Classroom Tools - New Bedford Whaling Museum
Front view of a diverse group of elementary school kids sitting on chairs in a circle and interacting during a lesson, one African American girl standing and talking while her classmates and male Caucasian teacher sit and listen

Classroom Tools

Classroom Tools

Whales Giant of The Ocean

Whales and their kin are not only a source of amazement and awe, they are a great vehicle for teaching science. Whales – Giants of the Ocean blends many details of the lives of these fascinating animals into a multi-lesson program that connects students to a variety of life science topics.

Eat Like a Whale

In this activity you will explore which feeding style is most effective at gathering zooplankton (seasoning) and which is most effective for gathering fish and squid (carrot or apple chunks)...

See Like a Whale

Whales' eyes are on the sides of their heads. Each eye sees a separate view. This type of vision is called monocular vision. In this activity, you will find out what it's like to have monocular vision.

How Whales Stay Warm

Whales are warm-blooded mammals that can survive in water temperatures as frigid as the low 40s F. How do they manage to stay warm, even in the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic?

How Big are Whales?

Cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) range in size and there are 88 species in all. This activity will help you explore the variety of sizes in this group of aquatic mammals.

A humpback whale at the surface, viewed from underwater.

How Whales Hear

This simple activity will give you a sense of what it is like to receive sound in a way similar to these marine mammals...

Make a Logbook

During Whaling voyages, logbooks were used to record the daily activities of life at sea. It was used to track many things, including the date, weather, and whale sightings.

Sailors' Valentines

Sailors would spend many months, even years, away from home. On their journeys, they often made or purchased Sailors’ Valentines. They were meant to be gifts for their loved ones. Learn to make one here!

Scrimshaw Art

Scrimshaw was an art form used to help whalers pass the time on long voyages. Try creating your own scrimshaw designs!

Ocean Beats

Participate in the Ocean Beat project by listening to the  marine mammal sounds linked on this site or directly in the Watkins collection, then, use them as inspiration to mix a whole new sound.

Hawaiian Leis

Hawaii was one of many locations connected to New Bedford through whaling voyages. A Lei is a traditional garland from Hawaii that is used to represent a variety of events and celebrations in someone’s life...