Teaching overview

Learning points

  • Sea lions help scientists model the ocean floor.
  • Humpback whales use bubbles as tools to hunt prey.
  • Archaeologists find a mastodon skull in Iowa.

Curriculum keywords

  • sea lions
  • humpback whales
  • mastodon

This Week's Kahoot Quiz

Each week we'll be bringing you a free quiz that you can use with your students after they've enjoyed the episode.

Play Quiz

Spark a discussion

Sea lions

  • How did scientists model the ocean floor?
  • What did scientists attach to the sea lions' backs?
  • What kinds of environments did the scientists find?

Humpback whales

  • How do humpback whales catch their prey?
  • How do humpback whales make bubbles?
  • Do you know of any other animals that use tools?

Mastodon

  • What part of the mastodon skeleton did archaeologists find?
  • How old was the mastodon specimen?
  • What will the archaeologists do with the specimen?

Classroom Resources

Use these resources to get the most out of the episode and engage your class in topical science!

Discover More About Topics Covered In This Week's Update

Twig Science: A Complete Pre-K–8 Program for the NGSS

Immersive Investigations with High-Quality Multimedia

  • Investigating, designing, building, and understanding phenomena
  • Hands-on, digital, video, and print investigations
  • Synchronous/asynchronous distance learning