Welcome to the Orca Search home page!

Scientists would like to know more about Orcas, also known as killer whales. Because of your interest in whales, you have been chosen to be a member of the research team that will study these interesting sea creatures.

As a member of the research team, your assignment is to gather as much information about killer whales, from as many sources as you can, before your team ventures out to observe them in their ocean environment.

• You will learn about the tools scientists need to research killer whales and you will use some of these research tools to find useful information about them.
• You will learn about wild whales being held in captivity and how you feel about that issue.
• You will complete your research about killer whales by preparing a research report that can be submitted to the research team.
• And, you will be considered an official ORCA SEARCHER by the time you complete this research.

Before you begin your search, you might want to prepare yourself by

• looking up the word "research" in a dictionary, and
• looking up "research scientist" in an encyclopedia or other resource.

You can find these resources in your school media center or local library.

Let’s get out our magnifying glasses and go on a search for information about orcas.

To start your research on Orcas, choose STEP 1
and then go on to the next step.

FOR TEACHERS ONLY

This resource originally created by Lucy M. Schiller