March Break - Whale Day

Today at the aquarium the Young Explorers were learning about whales and seals.  First we observed the seals and learned that they are mammals like us.  Then we learned there are two different kinds of whales: toothed and baleen. We used the microscopes to view copepods, a type of zooplankton that is eaten by right whales using their baleen.  We also made a humpback whale food chain.

We got to go behind the scenes today to watch the seal feeding.  Then we had a tour with one of the seal trainers and she showed us what the seals eat and how to clean the filters for their tanks.

Since it was a beautiful day we headed outside to make sea creature paintings and sculptures in the snow.  It was a great day!    

Tomorrow will be shark day and we have a special visitor that is bringing in some reptiles for us to see and touch!

Check out some pictures from our fun day.

Baleen

Porpoise and dolphin teeth.

Whale feeding frenzy!

Through the microscope, a copepod.

Humpback whale food chain.

Watching the seals having lunch.

Checking out behind the scenes.

Everything needs to be kept clean!

Weighing out herring for the seals supper.

Painting in the snow.

A beautiful jellyfish.

Seal sculpting.