one 30-m (about 100-ft.) rope

ten different colors of tape or felt pens

pencils, protactors

Make a "whale rope" to estimate, make, and use measurements. Using a different color of tape or a different color felt pen for each whale you've chosen, mark the lengths of the whales on the rope. On a piece of paper or cardboard, make a color key to go along with the rope.

Do this activity outside or in the school auditorium. (If you do the activity inside, ask the students to predict what kind of whale would fill the room.)

Select two student volunteers to slowly unroll the whale rope. Have them stop unrolling each time they reach a colored marker. At each marker, ask students to guess which whale is as long as the unrolled rope. Tell the name of the correct whale and continue to unroll the rope until you've named all whales.

Photocopy the pictures, names, and lengths of the whales you've chosen.

Divide the class into about ten groups. Distribute one whale illustration, butcher paper, and pencils to each group. Each group's piece of butcher paper should be large enough for a life-size drawing of their whale.

Students measure lenghts, areas, and angles.

Students create life-size scale drawings of whales on the butcher paper.

This activity will probably take several days. Display life-size whale drawings in your school's auditorium, library, or hallways.