Whale of a Tail

This is a huge project that can be done with friends or in your classroom with your teacher.

For this activity you will need:

- one centimetre grid paper

- large sheet of paper (60 cm x 80 cm flip chart)

- 60 - 100 metres of twine

- writing materials

- measuring devices (metre sticks, tape measures)

- chalk

- carpenter's chalkline (optional, but very useful)

- large paved area (about the size of a basketball court)

Have you ever seen a whale? How big do you think they really are? If you really want to know then follow the instructions.

 

I have done a little reasearch and found out the weights and lengths of the following whales:

Humpback whale.............. 15m 32tonnes

Sperm whale...................... 18m 43tonnes

Finback whale ....................23m 45tonnes

Grey whale .........................13m 32tonnes

Right whale ........................18m 43tonnes

Blue whale .........................30m 68tonnes

If you have a favorite whale you can use it as long as you find the length and weight. Hint:click here to find some whale facts. (If you are working by yourself it is probably wise to choose one of the smaller whales)

To Begin:

We have to become a little familiar with grids and in particular making things larger.

Use the centemetre grid paper and trace the outline of your hand. Make a grid that has 10cm squares on the chart paper. Transfer the drawings in each 1cm square to the 10cm square. Now you should have a very large version of your hand.

This part is the most difficult so pay close attention:

Draw your whale on the one centemetre paper to scale. You can do this by making 1meter equal 1cm; for example if you choose the Blue whale the drawing on 1cm paper should be 30cm long. The chart above gives only the length so you have to rely on a picture of a whale to complete your drawing.

Making the real grid may take a little work. Use the meter stick or some other measuring device to put 1 metre marks along one side of the area. Do the same along the top and the bottom and the other side. Use the carpenters chalk line to connect the marks to make an area with 1 metre squares.

Now comes the fun part. If you have been smart enough to get friends to help you make them a copy of the whale on 1cm grid paper. Transfer the outline of the whale to the 1 metre grid.

You should now have the outline of a whale in accual size.

Now what?

Streach your mathematical brain: how many people your size would fit in a whale? Your parents size? How big is the whale in comparison to your car? How about a dinosaur? How many people can you fit inside the outline of your whale?

 

Note: This activity was adopted from the "Project Wild Activity Guide'(pgs. 77-79)

 

(math home page)

 

Go to the top of the page