Whales Passing

Last updated Monday, June 7, 2004

Author: Eve Bunting
Illustrator: Lambert Davis
Date of Publication: 2003
ISBN: 0590603582
Grade Level: 2nd
Date(s) Used: June 2004

Synopsis: A boy standing with his father on the shore watches five Orca whales and imagines them talking underwater in their star-dance light while the bubbles bubble up.

Discussion topics for before reading:

• What do you know about whales? Are there different kinds of whales?
• How do whales talk to each other (seen Finding Nemo? Can you speak whale?)
• Have you ever seen a whale? How do they move, what do they look like?

Discussion topics for after reading:

• What kinds of animals live in the sea? How are their lives different from land animals?
• What is blubber? Why is it good for whales to have lots of blubber?
• Why does the boy hold a seashell to his ear? Have you ever done that? What did you hear?

Craft ideas:

• Make a headband with different kinds of whales swimming around it.
• Make a pair of paper tube binoculars, with a picture of what you imagine life in the sea is like taped at one end.
• Make a whale bookmark.

Special challenge:

• Make up a whale language. Play simon says with whale talk.

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don’t have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!