Drones are helping scientists learn more about humpback whales in the Antarctic. The cool footage captured by BBC News and scientists shows how these whales use their bodies to make a "bubble net" to catch their food. They use their long fins to make a net of bubbles around their prey, which shows how smart and adaptable they are. Humpback whales are known for being good at tricks, and they're the only ones who make these bubble nets. Using drones has made it way easier for scientists to study this behavior up close.
Drones have also helped scientists see that whale populations are growing again in places where they were almost wiped out. Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey used drones to study whales in South Georgia, an important place for the whaling industry in Antarctica. The footage they got was the first time anyone had seen a mom and baby southern right whale together off the coast of South Georgia. This means that these whale populations are slowly getting better. The scientists also filmed a mom and baby Antarctic blue whale, which are the biggest animals on Earth, eating in the same area.
Drones have also been used to measure how big whales are, and they found out that some whales are getting smaller because of climate change. A study in the journal Global Change Biology showed that gray whales off the Pacific Northwest coast have gotten about 13% smaller in the last 20 years. This could be a sign that their population is going down or that they're not healthy. Size is really important for animals because it affects how they act, how their bodies work, and the whole ecosystem they're a part of.
Besides helping scientists keep an eye on dangers to whales, drones have also caught some really cool things that whales do. Filming humpback whales working together to eat has shown scientists how these animals learn and cooperate. In Antarctica, they've seen lots of whales blowing bubbles at the same time, which means they're still learning how to do it and haven't figured out everyone's job yet. The footage also shows humpbacks spinning, going around boats, and hanging out with other animals, which is like them playing. This helps them make friends and is super important for their well-being.
All in all, drones have totally changed the way scientists learn about whales. They've given us new info about how they eat, how their populations are growing, and how they're dealing with climate change. Being able to see them from above with drones has let scientists watch and understand these amazing creatures in ways they couldn't before.
Original news source: Drones reveal Antarctic whale 'acrobatics' (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will read the article and then create a summary of the main points. They should focus on capturing the key information and presenting it in a concise manner. After a designated time period, each group will share their summary with the class.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the class discuss their opinions on the use of drones in studying whales. Divide the class into pairs or small groups and give them a few minutes to discuss their thoughts and reasons behind their opinions. Then, have each group share their opinions with the class and encourage a respectful and open discussion.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select key vocabulary words from the article and write them on separate pieces of paper. Divide the class into two teams. Each team will take turns choosing a word and having one member of their team draw the word on the board or a piece of paper without using any letters or numbers. The rest of the team must guess the word within a designated time limit. The team with the most correct guesses wins.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. One student will describe a scene or concept related to the article to their partner without using any specific vocabulary words. The other student must sketch what they think is being described. After a few rounds, have pairs switch roles. Then, have students share their sketches with the class and explain what was being described.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, have students discuss and make predictions about the future use of drones in studying whales or other animals. Encourage them to think about potential advancements in technology and how it could impact scientific research. After a designated time period, have each group share their predictions with the class and discuss the feasibility and potential implications of their ideas.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Humpback whales use their long fins to create a net of bubbles around their prey.
The purpose of the "bubble net" is to trap and catch their food.
Humpback whales are considered to be smart and adaptable because they are the only ones who use the bubble net technique to catch their food. This shows their intelligence and ability to adapt to different hunting methods.
Drones have made it easier for scientists to study humpback whale behavior by allowing them to observe and film the whales up close. This provides valuable footage that helps scientists understand their behavior and habits.
Drones have revealed that whale populations in South Georgia are growing again after being almost wiped out. This is a positive sign for the recovery of these whale populations.
The footage captured by drones off the coast of South Georgia showed the first-ever sighting of a mother and baby southern right whale together. This is significant because it indicates that the whale populations are slowly recovering.
Scientists have discovered that gray whales off the Pacific Northwest coast have gotten about 13% smaller in the last 20 years. This could be a sign of a declining population or poor health among the whales.
The use of drones has allowed scientists to film humpback whales working together to eat. This footage has shown scientists how these animals learn and cooperate, as well as their social interactions with other animals.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
are scientists learn more about humpback whales in the Antarctic. The cool footage captured by BBC News and scientists shows how these whales use their to make a "bubble net" to catch their food. They use their long fins to make a net of bubbles around their prey, which shows how smart and adaptable they are. Humpback whales are for being good at tricks, and they're the only ones who make these bubble nets. Using drones has made it way easier for scientists to study this behavior up close. Drones have also helped scientists see that whale populations are growing again in places where they were almost wiped out. Scientists from the British Antarctic Survey used drones to study whales in South Georgia, an important place for the whaling in Antarctica. The footage they got was the time anyone had seen a mom and baby southern whale together off the coast of South Georgia. This means that these whale populations are slowly getting better. The scientists also filmed a mom and baby Antarctic blue whale, which are the animals on Earth, eating in the same area. Drones have also been used to measure how big whales are, and they found out that some whales are getting smaller because of climate change. A study in the journal Global Change Biology showed that gray whales off the Pacific coast have gotten about 13% smaller in the last 20 years. This could be a sign that their population is going down or that they're not healthy. Size is really important for animals because it affects how they act, how their bodies work, and the ecosystem they're a part of. Besides helping scientists keep an eye on dangers to whales, drones have also caught some really cool things that whales do. humpback whales working together to eat has scientists how these animals learn and cooperate. In Antarctica, they've seen lots of whales blowing bubbles at the same time, which means they're still learning how to do it and haven't figured out everyone's job yet. The footage also shows humpbacks spinning, going around boats, and hanging out with other animals, which is like them . This helps them make and is super important for their well-being. All in all, have totally changed the way scientists learn about whales. They've given us new info about how they eat, how their are growing, and how they're dealing with climate change. Being able to see them from above with drones has let scientists watch and understand these amazing creatures in ways they couldn't before.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a drone and how is it used to study humpback whales?
2. How would you feel if you saw a humpback whale using its fins to create a bubble net?
3. Do you like the idea of using drones to study animals? Why or why not?
4. What do you think is the importance of studying whale populations in the Antarctic?
5. How would you feel if you saw a mom and baby whale together for the first time?
6. Do you think it's a good thing that whale populations are growing again? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think it's important to know if whales are getting smaller because of climate change?
8. What do you think is the significance of animals learning and cooperating together?
9. How would you feel if you saw humpback whales blowing bubbles at the same time?
10. Do you think it's important for whales to make friends and have social interactions? Why or why not?
11. What do you think are the benefits of using drones to study and understand whales?
12. How would you feel if you were able to see whales from above using a drone?
13. Do you think it's important to protect and conserve whale populations? Why or why not?
14. Why do you think it's important for scientists to understand how whales eat and interact with their environment?
15. How do you think the use of drones has changed the way scientists learn about whales?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
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