Use crafts to reinforce a lesson on whales. Create a whale out of a paper lunch bag. Fill the bag with shredded newspaper and tie the end with a piece of yarn to create the tail. Paint the whale blue or gray and add a googly eye to each side of the head. Cut a flipper shape out of blue or gray construction paper and attach it to the bottom of the whale. Cut some blue curling ribbon, curl and tape it to the top to make it appear that the whale is spewing out the water.
You can create a similar craft using a paper grocery bag. Instead of filling the bag with shredded paper, fill it with candy and other treats. Use the bag as a pinata to celebrate the launch or conclusion of a unit on whales.
Help children learn more about whales by assigning research projects. Divide the class into smaller groups. Assign a particular type of whale to each group. Have the children research the whale they have been assigned and make a presentation to the class. The presentation can include pictures, fun facts and graphs. Include information on the whale's size, what it eats and its life expectancy.
Another way to conduct a whale research project is to let each child choose a whale. Have each one create a one-sheet explanation of his research findings. Compile a book of everyone's entries.
One activity that really helps support learning is a hands-on experience. Arrange a field trip for children studying whales. If you live in coastal areas, consider contacting a local whale-watching company to arrange an expedition.
Another field trip idea is to take students to an aquarium. Some local aquariums are too small to house whales, but they can still be a good source of information about them.
There are a variety of other whale-related activities that can reinforce learning. Provide whale-themed pages for children to color and hang them on the walls. Or teach children how to fold an origami whale.
Other activities include writing or performing whale-themed dramas or making costumes for imaginative play. Read the story "Rainbow Fish and the Big Blue Whale" by Marcus Pfister and have children draw pictures based on the story.