1. Introduce the size and weight of a blue whale.
Project the graphic Extreme Measures on the board. Invite volunteers to describe what the graphic shows. Then read aloud the caption. Ask: How does comparing a blue whale to an everyday object like a bus help you understand its size?

 

2. Have students research and record the length of six ocean organisms.
Distribute a copy of the worksheet Size Me Up—to Ocean Animals! to each student. Divide the class into six small groups. Scroll through the organisms in the Marine Organisms photo gallery. Have each group use library resources to research the size (length) and interesting facts about one of the animals on their charts. Then have groups fill in column 2 in the worksheet (metric measurements) and share their findings with the class.

 

3. Ask students to convert measurements and compare their bodies to the length of marine organisms.
Tell the class that since they have one measurement for each organism’s length, they can convert their findings into English, metric system, and/or “Unifix” units using conversions listed in the worksheet key. Explain that a “Unifix” is an unconventional unit of measurement. One Unifix Cube equals one inch; therefore, one foot equals twelve Unifix Cubes. For example, 94 feet is the equivalent of 1,128 Unifix Cubes (94 x 12). After students have completed their conversions and written them in their charts, have them collect data on themselves. Ask students to use measuring tape to find parts of their bodies that are comparable in length to the length of the organisms they just researched. For example, a student could measure his or her pinky finger at two inches long and note that it is a similar size to an Antarctic krill.

 

4. Discuss students' discoveries about the marine organisms’ lengths.
Ask: How many gulper eels does it take to equal the length of one African pompano? How many viperfish to equal a blue whale? Which animal was about the same length as your body? Encourage students to share facts they have learned about these ocean animals and their sizes. Record the data on the board. Discuss students' findings and results.

 

5. Have students compare their combined lengths to the length of a blue whale.
Instruct students to lay head to foot in a straight line across the length of the classroom floor. Use a tape measure to determine the length of the group. Write the length on the board. Then ask: Is our class longer or shorter than a blue whale? What are some other things that compare in size to a blue whale? A particular vehicle? A part of the school building? Wrap up the activity with a discussion of the following questions: How does your body compare in size to ocean animals? What does that tell you about the size of the ocean?

Informal Assessment

Use the provided answer key to assess the accuracy of students' conversion calculations. Assess students' contributions to the class discussion as well.

Extending the Learning

Have students use library resources to research how much krill a blue whale consumes in one day. Discuss the correlation between krill, zooplankton, whales, and ocean oxygen production.

Subjects & Disciplines

Learning Objectives

Students will:

  • identify Antarctic krill, deep-sea jellyfish, viperfish, blue whale, gulper eel, and African pompano
  • measure animals using standard and non-standard units of measurement
  • perform mathematic conversions
  • compare the length of marine organisms to the length of their own bodies

Teaching Approach

  • Learning-for-use

Teaching Methods

  • Cooperative learning
  • Discussions
  • Experiential learning
  • Research

Skills Summary

This activity targets the following skills:

Connections to National Standards, Principles, and Practices

NCTM Principles and Standards for School Mathematics

National Science Education Standards

Ocean Literacy Essential Principles and Fundamental Concepts

  • Principle 5a:  Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest virus to the largest animal that has lived on Earth, the blue whale.

What You’ll Need

Materials You Provide

  • Measuring tape
  • Meter sticks
  • Pencils
  • Rulers
  • Unifix® Cubes

Required Technology

  • Internet Access: Optional
  • Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector

Physical Space

  • Classroom

Grouping

  • Large-group instruction
  • Small-group instruction

Other Notes

Before starting this activity, gather appropriate library resources on each of the six ocean animals for students to use during Step 3.

Background Information

Ocean life ranges in size from the smallest microbe to the largest animal that has lived on Earth, the blue whale. You can use standard and non-standard units of measurement to compare animal lengths.

Prior Knowledge

  • unit conversions (length)

Recommended Prior Activities

  • None

Vocabulary

animal
Noun

organisms that have a well-defined shape and limited growth, can move voluntarily, acquire food and digest it internally, and can respond rapidly to stimuli.
blue whale
Noun

species of marine mammal that is the largest animal to have ever lived.
data
Plural Noun

(singular: datum) information collected during a scientific study.
marine
Adjective

having to do with the ocean.
marine organism
Noun

living creature with an ocean habitat.
measurement
Noun

process of determining length, width, mass (weight), volume, distance or some other quality or size.
metric system
Noun

series of standard weights and measurements used by most countries (except the United States, Liberia, and Burma) and throughout the scientific world. Also called the International System of Units or SI.
microbe
Noun

tiny organism, usually a bacterium.
ocean
Noun

large body of salt water that covers most of the Earth.
organism
Noun

living or once-living thing.
relative size
Noun

rough measurement using depth perception, as how something far from the viewer looks smaller.

Websites

Tips & Modifications

  • Credits

    Media Credits

    The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

    Writer

    Diana Nelson, B.S. Education, M.S. Aeronautics, Master Teacher K-12

    Educator Reviewer

    Angela M. Cowan, Education Specialist and Curriculum Designer

    Expert Reviewer

    Julie Brown, National Geographic Society

    Sources

    Jenkins, Steve. Down, Down, Down: A journey to the bottom of the sea. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009. Print.

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