How big is a sea otter? Are dolphins bigger than an elephant seal? Can a blue whale fit in a car? Our third graders know the answer to these questions and more. The students have been studying marine mammals and their ecosystem for several weeks, capped off by a trip to the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito. They used their new-found knowledge to compare the relative sizes of 18 marine mammals. “In order to depict the true scale,” explains Science Teacher Cyndi Trapanese, “we had to head outside to the Lower School blacktop.” With lots of enthusiasm and even more sidewalk chalk, the class drew life-sized mammals, from sea otters (averaging five feet) to sea lions (10 feet) to Blue Whales (90 feet)!
It’s cool to compare each mammal and see how different they are by size. I can’t believe how long the blue whale is!
Vivi R. ’34It’s crazy when you think that the sea otter is four feet and the right whale averages 58 feet. Hearing how long they are is interesting, but when you see it with your own eyes, it’s crazy! And the blue whale is even longer, and goes from the basketball court way past the four-square space!
James F. ’34
“Visiting the Marine Mammal Center is always a highlight,” says Trapanese. “Their mission is to advance global ocean conservation through marine mammal rescue, rehabilitation, release, research, and education. The students practiced a beach rescue, made a fish smoothie for their new friends, and placed a feeding tube in an elephant seal pup plushie. We watched just-rescued incoming patients taken to be weighed, and observed ‘fish school’ where rescued elephant seals and sea lions were learning to hunt for fish. As a class, we paused to reflect on how uplifting it is to learn about an organization that helps animals stay wild, especially one that has an excellent release success rate. After the tour we hiked all the way around Rodeo Lagoon, and had some beach time.”
Stay tuned for more “mammalogy” from our third graders, as they work on projects and present them during the last week of school.