Getting
Ready for Gray Whale Migration
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Student Handouts | ||
Blank Map | ||
Background
Gray whales have one of the longest migrations of any mammal in the world.
They travel 5,000 miles from Mexico to the Arctic. When Journey North
begins in February, the whales are scattered along their migration route.
At the southern end, some Gray Whale mothers are in Mexican waters giving
birth to their babies. Some whales have already begun their journey north.
Other whales are still traveling south, not yet having
completed their fall migration! The process of making a map of the migration
route will orient students to the geography of this migration and give
them the context they need to follow news in the season's migration
news updates.
Materials
Laying
the Groundwork
Provide
an overview of the Gray Whale migration route as described above. Then
give each student or student group a copy of the handouts. Show them where
they can access resource maps. Then give them time to add important features
to their own maps:
Using the blank map provided, students will identify and label: