Writing Activities: Year 1

Humpback whale

Humpback whales are only the sixth-largest whales species but can still grow to 16 metres in length. They often migrate 25,000 kilometres each year between cold polar waters, where they feed on krill and small fish, and the warmer waters where they breed and give birth.

Humpback whales spend a lot of time near the surface of the ocean. Their powerful tails allow them to breach more than most other whales (breaching is when whales launch most of their body out of the water). They are also curious and often approach boats. For these reasons humpback whales are easier to see and to photograph then other whales, making them popular with whale-watchers. In this clip we discover how humpback whales and humans interact underwater.

Literacy idea

If the whales and the people could speak to each other, what do you think they would say? Write a conversation between yourself and a whale. You could include:

• what you can each see.
• what you think of each other.
• how you both feel.

Remember to use quotation marks, start each sentence with a capital letter and end each sentence with a full stop.

Wider curriculum idea

Draw a picture of yourself swimming with a humpback whale. Remember that humpback whales are much, much bigger than people!