Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Nature · The activity desk
Whale surface story
Draw a whale surfacing and learn how whales breathe.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
Paper and large child-appropriate crayons.
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Draw a horizontal line across the page for the ocean surface.
Adult's role: Stay beside the child and talk through the picture.
Let's make it happen
- Draw a whale swimming below the surface and another whale near the surface.
- Explain that whales are mammals and come to the surface to breathe air through blowholes.
- Trace a path from the underwater whale to the surface and add waves or a distant shore.
Make it simpler: Draw the whale together and point to the surface.
Clean up: Put away the paper and crayons.
This is pretend play. Breathe normally and do not hold your breath.