Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
03/30/2026
Rare moment sperm whales help newborn to swim
Scientists have captured one of the most detailed observations of a sperm whale birth ever recorded in the wild. Two matrilines — independent, female-led groups — of sperm whales appeared to cooperate to assist in the calf’s birth. The group worked together to lift and hold the newborn sperm whale near the surface with their bodies. Young sperm whales tend to sink and need to swim harder to reach the surface to breathe.
■Class discussion: Humans and some of our primate relatives, like bonobos and snub-nosed monkeys, assist one another during birth. Does it surprise you to see the same behavior in these sea mammals? Does the cooperation of animals living in social groups help them survive? Scientists recorded the whales communicating during the birth. How does communication help animals thrive? How important are these capabilities to humans?
