ipl

Orca Search

Orca Search home page

Step 1:
Research Tools		Step 2:
Discovering Orcas		Step 3:
Investigating Orcas		Step 4:
Orcas in Captivity		Step 5:
Research Report

Step 3
Investigating Orcas

In Step 2, your research led you to information you can report to your research team that will give them basic information about killer whales. In Step 3, you will identify additional information you still might need to find.

Start a new sheet in your Research Log for this assignment. On the top of the page, write "Things We Want To Know About Orcas". Divide your log sheet into three columns, like in the last assignment, with the headings of "Questions", "Information Found" and Source". Copy the questions into your Research Log and leave space for your answer and the source of information. Your log page might look something like this example.

Look back at the things you learned about killer whales in Step 2. You and/or your team can brainstorm things you still want to know or you can use the questions listed below. Be sure to write your questions on your log sheet. When you find the answers to your new questions, include the information source you used.

Some things to consider for further study might be:

  • social and aerial behaviors of killer whales
  • differences in the types of killer whales
  • relationships of killer whales to other animals (including humans)
  • the average life span of a killer whale
  • migration and travel patterns of killer whales
  • predators of killer whales

You may continue to conduct your research using the Internet links on this page or by using any other information source that can be found in your school or local library. Don’t forget to continue to take notes!

Internet Links:

Super! You are on your way to becoming an Orca expert. Be sure to keep your notes from this investigation. To continue, click on Step 4: Orcas in Captivity

Step 1:
Research Tools		Step 2:
Discovering Orcas		Step 3:
Investigating Orcas		Step 4:
Orcas in Captivity		Step 5:
Research Report

This resource originally created by Lucy M. Schiller