Moby Dick Lesson Plan

Delicious Plankton!

Kind of Activity:

Research

Objective:

Students will research and write about what whales eat.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.1

Structure:

In chapter 58, Ishmael describes briefly the eating habits of right whales, who consume what he calls brit (which we call plankton today). Whales have peculiar and inconsistent eating habits: species like orca whales hunt and eat other animals, while baleen whales simply consume mass amounts of plankton for nourishment.

For this activity, students will individually research and prepare a report on whales' eating habits. These reports should be 2-3 pages in length and provide a succinct summary...