K-1 Wonderful Whales Quiz Activity Instructions:

Depending on the level of the students, you can have them tell you the answers out loud (after raising their hand), or have them write the answers down, copying the words from the dictionary. If you like, you can keep score of which person (or group) finds the most answers.

This is a dictionary "scavenger hunt," a simple activity for children who are starting to be familiar with the alphabet and the sounds the letters make.

The students will do their work at a computer (or in small groups of 2 to 3 students at a computer). The teacher asks the students (some of) the questions listed below.

To answer the questions, the students must go to the right page in the dictionary by clicking on the correct letter at the top of the Little Explorers page. They will then look at the pictures on the page to answer the question.

1. What is the name of the large mammals that live in the oceans? These mammals breathe air and have some hair. Mothers feed their babies milk. Their name starts with a "W." Answer: Whales

2. What is the name of the biggest animal in the world? It is a type of whale. This huge animal is also the world's loudest animal. Its name starts with "B." Answer: Blue whale

3. Can you name 2 other whales whose names starts with "B"? Answer: Beluga and Bowhead whales

4. This animal is a type of whale that has a long snout. It has teeth and eats fish. What is the name of this whale? It starts with "D." Answer: Dolphin

5. Some whales migrate (travel) over long distances each year to go from rich feeding waters to safe waters in which they can give birth to their young. The whale that migrates the longest distance travels about 12,500 miles (20,110 km) each year. What is the name of this whale? It starts with "G." Answer: Gray whale

6. There is a whale that lives in cold Arctic waters and has a long, sword-like tooth coming out of its head. What is the name of this whale? Its name starts with "N." Answer: Narwhal

7. This whale is very acrobatic and sings long, complex songs. Its name starts with "H." What is it called? Answer: Humpback whale

8. Some whales (like Orcas) travel in groups. What is a group of whales called? It starts with "P." Answer: Pod

9. Some whales can jump out of the water and dive back in again. What is this activity called? It starts with "B." Answer: Breaching

10. Some whales will stick their tail out of the water and into the air. They swing their tail around and then slap it on the water's surface, making a very loud noise. What is this activity called? It starts with "L." Answer: Lobtailing

11. Some whales poke their head up out of the water and turn around. What is this activity called? It starts with "S." Answer: Spyhopping

12. Can you name a fast-swimming black and white whale that eats fish, seals, and even some other whales? It starts with "K." Answer: Killer whale

13. The killer whale has another common name. What is it? It starts with "O." Answer: Orca

14. The really big whales eat tiny food. Each day, a giant whale can eat thousands of pounds of its shrimp-like food. What is the name of this food? It starts with "K." Answer: Krill