Allison Henry, NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Woods Hole, MA

Whales are among the largest and oldest animals on earth and belong to a group of marine mammals called cetaceans. Talk to a member of NOAA’s North Atlantic right whale aerial survey team and learn how they do science from the sky. (Grades 2-6)

Resources to access at home:

» Picture Matching- Right Whales: COAST Program activity used in our lesson to match North Atlantic right whale drawings to the real right whale picture. Answer key
» North Atlantic right whale catalog: The catalog contains all the photographed sitings of right whales from the North Atlantic.
» Right Whale Listening Network: Learn about North Atlantic Right Whales and how acoustic buoys can help prevent ship strikes.
» Northeast Regional Office- North Atlantic right whale lesson: Discover the world of the North Atlantic right whale through lessons and activities on the biology, ecology, and conservation of this endangered species (Grades 6-8).
» NOAA Right Whale Sighting Advisory System – Interactive map of North Atlantic right whale sightings.
» National Geographic- Blue Whale Migration Activity: This activity allows you to map blue whale migration and develop stories to explain their behavior.
» NOAA Ocean Today Endangered Ocean: There are several short videos on topics ranging from the endangered species act, manatees, North Atlantic right whales, and more.