2-3rd Grade—Killer Whale Curriculum

Objectives

The goal of this curriculum is to encourage students to become stewards of their environment by learning about the issues faced by Springer and other killer whales. Our hope is that Springer’s story will inspire students to take action on these issues and others that matter to them.

This curriculum will accomplish the following objectives:

• Tell the story of how an orphaned orca was reunited with her family, under the leadership of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the United States, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Vancouver Aquarium in Canada, and with support from the community in both countries.
• Teach core concepts in the biology, physiology, and social structure of the Pacific Northwest orca communities.
• Define current issues faced by orcas and other marine mammals in the Pacific Northwest and other regions.
• Develop awareness of NOAA and the role it plays in science, research, management, protection of species, and community involvement.
• Promote student stewardship by highlighting the community’s active involvement in the Springer project.