Orca Student Handout


Student Handout - Please Print!
1. What do you think? What do you know about Orca? Do you think the following statements are true or false? a. Killer Whales calves sometimes are born yellow. True - False - b. A newborn Orca can weigh as much as a large car. True - False - c. A new born Orca is born only tail first. True - False - d. Killer whales sometimes eat other whales! True - False - e. Killer whales chew their food before they swallow it. True - False - Do you agree with the following statement: "It is a good idea to keep Killer Whales in captivity" Yes - No - I'm not sure - Give at least two reasons why you believe this. _____________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ What are some questions that you have about Orca? _______________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ 2. Research and Investigation: Gathering evidence a. Click on "Life Cycle" on the top menu bar - then click on "Voyage of the Atty" - Read about the adventures of Whilimeena Whale Watcher, Nathan and James. b. Click on "Debate" on the top menu bar. Choose option "A" Read about the disagreement that Corbin and Emily are having! c. Using both the "Voyage of the Atty" and the debate between Emily and Corbin, answer the following questions: About how much do new born orca weigh? About how many orca calves die before one year? How are teeth used to tell an Orca's age? What are some ways that orca catch walruses and seals? d. Are the following statements are true or false? a. Killer Whales calves sometimes are born yellow. True - False - b. A newborn Orca can weigh as much as a large car. True - False - c. A new born Orca is born only tail first. True - False - d. Killer whales sometimes eat other whales! True - False - e. Killer whales chew their food before they swallow it. True - False - e. Using both the "Voyage of the Atty" and the debate between Emily and Corbin, keep a running tally of reasons and that either supports or contradicts this statement: "It is a good idea to keep Killer Whales in captivity"
Yes! Keeping killer whales in captivity is a good idea. Give reasons from your research. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
Maybe! This evidence could support both a "yes" and "no" position! ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
No! Keeping killer whales in captivity is not a good idea. Give reasons from your research. ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Conclusions a. Write a clear concise argumentative paragraph that supports your view on whether or not killer whales should be kept in captivity. Make sure you include a topic sentence! b. Click on "Debate" on the top menu. Click on option "B" - Enter your paragraph you have written in one of the discussion groups. c. Click on "Debate" on the top menu. Click on option "C" - Fill in the quick survey! d. Click on "Debate" on the top menu. Click on option "D" - Compare your opinion with others who have visited this site! e. My best scores - Click on "Life Cycle" on the top menu. Play the following games and record your scores. Life Cycle Quiz --------------------------score - _____ Memory Game ---------------------------score - _____ Create Orca Food Chain Game ----score - _____ Orca Rescue Game --------------------score - _____ Whale or Fish Game -------------------score - _____