End Of Killer Whales (Orcas) Breeding

Grade level: 4-5th grades

Skills: Measurement ( length & mass) & Fractions 

Related environmental issues: Biodiversity

Screen Shot 2016-03-17 at 10.51.19 AMSeaWorld 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 KidsWhale 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)

Endangered panda


Screen Shot 2015-12-10 at 6.41.24 PM.pngGrade level: 4 – 5th

Skills:  Measurement (Mass)

Related environmental issues:  Biodiversity & Deforestation

Area level: Global

Giant pandas are endangered because the forests they live in China have been destroyed as the population in the country grows. The size of the forests where pandas can live became smaller and smaller, and this makes hard for them to find mates and food. They must eat up to 84 pounds of bamboo every day. A giant pandas grow to up to 330 pounds as an adult.

  1. It might take about 10 _______ to weigh equivalent to bamboo that a giant panda eats a day.  a) bananas  b) tables  c) one-gallon bottles of milk
  2. It might take about ____ 5th graders to weigh equivalent to a giant panda.   a) 2    b)  4    c)  8
  3. A ton is 2,000 pounds. It might take about ____ giant pandas to weight a ton.  a) 6   b)  9   c) 12

Source:  WWF

Photo: WWF

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Answer keys

  1. c)
  2. b)
  3. a)