Can whales change the climate?
In this live lesson, students will explore how whales, the ocean's gentle giants, play a crucial role in helping tackle climate change. Using his firsthand research from the Southern Ocean, Dr Carlos Angulo-Preckler and Diego Rivera Rosas will guide students through the remarkable ways whales act as climate champions - from storing carbon to fertilising the ocean's tiniest plants.
Through interactive whale spotting challenges, real scientific data, and exciting stories from the Antarctic waters, students will discover how these magnificent creatures help keep our oceans healthy. Just as trees store carbon on land, whales are nature's solution to storing carbon in our oceans. Students will learn how protecting whales isn't just about saving these amazing animals, it's about giving our planet one of its most powerful allies in the fight against climate change.
Available on catch-up
- 45 mins
- Ages 7+
Broadcast via YouTube Live (please check school access)
Learning objectives
This live lesson focuses on the themes of:
- Name and identify whales found in the Southern Ocean
- Understand how whales help keep our oceans healthy
- Learn how whales can help us tackle climate change
Preparation
This is a standalone lesson for British Science Week 2025. No specific preparation is needed but teachers may wish to view some of the upper primary (key stage 2) resources from the Convex Seascape Survey.
The Whale spotting guide should be downloaded from this page with enough copies for at least one copy per four students. A selection of craft and workshop activities are also linked to extend the learning, as well as a link to the related unit of work for ages 7-11.
If you have never joined a live lesson before, visit the support centre, where you can find a range of technical and educational information.
Questions generated by your class can be submitted via the interaction app that will appear on this lesson page once you have booked the lesson.
Lesson steps
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
Meet marine scientists Carlos and Diego, who study whales in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
2. Let's go whale spotting! (10 minutes)
Put your whale-spotting skills to the test! Using the whale fact sheet, we'll learn to identify different whale species that live in the Southern Ocean. Carlos will share exciting stories about encountering these magnificent creatures during his research.
3. Whale Superheroes (10 minutes)
Discover how whales are ocean superheroes! We'll explore the amazing ways whales help keep our oceans healthy and learn about their special role in fighting climate change through fun demonstrations and examples.
4. Data and saving whales (5 minutes)
Get ready to discover how putting a price on whales may help to protect them! Carlos and Diego will share the science that they were doing in Antarctica and how it might help to protect whales.
5. Q&A with our Whale Expert (15 minutes)
Students can ask Carlos and Diego questions about whales, their exciting research in the Southern Ocean, and what it's like to study these amazing animals in one of Earth's most remote places.
Speakers
Dr Carlos Angulo-Preckler
KAUST
Diego Rivera Rosas
PhD student, KAUST
Brought to you by
In partnership with
Teach the goals
Can whales change the climate?
In this live lesson, students will explore how whales, the ocean's gentle giants, play a crucial role in helping tackle climate change. Using his firsthand research from the Southern Ocean, Dr Carlos Angulo-Preckler and Diego Rivera Rosas will guide students through the remarkable ways whales act as climate champions - from storing carbon to fertilising the ocean's tiniest plants.
Through interactive whale spotting challenges, real scientific data, and exciting stories from the Antarctic waters, students will discover how these magnificent creatures help keep our oceans healthy. Just as trees store carbon on land, whales are nature's solution to storing carbon in our oceans. Students will learn how protecting whales isn't just about saving these amazing animals, it's about giving our planet one of its most powerful allies in the fight against climate change.
Available on catch-up
- 45 mins
- Ages 7+
Broadcast via YouTube Live (please check school access)
Learning objectives
This live lesson focuses on the themes of:
- Name and identify whales found in the Southern Ocean
- Understand how whales help keep our oceans healthy
- Learn how whales can help us tackle climate change
Preparation
This is a standalone lesson for British Science Week 2025. No specific preparation is needed but teachers may wish to view some of the upper primary (key stage 2) resources from the Convex Seascape Survey.
The Whale spotting guide should be downloaded from this page with enough copies for at least one copy per four students. A selection of craft and workshop activities are also linked to extend the learning, as well as a link to the related unit of work for ages 7-11.
If you have never joined a live lesson before, visit the support centre, where you can find a range of technical and educational information.
Questions generated by your class can be submitted via the interaction app that will appear on this lesson page once you have booked the lesson.
Lesson steps
1. Introduction (5 minutes)
Meet marine scientists Carlos and Diego, who study whales in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica.
2. Let's go whale spotting! (10 minutes)
Put your whale-spotting skills to the test! Using the whale fact sheet, we'll learn to identify different whale species that live in the Southern Ocean. Carlos will share exciting stories about encountering these magnificent creatures during his research.
3. Whale Superheroes (10 minutes)
Discover how whales are ocean superheroes! We'll explore the amazing ways whales help keep our oceans healthy and learn about their special role in fighting climate change through fun demonstrations and examples.
4. Data and saving whales (5 minutes)
Get ready to discover how putting a price on whales may help to protect them! Carlos and Diego will share the science that they were doing in Antarctica and how it might help to protect whales.
5. Q&A with our Whale Expert (15 minutes)
Students can ask Carlos and Diego questions about whales, their exciting research in the Southern Ocean, and what it's like to study these amazing animals in one of Earth's most remote places.
Speakers
Dr Carlos Angulo-Preckler
KAUST
Diego Rivera Rosas
PhD student, KAUST
Brought to you by
In partnership with
Teach the goals