End Of Killer Whales (Orcas) Breeding

Grade level: 4-5th grades

Skills: Measurement ( length & mass) & Fractions 

Related environmental issues: Biodiversity

SeaWorld announced on March 17 that it will stop breeding killer whales and end its orca shows at all of their 3 SeaWorld Parks. It is because a study found that placing orcas in fish tanks made them suffer and let them die early.

1.Orcas can dive up to 800 feet to catch fish at the bottom of the sea. How many yards can they dive?   a. 266  1/3  yards b. 266  2/3  yards c. 66  1/3    yards  d. 66  2/3 yards

2.An orca has 45 teeth and the length of each teeth is 3 inches. How many feet will it be if all the orca’s 45 teeth are connected together?   a. 11  1/2 feet    b. 11  1/3 feet  c.  11  1/4  feet  d.  11  1/12 feet

3.An orca eat 500 pounds of food every day. You have a 64-ounce bucket.  How many times do you need to fill the bucket to feed an orca for a day?   a. 7  b. 8  c. 55 d. 125

Source: National Geographic Kids & Whale museum

Photo: National Geographic Kids

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Answer keys

1. b    (1 yard = 3 feet   800 / 3 = 266  2/3)

2. c.   (45 x 3 = 135 inches  135 / 12 = 11  1/4)

3. d.  (500 pounds = 8,000 ounces     8,000 / 64 = 125)