Whales & Dolphins Are Mammals

ScienceOcean LifeAges 5–7

Know that whales and dolphins are mammals, not fish — they breathe air, are warm-blooded, and feed their babies milk — even though they live in the ocean

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Teaching Table

Set out your lesson

Classify whales and dolphins as mammals using evidence rather than habitat.

Activity

Can attend to a short explanation and respond orally, by pointing, drawing or writing; check relevant prerequisite understanding rather than assuming age proves readiness.

Policy

Check readiness rather than assuming age or source graph order establishes attainment.

Materials

Prepared passage, worksheet materials are available in each step.

Preparation

Open the teaching material first. Keep the adult key and check sheet separate until their named stage. No printing, purchase or external media is required for the supplied adapted text tasks.

Safety

Use the supplied text/schematic indoors. Do not collect, taste, touch or disturb wildlife or unknown materials. Discussion does not require a personal experience.

Optional Observation

Only record a real observation after the activity is actually carried out safely; otherwise mark not carried out.

Materials are ready in each step. Use them on screen or print just the current step. Put teaching examples aside before the learner tries.

What this lesson covers and its limits

These are bounded opportunities, not learner attainment. Partial and blocked source requirements remain so.

partial: Know that whales and dolphins are mammals, not fish — they breathe air, are warm-blooded, and feed their babies milk — even though they live in the ocean
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using recall evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: State that whales and dolphins are mammals, not fish
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using recall evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: Give at least two reasons why: they breathe air and feed babies milk
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using recall evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: Explain that living in water does not make an animal a fish
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using recall evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.
partial: If {{name}} saw a dolphin jumping out of the water, could they explain that dolphins are mammals like us — they breathe air and feed their babies milk — not fish?
Bounded task opportunity only; this task samples the clause using recall evidence, not full coverage or learner attainment.

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Classify whales and dolphins as mammals using evidence rather than habitat.

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Learning resources

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Check understanding

State that whales and dolphins are mammals, not fish
Give at least two reasons why: they breathe air and feed babies milk
Explain that living in water does not make an animal a fish

“If your child saw a dolphin jumping out of the water, could they explain that dolphins are mammals like us — they breathe air and feed their babies milk — not fish?”

Curriculum record

Type: Conceptual
Subject: Science
Domain: Ocean Life
Age range: Ages 5–7