The Wonders of Whales

If you’re looking for simple and engaging ways to help young children learn, whales can be a wonderful summertime theme to explore. Whether you’re teaching at home, in a classroom, or adding seasonal fun to your lesson plans, whale activities can help little learners build important early skills in a hands-on way.

In this post, I’m sharing whale-0themed activities that can support skills like vocabulary development, science learning, and fine motor practice while keeping learning fun and engaging.

Teaching about whales gives children a chance to explore the world around them while practicing early academic and fine motor skills. It can also help make learning feel fresh, meaningful, and connected to everyday life.

Some skills children can practice during whale activities include:

• Vocabulary development
• Science exploration
• Listening skills
• Fine motor practice
• Early literacy skills
• Observation skills

Whale Vocabulary Cards

These whale vocabulary cards can be used during circle time, science lessons, small groups, pocket chart activities, or independent learning centers. The colorful visuals help support early learners as they build new vocabulary and learn more about whales.

Click HERE to download the vocabulary cards.

Facts About Whales

• Whales are mammals–not fish
• Whales breathe air
• The blue whale is the biggest whale
• Blue whales can weigh as much as 32 elephants
• Some whales have teeth
• Some whales have baleen (sievelike ‘teeth’)
• Whales have blowholes instead of nostrils
• Whale tails are called flukes
• The side fins on whales are called flippers
• Whales are covered with skin and not scales like fish

Whale Counting Rhyme

Another simple idea is a counting rhyme. This activity works well for helping children practice counting while staying engaged with the whale theme.

This can be especially helpful for Preschool and Kindergarten students and is easy to add to your whale unit.

Three Little Blue Whales

One little,
Two little,
Three little blue whales

Four little,
Five little,
Six little blue whales

Seven little,
Eight little,
Nine little blue whales

Ten little blue whales swimming!

Motions can also be added during reading:

• hold up fingers while counting
• pretend to swim
• make ‘spouting’ motions
• sway side to side like whales

Paper Bag Whales

This simple whale craft is a fun hands-on activity that can be added to an ocean or whale theme. Children can practice fine motor skills while creating their own whale.

Supplies Needed:

• Brown paper lunch bag
• Blue construction paper
• Tissue paper or newspaper
• Scissors
• Stapler
• Glue or tape
• Markers or crayons
• Whale patterns (see below)

Directions:

1. Place an unopened brown paper lunch bag on a table.
2. Near the top of the bag, place and trace the fluke pattern. Remove the pattern and cut through all thicknesses of the bag.
3. Cut a small “X” in the bag for the blowhole.
4. Open the bag and lightly stuff it about 3/4 full with tissue paper or newspaper.
5. Staple the fluke ends closed, then staple along the sides of the fluke. Staple the remaining openings shut.
6. Use makers or crayons to draw the whale’s eyes and mouth.
7. Roll a 4 1/2″ x 12″ piece of blue construction paper into a cylinder. Glue or tape it so it stays rolled.
8. Snip one end of the cylinder several times, cutting only halfway down. Curl the fringed ends to create a water spout.
9. Insert the water spout into the blowhole.
10. cut two flippers from blue construction paper using the flipper pattern. Glue them to the sides of the whale.

Click HERE to download pattern page.

Whales in a Bottle

This is a fun whale-themed science activity that allows children to observe movement while exploring sensory play and simple science concepts. Children can watch the whales ‘swim’ as they tilt the bottle back and forth.

This activity can help children practice:

• Observation skills
• Fine motor skills
• Science exploration
• Cause and effect

Supplies Needed:

• Empty 2-liter soda bottle
• Blue food coloring
• Water
• Liquid laundry detergent
• Aquarium gravel
• 2 small blue balloons
• Glue gun

Directions:

1. Fill the bottle about 1/4 full with water.
2. Add a few drops of blue food coloring to tint the water.
3. Add one drop of liquid laundry detergent.
4. Drop a few pieces of aquarium gravel into the bottle.
5. Inflate two small blue balloons. Release most of the air and tie the ends closed.
6. Push the balloon ‘whales’ into the bottle.
7. Glue the cap tightly onto the bottle.

Whales are amazing ocean animals that children often love learning about. Adding whale-themed activities to your lessons can be a fun way to encourage curiosity and early learning skills.

Looking for more Preschool and Kindergarten learning activities? Be sure to visit the FREEBIE VAULT for printable games, worksheets, fine motor activities, seasonal learning fun, and more free resources for little learners. New items are added weekly!