NEW BEDFORD – A new Grade 4 whale science program developed by the New Bedford Whaling Museum and running in New Bedford schools this fall, is bringing science to life for students and helping teachers meet Massachusetts science curriculum goals.
The “All About Whales” teaching unit combines classroom learning led by teachers and Museum education staff, with two visits to the Museum, and is designed to help children answer a number of questions.
All About Whales is offered at no charge to participating schools in New Bedford and it uses the museum’s core subject areas, whales and ocean health, to teach skills that include problem-solving, sorting and measuring.
The program encompasses pre-visit preparation by teachers, activities led by Whaling Museum educators in the classroom and two visits to the Museum.
The activities cover whale biology and conservation, and employ authentic skeletons of a rare juvenile blue whale, a sperm whale and a pregnant North Atlantic right whale.
Students will also complete a capstone project at the end of the teaching unit and student work will be displayed at the Museum during Right Whale Day in April 2017.
All About Whales grew out of a successful after-school pilot program that ran in John B. DeValles Elementary School in 2014-2015 and the new program is currently running in six schools.
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