In the story, Amos is surprised that Boris, a whale, is considered a mammal. He even asks, “Are you sure you’re a mammal? You smell more like a fish.” A great way to incorporate science into this reading lesson is by having students research the differences between marine mammals and fish. Students will find out what characteristics a marine mammal has and how they are different from the characteristics of a fish.
First, as a whole class, brainstorm a list of everything you know about marine mammals and everything you know about fish. Then, to compile more evidence, students should work in partners or small groups. You could designate a particular topic to each group. For example, one group could focus on marine mammals and how they breathe. Another group could work on fish and how they breathe. After, the two groups could compare their findings.
The example storyboard is specifically about the differences between whales and fish, but you could create a broader category and add all types of marine mammals.
Whales |
Fish |
|---|---|
| Whales are warm-blooded. They stay warm by layers of insulated blubber. | Fish are cold-blooded. Their bodies can naturally adjust to the changes of the temperature. |
| Whales breathe air like land mammals. They have a blowhole connected to their lungs to allow them to breathe in the air. | Fish have gills to breathe. The gills take oxygen from the water so fish can live underwater their whole lives. |
| Whales give birth to live young. They also produce milk to feed their newborns. Whales nurture their young to make sure they grow up healthy and able to survive on their own. | Fish lay eggs. Baby fish are fed nutrients through a sack that they carry around. Typically baby fish are left to fend for themselves. |
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that compares marine mammals with fish.
Capture students’ attention by starting with a hands-on sorting game. Give each student a set of picture cards showing different marine mammals and fish. Ask them to sort the cards into two groups, explaining their reasoning as they go. This fun activity sparks curiosity and helps students use their prior knowledge before diving into deeper research.
Support student inquiry by providing specific questions for their research. Examples include: How do marine mammals move and breathe? How do fish care for their young? Focused prompts keep students on track and help them gather relevant information for their comparisons.
Encourage collaboration by having small groups share their findings with the class. Each group presents a key difference between marine mammals and fish, using visuals or their storyboard. This approach builds confidence, reinforces understanding, and allows students to learn from one another.
Get students moving by reading statements aloud (e.g., “All marine mammals have gills”). If the statement is true, students move to one side of the room; if false, they move to the other. This energetic review reinforces key concepts and keeps engagement high.
Encourage synthesis by having students write or draw one thing that surprised them about marine mammals or fish. Display their reflections on a classroom bulletin board to celebrate learning and spark ongoing discussion.
Marine mammals are warm-blooded, breathe air with lungs, give live birth, and nurse their young. Fish are cold-blooded, use gills to breathe underwater, lay eggs, and usually do not care for their young after birth.
Whales breathe air through a blowhole connected to their lungs and must surface regularly. Fish extract oxygen from water using gills, allowing them to stay underwater their whole lives.
Whales are mammals because they are warm-blooded, have lungs, give birth to live young, and produce milk for their babies—traits not found in fish.
Create a storyboard or comparison chart where students list characteristics of a chosen marine mammal and a fish side by side, then illustrate differences with drawings or photos.
Marine mammal babies are nursed and cared for by their mothers, while baby fish are usually left to survive on their own after hatching from eggs.