whales live?"

3. Interactive Discussion (6 minutes)

• Use images and props to reinforce learning:
  • Arrange whale habitat materials and describe typical whale environment.
  • Compare whales and fish with visual aids.
  • Encourage the student to use sensory words (CCSS.RL.1.4), e.g., “The whale’s skin is smooth and wet.”
  • Ask open-ended questions to promote conversation (CCSS.SL.1.1).

4. Creative Activity: Draw Your Whale (7 minutes)

• Ask the student to draw a whale in its habitat using crayons or colored pencils.
• Prompt descriptors: “What colors do you see? What sounds might the whale make?”
• Encourage writing a simple sentence about their drawing (e.g., “The whale is big and blue.”), supporting CCSS.L.1.1 and CCSS.Writing foundation.

5. Wrap-up and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Complete the ‘Learned’ column in the KWL chart together.
• Ask the student to share one new fact they learned about whales.
• Briefly recap: “Whales are not fish because…”
• Praise the student’s participation and creativity.

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Assessment

• Informal: Participation in discussion and answering questions.
• Formal: Review the drawing and sentence for understanding of whale characteristics and habitat.
• Oral responses to questions checking comprehension of whale facts and differences with fish.

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Differentiation & Extension

• For additional challenge, introduce whale songs or sounds online and discuss communication.
• For support, use simplified pictures and one-on-one vocabulary support with tactile props.

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Teacher Tips

• Use expressive voice and gestures during storytelling to engage a young learner deeply.
• Keep the tone conversational and encourage curiosity to foster a love of inquiry.
• Connect the whale’s environment to seasons if possible, linking unit theme.

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This lesson is designed to captivate 1st-grade learners by integrating visual, tactile, auditory, and kinesthetic learning strategies while firmly rooting the lesson in the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.