May/June 2023

Happy Whales Blow Bubbles!

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Academic Standards

Reading Objective:

Children will identify ways that animals communicate how they are feeling without the use of speech.

Next Generation Science Standards:

K-LS1: Patterns in animals’ needs

1-LS1: How animals meet their needs

Vocabulary:

stiff, energy 

Check comprehension and inspire discussion.

 

1. How do beluga whales show they’re happy?
(They blow slow bubble rings.)

2.  Why do chimpanzees laugh when they roll and tickle?
(They laugh to show it is play, not fighting.)

3.  If an elephant’s tail goes stiff, does that mean it is happy?
(No. That means the elephant is upset.)

4.  Do you act like any of these animals when you’re happy?
(Answers will vary.)

Go online to print or project the Reading Checkpoint.

  • When cats feel relaxed and happy, they purr.

 

  • When a rabbit twitches its nose, that’s a sign that it feels good.

 

  • When horses like you, they point their ears at you.

 

  • When an elephant holds its ears out to the side, that means it’s upset. If it just flaps its ears, don’t worry. It’s only trying to cool off.

Materials:  pencils, markers, copies of the skill sheet

Overview: Children will observe to see how our bodies behave when we are happy!

Directions:

  1. Gather kids where there’s space to move. Remind them they read about how animals show they’re happy. How do people do it?
  2. Ask a few kids to walk in a way that shows they’re happy. Let the other kids describe what they see—using their scientist powers of observation. What do the happy kids’ faces look like? How do they move?
  3. Pick another few kids, and whisper another emotion to them (sad, mad, scared, excited, etc.) Let them walk and demonstrate the emotion. Can the other kids guess what it is? What helped them guess it?
  4. Pass out the skill sheets. It’s time for kids to draw themselves feeling happy.
  5. How will they make their face look? What will their legs be doing? They can add labels too.
  6. If time allows, invite kids to share their drawings.