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Whale
of a show
Students learn about whales
in an after-school program
The experience of seeing majestic humpbacks leap out of the water or slap their flippers on the water's surface is enough to fill spectators with awe.
Marine mammals talk
The Hawaiian Islands Stranding Response Group and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary are sponsoring an evening of talks on Hawaii's marine mammals at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the HIHWNMS Hawaii Kai office. |
With whale season in progress, educators know there's no better time to teach children about our annual visitors, as well as the benefits of conservation and awareness of the ecosystem.
"Whales After School!" is a new program developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary for the island of Oahu. Programs are being offered Tuesday and Thursday afternoons through the end of April.
The program gives students, from kindergarten to sixth grade, the opportunity to learn about the whales and Hawaii's marine environment in hour-long sessions covering whale migration, behaviors and biology. The underlying message of the program is that everyone is responsible for protecting Hawaii's humpback whales and other marine species, said programs coordinator Christine Brammer.
According to Brammer, the after-school programs are the perfect setting. Away from the strict arithmetic, reading and writing assignments, the whales sessions "can include more fun, hands-on activities so they are more likely to connect with the environment and do something about it," she said.
A variety of teaching techniques, such as reading, art and discussions, are used to support the interactive sessions. "The program is pretty open," said Brammer. "(The students) have the opportunity to ask lots of questions."
"We also send home materials, activity books and newspaper inserts that reinforce what they learned. We are getting the information into the homes of local families. We consider that a huge positive," she added. "The kids find it fun to teach their parents."
Participants in the after-school program are also participating in an "Art, Essays and Poems Contest." Kids can submit works that display a general caring for the ocean, said Brammer.
"It was astonishing," said branch library manager Carah Smith. "We couldn't fit the size of a baby in the room."
Females tend to be larger than males, averaging 45 feet in body length and weighing 40 to 45 tons. Calves are usually 14 feet at birth and can weigh as much as 2 tons. Calves normally double their size by their first birthday.
Smith is new to Hawaii and learned other whale facts as well. "They don't eat at all while they are here. They wait until they go back to Alaska. I can't imagine not eating for four months," she said.
Humpbacks normally fast during their migration and breeding seasons, living off their fat reserves. The whales will soon make the long journey back to their Alaskan feeding grounds.
Smith also made a whale hat during a craft session, along with the children. "It's sitting on my office desk. I'm a big kid," she said.
Outside of the classroom, Brammer also takes school groups on a hike to Makapuu Lighthouse for ocean counts.
The group spends 30 minutes observing the creatures and records behaviors such as head, pectoral and tail slaps, breaches and dives.
There are other benefits as well. At the last school-based ocean count, Brammer recalls seeing at least 12 different sea creatures. "We want the kids to be aware of general marine conservation," she said.
Fourth-grader Eric Yafuso was excited to have spotted dolphins in addition to whales. "It was most interesting when they jump up in the air, spin and go down with their fluke up," she said. "It was hard to see them when the sun was shining. It's hard to spot them in midday. We saw more calves than adults."
Josh Reppun has been a site leader for the public ocean counts for four years in hope that the monthly counts do help raise public awareness. "At the last count, we could barely keep up with recording behaviors and counting whales. We always cross our fingers for a calm day. It really depends on the weather," he said.
The magnificent mammals feed and breed near coasts, so they are vulnerable to human disturbance. There have been recent mishaps here and on Maui, with sightseeing vessels striking whales.
The species has been protected worldwide since 1963. Scientists estimate that two-thirds of the entire North Pacific humpback whale population migrate to Hawaiian waters each winter to engage in breeding, calving and nursing activities. The continued protection of humpback whales and their habitat is crucial to the long-term recovery of this endangered species, she said.
Brammer hopes that the knowledge children gain will interest them enough to help preserve the oceans for future generations.
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