Videos  
Video

Meet the Humpback Whale

In Meet the Humpback Whale, naturalist Steve Backshall swims with humpback whales. He sends a drone out to capture footage of them playing and breaching the water around Isla de la Plata in Ecuador. This video is excerpted from BBC's Deadly 60, an award-winning nature and adventure show for kids in which narrator Steve Backshall has one mission: to travel the globe in search of 60 of the world's deadliest animals.

Video Details
Location:
Ecuador
Grades:
Program:
Deadly 60
Time:
4:37
Subject:

Lesson Express

Q: Why is the whale calf breaching?
A: It is working out its muscles and getting better at processing oxygen in its blood. It’s also playing!

Q: Why do scientists use drones to study whales?
A: Drones allow them to observe the whales without disturbing them.

Q: How did the drone footage help Steve better understand the whales?
A: He was able to see more of the whales’ movement from this angle.

Standards
Keywords
Share:

More Like This

Video
Saving the Humpback Whale Sanctuary: A Story of Hope
In Saving the Humpback Whale Sanctuary: A Story of Hope, host Simon Reeve reflects on a past trip to a humpback whale sanctuary in Australia. At the time, industrialization threatened their habitat. In keeping in touch with the marine biologists, he now discovers an encouraging development to the whales' story. This video is excerpted from BBC's Incredible Journeys With Simon Reeve, a series that highlights one journalist’s travels across the globe and the diverse cultures and peoples he meets along the way.
Video
Humpback Whales: Sympathetic Protectors

In Humpback Whales: Sympathetic Protectors, marine biologists discuss occasions when they have witnessed humpback whales protecting other species and how their behavior shows empathy and altruism. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: Humpback Whales — A Detective Story, a documentary about our relationship with whales and their future alongside us.

Video
Humpback Whales: Anatomy 

In Humpback Whales: Anatomy, people discuss their close encounters with whales. Professor Joy Reidenberg discusses what she has learned from dissecting dead whales. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: Humpback Whales — A Detective Story, a documentary about our relationship with whales and their future alongside us.

Video
Whales: Identifying Tails

In Whales: Identifying Tails, surfer Ted Cheeseman talks about his photo identification service, Happy Whale. Whales' tails show their life story, from bitemarks, barnacles, and scars. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Natural World: Humpback Whales — A Detective Story, a documentary about our relationship with whales and their future alongside us.

Video
The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales

In The Sophisticated Feeding Technique of Humpback Whales, narrator Sir David Attenborough explores the Southern Ocean and the humpback whales that feed there. When Antarctica broke off from South America, it created swirling currents that sweep up nutrients from the bottom of the ocean, making it one of the richest waters on earth. In the summer, humpback whales come there to feast on shoals of krill, blowing curtains of bubbles and spiraling inwards to capture the swarm. This video is excerpted from BBC’s Seven Worlds, One Planet, a series featuring remarkable animal behavior from all seven continents.

Playlist (12 resources)
The Whale Playlist: 12 Videos About Whales

Dive into the captivating world of whales with this BBC Learning Hub playlist, featuring 12 stunning clips from landmark BBC series. Explore the lives of blue whales, orcas, and grey whales as they glide through oceans, communicate, hunt, and nurture their young. Perfect for sparking curiosity, these breathtaking videos bring the majestic giants of the sea into your classroom or home.